The Establishment of Purim

God at Work Behind the Scenes: Message Eleven of Esther Series

Esther 9:1 and Esther 9:18-28.

ETS: The Jews celebrated their deliverance from the hand of Haman brought forth by God.

ESS: We should celebrate God’s provision and protection in our own lives.

OSS: [MO: Devotional] {SO: I want the hearers to rejoice in God as they remember all He has done for them.}

PQ: What lessons can we learn from this text?

UW: Lessons

Intro.: [AGS]: What are special occasions that you celebrate something that has happened in the past that is significant? [I.e., Christmas, birthdays, etc.] [TS]: Today’s text details the Jews celebrating their deliverance from the hand of Haman and their enemies due to God’s provision and faithfulness. [RS]: God has worked in each of our lives, and He is working even now. We should celebrate and reflect on God’s past faithfulness and provision so that we can be confident in His current faithfulness and provision amidst the circumstances we currently encounter.

TS: Let us examine the text and learn a few lessons together.

Firstly, we learn God provides victory for His people. (v. 1)

God was faithful to the Jews. The same day that their destruction was planned, God brought to them freedom.

APPLICATION: God cares for and provides for those who are His. He will not allow injustice to go unpunished or unaddressed when it involves His own. We must trust and wait patiently for Him to work. He is at work.

Secondly, we learn celebrating God’s work in our lives is important. (vv. 18-28)

This passage establishes the Feast of Purim as a Jewish holiday that is still celebrated today (March).

The key of this celebration is this: Remembering God’s faithfulness and deliverance.

Celebrating God’s work in our lives is important because it gives us confidence in His faithfulness.

NOTE: Celebrating past faithfulness does not equal dwelling in the past. It is simply this: Remembering His faithfulness in the past; trusting His faithfulness in the future.

Application: Celebrating God’s past faithfulness and provision gives us confidence in His faithfulness and provision for current and future situations we encounter. God is always at work on our behalf.

CONCLUSION:

[1] Each of us have special occasions in our lives that we celebrate. What occasions in our lives do we celebrate God’s work in our lives, specifically?

[2] What holds you back from celebrating God’s work in the past in order to confidently trust His work in your current and future circumstances?