For such a time as this

If you have your bible this morning turn with me to Esther chapter 4. I have titled the message, “For such a time as this.”

Pray with me…

So where have we been? A-lot has happened since we started studying this book together. Xerxes the King has all this power, all this land, all the money, all the women he could ever want, but a disobedient queen when asked to come and parade her self around wrecked his world by not coming thus disqualifying herself as queen and leading ultimately to the crowing of queen Esther via a untraditional beauty contest. And while Esther is the queen her cousin Mordecai finds out about this plot to kill the king, and he tells Esther and the king lives, but instead of Mordecai getting a great reward we see another character introduced and that is Haman, and Haman had issue with Mordecai not bowing down to him so much so that he not only wanted Mordecai dead, but all the Jewish people. Leading to him coming up with this grand plan that the King went along that would essentially wipe out the jews from the face of the earth.

And so we get to todays text in chapter 4 and what we see as our main idea is

God placed Esther as the queen for such as time as this.

Esther 4:1–3 ESV

1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth. 3 And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

Starting off the text you see the first thing I want you to observe and that is

Mordecai and the Jews Lament over the the Kings decree.

So in the text you heard and saw for yourself that Mordecai responds with a great lament. Now a Lament can simply be described as a passionate expression of grief or sorrow, and that is what you see in the text.

Mordecai tore his cloths, and put on sackcloth and ashes. This was a common way for an Israelite to truly mourn. You may have remembered several times when this happened in the Old Testament . Such as when Joshua, and Caleb torn there clothes when the people wanted to go back to Egypt, and when David did it multiple times for a variety of different reasons. And if you remember it happened as well when I preached over a year ago on Josiah tearing his clothes with the reading of the law.

In fact I was reading during my study this week that Persians did this as well when they lost in war. It was a common thing for people to do when they were truly grieved over something. And this grief and sorrow extended all throughout the land during that time. Remember the king had all these providences over the known world at the time which included people in Jerusalem that were to receive this death penalty for who they were. And all over the land there was this great mourning and they also like Mordecai dressed in sackcloth and ashes as a sign of this great tragedy that was going to take place among the people.

A world wide termination was their sentence, and we see some of them begin to appear to do things the Jews would do often in moments like these. And that is they would fast which is what we will see others do in a moment…

Keep following along with me as verse 4 says this…

Esther 4:4 ESV

4 When Esther’s young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

second thing to take note of this morning is this..

Mordecai refuses Esthers Gesture.

Esther does not yet know the full story that is about to take place. Information was not like it is in this day and age, there wasn’t a tweet going around saying did you see the Kings edict that all the Jews were to be destroyed on the 13th day of the 12th month. She was simply wanted to clothe Mordecai because no one could enter the kings gates clothed in sackcloth..

And he refused her gesture, because he was greatly troubled, no clothes could comfort him at this time. Now what is interesting to see in this text to me is the fact that you never truly get that Mordecai was sorry for not bowing down to Haman you only see that he is only mourning the result of not bowing down. Who knows what was truly going on in his mind in the moment, but we begin to see a dialogue happen between the two in the text that will begin to shift this story in yet another direction listen to these words starting in verse 5…

Esther 4:5–9 ESV

5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was. 6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate, 7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people. 9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.

third thing I want you to take note of is this..

Mordecai pleads for intercession.

Esther sends one to the King’s Eunuchs to go and see what is going on, why he wont take the clothes, why he is so distressed, and Mordecai tells the Eunuch everything, tells of this edict that was going to take place a few months from now, AND how Haman promised the king this big payoff for doing Haman’s dirty work. And gave the Eunuch a copy so queen Esther can read it for herself.

But the big thing you must see in Mordecai’s interaction in the text is the fact that he tells her you must beg and plead with him on behalf for their people. He realizes what we are about to see more clearly from the rest of the chapter that Esther is one that can go and save her people. Who can intercede on the behalf on Jews so they will not be lost to destruction. Its up to her to make sure that the people of God will not parish and as we are about to see this greatly troubles the queen.

Keep following along we starting in verse 10

Esther 4:10–12 ESV

10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” 12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said.

Esther gives a response to Mordecai essentially telling him, look I understand what is going on here. But the reality is this, its not as easy as you might think it is to get this accomplished. In fact if I go in there not called I will lose my own life, because the law in this land is simple I will be put to death unless the king calls me into his inner court.

This is backed up by Herodotus the historian I have been quoting who said, “Persian kings enforced a law forbidding anyone to approach the king without a summons. The correct protocol was to request an audience with the king through his messenger-eunuchs and await an invitation for an audience. There were only seven men in the court known as the king’s “Friends,” who were permitted “to see the face of the king.” Herodotus explains that only they could enter the king’s presence unannounced, except when he was sleeping with a woman.”

Esther says to Mordecai to even further the point, How can I intercede when I have not even seen the King for thirty days. For someone that is married it would be insane if I had not seen my bride but for her it was the norm, in fact its one of the sad realities of Esthers situation.

One Commentator notes, “Haman had access to the king, but Esther did not. Apparently she does not expect to see the king anytime soon, since he has not summoned her for thirty days. She chooses not to request an audience, perhaps expecting to be ignored. Apparently five years into her marriage, the king’s desire for her has cooled. Or given her mission, perhaps she does not wish to arouse the suspicions of the court by requesting an audience. Whatever her fears, it seems likely that the ruthless King Xerxes will not extend the golden scepter if the queen’s death would be somehow expedient to his other interests.”

So Mordecai responds again by saying this…

Esther 4:13–14 ESV

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Some think in the biblical scholarly world that Mordecai is threatening Esther here, and after thinking about it I am not so sure but I don’t dismiss that idea, remember though it was Mordecai himself who told Esther don’t tell anyone you are a Jew but now he is saying if you keep silent now you will and your fathers house will perish, even though I am confident myself that our people wont.

This other place though not specifically named is God, there is no doubt about that. He is telling her if you dont make a stand for your people God will though I am not sure how he will I just know he will, but he is really telling her. Esther who knows if all this has happened so you will be the one to save your people.

Think about it.. Was the reason queen Vashti was removed and you won the heart of the King really just God’s plan all along so that he could show you, and me, and the people of God that despite everything that seems to be going wrong that he is still with us? Did all this really happen so God could show us despite our situation that he was really with us all along?

Think about Esther for a moment before we read on to her response…

This young lady’s life was already full of tragedy losing her mother and her father, and now she is caught in this place where she is likely to perish herself, but yet Mordecai tells her did everything that happen to you prepare you for such as time as this…

Did all this really just prepare you to choose a side, a life of comfort, or a life of obedience. Even if that might cost you everything.. It was truly a defining moment for her..

Listen to what one commentator said.. Up to this point in the story, while Esther was pretending to be a pagan, she was controlled by her circumstances. She has been passive in the story, not initiating action, but following along the path of least resistance. Then comes that defining moment when she is faced with taking responsibility for the life God has given her by identifying herself with the people of God. According to one scholar, it is through this traumatic ordeal that Esther, “initially a beautiful young woman with a weak character, becomes transformed into a person with heroic moral stature and political skill.”

If Esther decides to remain silent and to continue to live as a pagan, God will use some other means to fulfill his covenant promises. Deliverance will arise from another place. Yet God has placed Esther in that era of history, in that city of Persia, and even in that bedroom of Xerxes, so that when the moment comes, he can fulfill the ancient promise through her. In this scene the interaction of human responsibility with divine sovereignty is eloquently pictured. Esther comes to this defining moment through her past decisions, whether they are right or wrong. The decision she now faces will irrevocably define her future and determine the destiny of her people as well. Her predecessor, Vashti, was deposed for taking her own initiative. If the king’s ardor has cooled toward Esther, given the intrigues of royal polygamy, perhaps Xerxes will find it expedient to allow Esther to die one way or another. She has good reason to be afraid of the consequences of her decision.

So she responds…

Esther 4:15–17 ESV

15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

forth thing I want you to right down and take note of today is this…

Esther agrees to risk her life to appeal to the King.

Like the commentator said we begin to see her really grow up before our eyes in the text.. She goes from being told what to do, to acting on her faith. And as her first act she tells Mordecai to gather all those Jews and fast on my behalf, do not drink or eat for threes, and I and my young women will do that as well, and then I will go to King, even though it might cost me everything, including my own life, and guess what If I perish, I perish, because she realizes the truth of what Mordecai had said, that she did in fact become queen for such as time as this, even if it meant losing her own life in the process.

So the stage again is reset, even though this fatal decree has been issued, we will find out very soon that God is truly up to something special. Now There are some practical and theological applications we get from the text today the first is this..

Consequences affects more than just yourself.

Listen to something I read this week. In our Western, individualized world we often have little grasp on how both our obedience and disobedience will impact others. We tend to think only of I, me, my and not about we, us, and our. Like Mordecai, we may make bigger messes than we intended, and we cannot fix them on our own. Remember: "My sin but our consequences." And know that its sister principle is also true: "My obedience but our blessings."

That is a statement that reigns true in our own day… When we fail to do our part it not only affects us, but others as well. Parents can relate to this right? Anytime we make major decisions it affects not only us but our kids and our spouses as well. That is one of the hardest parts about being married or having kids, or having a job, that what we do impacts more than just ourself. Mordecai chooses to not bow down to Haman and the whole Jewish people suffer.

In the church it works as well, If you choose to not be faithful in giving, serving, and being faithful the where the Lord has called you it affects more than just yourself if affects the whole body of believers. God places you in the places you are to be faithful stewards of all that he has given you, and when you don’t do that it affects everyone.

You can look at our own country and see the bad decisions by local, state, and national leaders and how those bad decisions have put a burden on so many people even though they had nothing to do with the situation. Everyone, including Christians would do so much better if before they made a decision or took an action that asked does this affect more than just myself, but this also leads to my next point..

God puts you where you are for such as time as this.

That famous verse in Esther 4:14 applies to you as well. Has God placed you in this place for such a time as this.. Even 19 months ago I asked that question when I became pastor of this church. Not knowing what the future would hold or what he would do, and I still dont know what he will do..

Many us have to answer many question when it comes to figuring out what God has called us to do, and where he has called us to, but there is some truth that applies to all people, one that even Esther had to choose for herself, and one of those questions is am I going to choose a life of comfort, or a life of obedience to God. Esther the queen even though she did not see the king wasn’t lacking in the comfort department I am sure. She probably had the best food and luxuries at the time, and when we get in a season of comfort it is sure hard to break out of it. I know I have been their myself, but God cares more about your faithfulness to what he has called you to do than your comfort. Sure God cares about providing for you, but he also wants you to be faithful for what he has called you to.

One more question you have to ask is this.. Am I looking for some-else to do what God has already called me to do? As a pastor I hear from other pastors this pressure to be all the people want them to be, a pressure to build the church, to bring in many guests, a pressure to make sure the finances look good, ect and that is part of the job, but its also part of your jobs as well. The pastor maybe the leader of the church, but we collectedly are the church, and as the church we each have roles so unique that it takes us all to do them. Knowing most importantly that its the Lord’s church we were bought with a price.

If God called us to have the same talents, and roles this world would be so boring, however he calls us to our own unique roles so we can see the full glory of him displayed, when the church is being the church we see how the beauty of its body manifests the beauty of Christ.

So if you are struggling to find out what God has called you to, come talk with me, but know this he has called you for such as time as this, and to be faithful to whatever that might look like.

Last point today is this..

Only Jesus provides full intercession for his people.

We see in this text a man, and a people stripped to only their sackclothes, weeping, and lamenting for someone or something to do something, and in the text Mordecai asks Esther to be that someone to save her people in the moment, but she can only do it for that moment of time, only Christ covers the sin and protects his people for all time.

See in this text we see Mordecai refuse clothing because he knows that clothing will not change the situation at hand. However Christ clothes us with his righteousness that protects us from our sin, and evil for all the rest of our days..

But most importantly Christ perished, so we will not perish. Christ perished so we will not perish. Though Esther would go before the king as a representation of her people, risking her life, she was not worthy to perish and die in her people’s place only Christ is. Only Christ is.

In fact listen to the words of Scripture…

Romans 3:21–31 ESV

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Jesus is the definition of righteousness, and to the standard of living Jesus had, and continues to have we all fall short, even those in this story today… And we are not justified in the name of Esther before God, we are only Justified through faith in Jesus Christ, because of his blood on the cross, we can have this amazing forgiveness of Sins, because his blood is without the stain of sin. He is a true and perfect sacrifice, and as we read he is the just and justifier of all who have faith in Jesus meaning as one man so simply put it.

The wisdom of God’s plan allowed him to punish Jesus in the place of sinners and thereby justify those who are guilty, without compromising his justice, and he does that for those who put turn from their sin ( repent and put their faith in Jesus ) So that noone can boast, and both Jews and gentiles can have life in no other name but Jesus. And He gets the glory, and we get him.

See Esther is going to take a step of faith for her people, but her ultimately her people needed Jesus to come and truly rescue them, and the same reigns true today. If we believe in Jesus Christ we can have someone to intercede for us in the heavenly courtroom so we can have life in name of Jesus Christ forever for all time.

Are you confident that you have someone interceding for you on this day if not here is what I want you to do today. I want you to repent of your sins ( turn away from them , and trust in Christ alone to save you and you can be confident that one will be interceding for you not only today, but for all the rest of your days, and throughout eternity let us pray. )