For Such A Time As This

Esther 4:12  And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. 13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

To begin with brothers and sisters the text teaches us People need you when they need you. Who knows if you were not brought here for such a time as this. And the story of Esther is intriguing, interesting and inspirational because it gives the Majesty, the Military Might and the Mission of how God meticulously moves on our behalf.

Tell your neighbor: God moves in mysterious ways.

1. Let’s talk about the Majesty in the Esther text . It all began when King Ahasuerus (A has u where us) or king Xeres was hosting a banquet at his winter palace. This place was called the Palace of Susa. The Palace of Susa was perhaps the finest in all of the world at that time.

The Persian king (A has u where us) Xeres was a very Pompous powerful and prideful king, who liked to show off his regal, royal and renown, Persian Power.

Brothers and sisters king ( A has u where us) Xeres had a vast empire stretching from India to Ethiopia and also through Iraq and Iran. At that time in biblical history he was considered a Super Power.

Today in 2023 the Super powers of the world are: the US, China, the European Union, India and Russia but back then it was the Persians with (A has u where us) in charge.

In Esther chapter 1. king( A has u where us) was hosting a banquet for 7 days to impress dignitaries from around his kingdom and the known civilized world. And (A has u where us ) had a queen named Vashti. Vashti was beautiful but she was big and pregnant.

(A has u where us) got full of that wine and called for Vashti. Vashti said I’m not going and parade around in front of all your drunk friends.( A has u where us) was furious! And then all of the dignitaries egged him on and said queen Vashti dishonors my lord the king.

They said if she’s allowed to do this then all of the other women will start acting up, acting out, and showing off and we’re not going to be able to control our women anymore.’ A woman is to be loved not controlled and a man with no boundaries is dangerous. And so his nobles and dignitaries pushed him up to strip queen Vashti of her title and crown and get rid of her. And just like that queen Vashti was through.

Can I tell the story? In Chapter 2. A massive undertaking is about to happen. Every eligible pretty girl in the kingdom rich or poor, have got a real shot at being queen. The playing field was level, it was all about your God given gift of beauty. The girls had to be drop dead gorgeous, they had to be pretty and fine and lastly they had to be a virgin to qualify.

King (A has u where us’) empire was vast and wide and there were thousands of qualified gorgeous virgin girls. And during this process the Character of Esther is brought forth. Just So happened that Mordecai Esther’s cousin was brought into Babylonian Captivity by Nebuchadnezzar. Mordecai worked in the Palace of Susa. and So if you look at scripture in Esther 2:7-8 the bible tells us 7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. Mordecai adopted Esther as his own child. 8 So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

Brothers and sisters when God is in the plan He’ll grant favor to the faithful. This is a Majestic moment for Esther. Because the eunuch Hegai whose in charge of the women favors Esther. Esther has the best living quarters that was allowed for the young women. For a whole year They put Esther on a special diet with the best foods in the kingdom. They gave Esther the best beauty treatment. Esther had special make up, special anti aging body creams ,special skin treatments, special nail and nail painting and polishing care, Special body waxing ,polishing, and buffing. In modern times it would be called a total make over. The Egyptians were the only other people in the world that equalled that kind of treatment .

And so it came to pass that a decision had to be made by the king Ahasuerus Esther 2:17  And the king was pleased with Esther more than with any of the other virgins. He liked her more than any of the others, so he put a royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. 18 Then the king gave a great banquet for Esther and invited all his important men and royal officers. He announced a holiday for all the empire and had the government give away gifts.

And Queen Esther was not like Vashti , Esther was attending, appreciative, and approachable. Don’t no man like no mean woman. Stay sweet and you’ll get any thing you want out of him.

The second thing is the Military Might in the Esther text. There was a plot to kill King Ahasuerus. But Mordecai was always at the gate in the Palace of Susa, and in chapter 2 Mordecai over heard two people plotting and planning to assassinate the king. Mordecai went and told the king’s secret service and they saved the king. The incident was recorded in the daily record books of the Medes and the Persians and is a permanent record that can not be changed. Mordecai was thanked but no real honor was bestowed upon him.

In Esther Chapter 3. Haman the villain is introduced in the story. Haman found favor with the king and was honored above his fellows and was given Military Might. When Haman walked into a room of the courtyard people would bow down and kneel in his presence. but Modecai wouldn’t bow! Haman was furious with Mordecai. Haman found out that Mordecai was a Jew. Instead of killing Mordecai right on the spot, Haman devised a master plan to exterminate all of the Jews in king Ahasuerus’ vast empire.

Haman has Military Might. Haman is prideful, prejudice and powerful and Haman had out for the Jewish people. Haman has a wicked plan. The bible says that Haman went to king Ahasuerus Esther 3:8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain group of people scattered among the other people in all the states of your kingdom. Their customs are different from those of all the other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws. It is not right for you to allow them to continue living in your kingdom. 9 If it pleases the king, let an order be given to destroy those people. Then I will pay seven hundred fifty thousand pounds of silver to those who do the king’s business, and they will put it into the royal treasury.”10 So the king took his signet ring off and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jewish people. 11 Then the king said to Haman, “The money and the people are yours. Do with them as you please.”

Haman now has everything he needs to destroy the Jewish people

1.He’s got king Ahasuerus behind him.

2. Haman got government papers drawn up to oppress the Jews. Sounds like the Jim Crow south doesn’t it

3 . Haman got money and the throne backing him up. in American history the KKK had the money and the southern states and governors and legislators backing them up.

Wicked people will spend money to take you down. Because Haman use the royal money to pay for the demise of the Jews once and for all.

In Esther Chapter 4 Mordecai hears the news, tears his clothes, changes clothes and dresses up in sackcloth and ashes. Mordecai went through the streets weeping, wailing and howling. All of the Jews were fasting.

Then word got back to Queen Esther about how Mordecai was carrying on. Queen Esther sent out new clothes to Mordecai but wouldn’t put them on. Mordecai was dressed in sackcloth and ashes and he could not come to the king’s gate like that.

Mordecai sent word to Queen Esther and said Just because you’re Queen now Esther, you’re still a Jew. And Esther how long before you think that wicked Haman and his goon squad are going to take before they come after you too.Esther 4:13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Who knows whether or not that you have come to this church service today for such a time as this?

Who knows whether or not God is speaking directly into your spirit man and telling you to make some meaningful changes.

And Who knows if God doesn’t have a special blessing prepared for you today “Right Here In this Place”

And here we are watching Queen Esther the Queen to the most powerful king on earth at that time, and She’s in a rock and a hard place, She’s in trouble.

Tell your neighbor Esther’s in trouble. Because

People need you when they need you. and who knows if you weren’t brought to the kingdom for such a time as this.

All of us come to a Such a time as this moment in our lives. Either you’re the giving the help or you’re the one receiving the help. At any rate the Jews were in deadly trouble.

Queen Esther had to make a decision. She said If I die let me die but I’m going to go and talk to my husband King Ahasuerus. Esther was not supposed to go and try to talk to king Ahasuerus for 30 long days, but by then Haman would have killed all the Jews. So she can’t wait!

And how many African Americans like Dr. Martin Luther King who stood up and said the time is now. It’s now or never!!! And the bible says that God’s favor stepped in for Esther when she stepped out in that long hallway and just stood there Looking like a drop dead gorgeous diva. She could have been killed for stepping out like that and I imagine in my mind that when the king saw Esther standing there waiting on his approval to come and see him.

He must have said she’s never been out of order, so it must be important. She’s never bold and bigady, so this must be important, and she’s never arrogant or prideful, it’s got to be important.

The king suspends all of the rules of the kingdom. And low and behold king Ahasuerus held up the golden scepter and said my queen what do you need. Queen Esther said my lord the king I have a special request. I want you to hold a banquet in my honor and invite Haman, and then I’ll tell you what I really want. King Ahasuerus look at that pretty girl and said I’ll give her whatever she wants. The King liked that Esther was willing to be paraded around as his queen without a fuss and without an argument.

Esther was on a mission. And isn’t it funny how God works. God works in mysterious ways, because that night the King couldn’t sleep and called for the daily records to be read to him. Through the reading of the records the king found out that he had never rewarded Mordecai for giving vital intel on stopping an assassination attempt on his life. King Ahasuerus said what did we do for Mordecai? the servants said King, we didn’t do anything but mentioned his name. The king said well let’s change that. Let’s honor Mordecai.

Meanwhile Haman is at home with his wife and sons. They’re talking about the 75’ gallows that he has built for the hanging of the Jews. Haman said“Mordecai is going to be first one to die because I can’t stand that Jew the most”.

Right about this time (there was a knock on Haman’s door the servant said Haman the king request your presence right away) When Haman got there the bible says in Esther 6:6 So Haman came in. And the king asked him, “What should be done for a man whom the king wants very much to honor?”And Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king want to honor more than me?” 7 So he answered the king, “This is what you could do for the man you want very much to honor. 8 Have the servants bring a royal robe that the king himself has worn. And also bring a horse with a royal crown on its head, a horse that the king himself has ridden. 9 Let the robe and the horse be given to one of the king’s most important men. Let the servants put the robe on the man the king wants to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the city streets. As they are leading him, let them announce:‘This is what is done for the man whom the king wants to honor!’ ”10 The king commanded Haman, “Go quickly. Take the robe and the horse just as you have said, and do all this for Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king’s gate. Do not leave out anything you have suggested.”11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, and he put the robe on Mordecai. Then he led him on horseback through the city streets, announcing before Mordecai: “This is what is done for the man whom the king wants to honor!”

This is how God works. Haman hated Mordecai and God fixed king Ahasuerus’ heart to make Haman honor the man he so desperately wanted to kill. So Haman goes home in shame. and right after that the king summoned Haman to come to the banquet.

Haman still doesn’t really know the connection between Mordecai and Queen Esther. Mordecai raised Queen Esther like his own daughter. Haman didn’t know that she was a Jew. and that she’s hosting the banquet.

And when Haman got there He should have saw red flags flying because he was the only guest invited to that big old banquet. Haman should have said I’m the only one here. That can’t be good. Haman should have said The way king Ahasuerus likes to brag and boast I got to be in trouble.

But Haman is blinded by his ego. If something seems to be too good to be true, it usually is. And so chapter 7 says the King and the queen and Haman are eating and drinking. Everything looks good until the king said “well my queen what do you want me to do for you?” The bible says in Esther 7:3 Then Queen Esther answered, “My king, if you are pleased with me, and if it pleases you, let me live. This is what I ask. And let my people live, too. This is what I want. 4 My people and I have been sold to be destroyed, to be killed and completely wiped out. If we had been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because that would not be enough of a problem to bother the king.”5 Then King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he? Who has done such a thing?”6 Esther said, “Our enemy and foe is this wicked Haman!”Then Haman was filled with terror before the king and queen.

My My My how the tables have turned. The wicked mission of Haman have just collapsed right before his eyes. And the Righteous Mission of Queen Esther has just begun.

The king is highly upset that he has been played by Haman and then against his pretty and fine new wife , Queen Esther. The King is furious and leaves out of the banqueting hall.

Queen Esther goes in her bedroom chamber. Haman is full of that wine and follows Queen Esther to her chambers to beg for his life. Esther is laying on this bed like couch and Haman slips and trips and falls face first right in her lap.

Meanwhile the King comes in while its happening in real time. And the king says Haman What you doing with my Queen! in my house. What! You attacking my Queen in my face. You don’t lost your mind “Guards 2x .

Start closing

The servants took Haman put a black cloth over Haman face.

They carried him out to the same 75 foot gallow that he was going to hang Mordecai on.

They hung Haman, and killed his wife and ten sons.

And just about this time, Esther said my king please recall the order to kill all of the Jews all over the empire.

The king recalled the order and the Jews were safe.

And in 2023 if we are ever in trouble we can call on the Lord and the Lord will come see about us. Oh yes He will then I heard

Yes Then lastly the king made Mordecai an royal official in the kingdom. And what the devil meant for bad God turned it around for his good.

And the last thing I want to tell you is that People need you when they need you and who knows if you were not brought to certain situation for such a time as this.