For Such A Time As This
Notes
Transcript
Have you ever been in just the right place at just the right time?
Years ago I was leading a mission trip the summer after 9/11. One particular student was “randomly selected” to have his luggage searched after a 30 minute ordeal at the ticket counter. He then was randomly selected to be re-screened by wand at the boarding gate as we were about to board our aircraft.
Last week we began our series through the book of Esther, and I introduced you to the various characters. I shared with you how Esther becomes Queen of Persia and Media by simply being present. Unlike my young friend on that mission trip, Esther was not randomly selected, she was chosen. She was chosen for her beauty which pleased the king.
We learned that Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, had discovered a plot against the king and let Queen Esther know who then let King Xerxes know, and the men were hung.
The part where we begin to see something of God’s providence comes in chapter 3 & 4 where we are today. Haman, whom we see described as an Agagite at the opening of chapter 3.
After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him.
The term Agagite is an epithet from the Jewish perspective. It likely means that Haman was of the line from the Amalekite king, Agag, enemy of Saul. He was commanded to destroy every last man, woman and child because they had opposed Israel on when they came up out of Egypt. The Amalekites have been an enemy of Israel throughout the Old Testament. Pronouncing Haman an Agagite reminds us that he is an enemy of the Jews in the sharpest of terms.
As the story progresses we see all the kings servants bowing down before Haman, which he apparently liked very much. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to Haman, and that makes Haman very angry. Finding out that Mordecai is jewish, Haman determines not only to destroy Mordecai but all the Jews as the people of Mordecai.
Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.
It takes 12 months for the edict to spread throughout the empire due to it’s vastness.
Upon hearing of the edict Mordecai immediately begins fasting and puts on sackcloth and ashes - symbols of mourning. And he wales in his grief even approaching the entrance at the king’s gate. He’s not the only one, throughout the entire empire wherever the kings command reached there was great mourning among the Jews with fasting and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.
When Esther hears of Mordecai’s behavior she sent him garments but he refuses. So Esther sends one of her attendants to find out why he’s doing this and why he’s refusing the clothes she sent.
Mordecai shares with Hathach, Queen Esther’s attendant, the entire plan and even gives him a copy of the decree issued in Susa for the Jews destruction. His hope is that Queen Esther might go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people.
The plot thickens as we learn from Esther in response to Mordecai’s plea for her to go to the king,
“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.”
There are details here about the kings court and about the relationship Esther has with the king. In his court, it is ruled by him and he alone. If you’re not called, don’t come because you will be at the mercy of the whims of the king in the moment.
Also there is that one tidbit of information Esther shares, “I have not bee called in to the king these thirty days.”
One asks “why?” Perhaps the kings interest in Esther had begun to wane. We really don’t know.
Mordecai’s response though is powerful.
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.
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?”
That last sentence is perhaps the key phrase in all of the book of Esther.
Esther 4:14 (ESV)
... who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
One of the greatest tenets of the reformed faith, I believe, is God’s sovereignty. Verse 14 gives Mordecai’s trust in that as well and his hope. He begins with “If you keep silent…relief and deliverance will rise…from another place...”
Mordecia recognizes the jews and their intimate relationship with the Creator God. He has a hope for their deliverance and that it will come, and he is not sure how. But it will come.
However, he also prompts Esther in a way that we can all be prompted. Are you where you are for a reason? Are you here for such a time as this?
In the New Testament, specifically in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 7:7-8:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
There are specifics here in our prayer life.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Step 1 - Ask - Ask God about the problem that you are facing.
Step 2 - Seek - what are your options, what are your alternatives, and what are the consequences to those various alternatives?
Step 3 - Knock - Knocking is a verb, it is an action, it takes us doing something. We can’t just be passive, laisse faire, and do nothing. We have to step up and recognize we are where we are for a reason.
In Isaiah we read:
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
There’s a boldness here - Here I am! Send me!
But it’s going to be scary. It’s wrought with challenges. I’m worried about the kings whims. Do I stay? Do I go? When? How?
We’re going to see how Esther answered these questions.
In the mean time let us consider where God has put us.
Where has God placed you in your life?
What unique gifts do you bring?
How has God positioned you to make a difference for the Kingdom?
Wherever you are, whatever situation you are in, whatever gifts you think you may or may not have, know that God goes with you. Jesus in fact reminds us:
Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
That sort of reminds me of the commercial where the pup is trying to fend off the wolf and unbeknownst to him there’s a group of giant Clysedales are standing behind him.
God has brought us to this time and place
Esther 4:14 (ESV)
...for such a time as this!
to the glory of God. Amen.
Let me pray for you.