This sermon explores God's providence in Esther, the role of flawed individuals in His plan, and the significance of celebrating His deliverance through Purim.
Good morning, my dear friends. Welcome. I am so glad you're here. There's a sense of joy, isn't there, when we gather together, united in purpose, to delve into the richness of God's word? It's like a family reunion, where we come together, not because we have to, but because we want to. We want to learn, to grow, to be challenged and comforted by the truth of the Bible.
We find ourselves today gathered around the book of Esther, a story that may seem distant and unfamiliar. We're going to be looking at Esther 9:20-10:3. Let's read it together:
"20 Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, 21 to have them celebrate annually the 14th and 15th days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. 23 The Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur (that is, the lot) for their ruin and destruction. 25 But when the plot came to the king’s attention, he issued written orders that the evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back onto his own head, and that he and his sons should be impaled on poles. 26 (Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.) Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews took it upon themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. 28 These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants. 29 So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. 30 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance—31 to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation. 32 Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records. 10 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores. 2 And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews."
When we look at the story of Esther, we see a clear demonstration of God's providential care. God's providence is His divine guidance and care in our lives. It's His perfect timing, His perfect placement, His perfect orchestration of events. It's His unseen hand at work, guiding and directing us, even when we're unaware of it.
In the book of Esther, we see God's providence in the rise of Esther to the position of queen. She was a Jewish girl, living in exile, and yet she found favor with the king and was chosen to be queen. This wasn't a coincidence or a stroke of good luck. It was God's providence at work, positioning Esther exactly where she needed to be to fulfill His purposes.
We also see God's providence in the timing of events. When Haman plotted to destroy the Jews, it was Esther who was in a position to intervene. She was able to use her influence with the king to expose Haman's plot and save her people. Again, this wasn't a coincidence. It was God's providence, His perfect timing, ensuring that Esther was in the right place at the right time.
God's providence is also seen in the reversal of fortunes. Haman, who had plotted to destroy the Jews, ended up being destroyed himself. The gallows he had built for Mordecai were used for his own execution. The Jews, who were facing extermination, were saved and their enemies were destroyed. This wasn't luck or karma. It was God's providence, His divine justice, bringing about a perfect reversal of fortunes.
Finally, we see God's providence in the establishment of the festival of Purim. This festival was a reminder of God's deliverance, a celebration of His providence. It was a time for the Jews to remember how God had saved them, how He had turned their sorrow into joy and their mourning into celebration. This wasn't just a cultural tradition. It was a divine appointment, a time set aside by God for His people to remember and celebrate His providence.
As we continue to immerse ourselves in the richness of this passage, we find ourselves face to face with the reality of human imperfection ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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