Untitled Sermon (10)

Blessed are the humble

Haman has just been executed and now we see this story become a blessing for Esther and the Jews. Esther is given “the whole estate of Haman.” This doesn’t just include his house but also his money, his possessions.

Esther tells the king that Mordecai is her relative and he then gives the second in command position to Mordecai.

But something still had to be dealt with, the actual law that was signed by the king to kill all the Jews. So now she pleads before the king that something be done for her people.

-Notice what Esther does here. She has already been saved, her cousin has been saved,at this point she could just forget about everything else. But that would be selfish, but she has concern for her people not just herself.

-She had everything she needed, all money could buy, she was young. Do you know how many celebrities forget about their family when they become famous? They ignore those who need help? And more than that is willing to risk herself for others?

She, in a very diplomatic way, requests the king to reverse the edict. She also uses emotion, hers and the king’s, to argue in her favor. “How could I bear” and knowing the kings love for her.

The king says that they can write whatever they would like to and sign it in his name, which can’t be revoked. The king says this all happened “because he attacked the Jews”. This is a reminder that God protects His people, that He will come to defend them when others intend harm.

What they write allows them to defend themselves and reverses the fortune that was coming against them. That they could act in self-defense.

-As it is sent out we see that the people rejoice, it was good for all the people for this not to happen.

-Those who were Jews now knew God had been on their side.

A time of celebration

We see there are still a group of people that seeks to harm the Jews, people who hated them and wished to see them dead. But God allowed them to overpower their enemies. I fact, they had help from the royal elite of the kingdom because Mordecai was given great authority from God.

Notice, their goal wasn’t wealth or to conquer anyone, it was simply protection of their people against those would seek to hurt them.

-This type of refusal of gaining wealth from this situation would be very noticeable to those who would seek wealth at every turn

-And you will notice there were quite a lot of people who sought to hurt them.

Those they killed were 1. Enemies 2. Those who hated them 3. Men, not women and children

Esther: An Introduction and Commentary Additional Note: ‘Avenge, Avenge Oneself, Vengeance’ (Heb. nāqam)

Old Testament usage makes one thing very clear, and that is that personal grievances were not to become the motivation for violent acts of vengeance. The Lord would avenge wrongs through the judges; but he was concerned for the whole of society as well as for the individual, and especially for the upholding of the covenant (Lv. 26:25), and while it was true that he heard the prayers of his people and forgave their sins, he was also ‘an avenger of their wrongdoings’ (Ps. 99:8). This warning provided a corrective to presumption and a safeguard against ruthlessness

Then they “rested” on the day now know as Purim.

-A day they would give gifts to one another

-They celebrated because God turned their sorrow into rejoices

Esther: An Introduction and Commentary (Reid) Additional Note: Purim Today

The festival of Purim is still celebrated in Jewish communities today. The festival celebrates the inviolability of the Jewish people due to God’s decisive acts of deliverance for their sake, and it provides a religious framework for the interpretation of the events of the story.

The Purim festival has become a Purim season that begins with the Shabbat Shekalim (the Sabbath of Shekels) that occurs on the Sabbath before the beginning of the month of Adar. The readings on this Sabbath commend the giving of money (shekels).

The Sabbath immediately before the fourteenth of Adar is called the Shabbat Zachor (the Sabbath of Remembrance, see notes above on 9:27–28) when the history of the enmity between Jews and Amalekites is recalled.

On the thirteenth of Adar, the Jews fast as they remember the risk Esther took on behalf of her people. The requirements on this solemn day include abstention from eating, drinking, wearing of leather shoes, washing and engaging in sexual activity. At the conclusion of the fast (on the eve of Purim), the book of Esther is read out in its entirety, preceded by the pronouncement of three blessings that praise God for his miraculous deeds. The concluding blessing reads:

Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the universe,

who has contended for us and defended our cause,

avenging us by bringing retribution on all our mortal enemies and delivering us from our adversaries.

Blessed are You, Lord, who delivers His people from all their adversaries—God who saves.

On the morning of Purim the Esther scroll is read again in the synagogue, but the mood is lighter. In fact, children dress up as the main characters in the story, and the carnival atmosphere is enhanced by the telling of jokes and the singing of songs. When Haman’s name is mentioned, children make a loud noise using various home-made shakers. Two types of gifts are sent: food parcels to friends and family, and charitable donations for the poor. Towards the end of the day, Jewish families gather together for a relaxed meal. Today it is only the Jews in Jerusalem (a walled city) who celebrate Purim on the fifteenth day of Adar—all other Jews celebrate on the fourteenth of Adar.

So the Purim celebrations today follow the events and procedures laid out in the book of Esther, providing a theological framework for its interpretation. The festival is thus a vivid reminder that unexpected reversals do happen in history, and such reversals have a permanent impact on the life of the community of faith who celebrate the powerful presence of God among them.

The end of the book shows, with the statement that he “imposed a tax” that Xerxes continued to prosper

Mordecai is also shown as “highly esteemed” because he “worked for the good of His people” and “spoke up for their welfare”.

-He didn’t just tell Esther to do this, he continued to be one who spoke in sometimes hostile environments and cared to do the right thing and not let corruption and injustice prevail.

-It reminds us of one of the important points of the book. God puts in situations where He calls us to act and choose to do the right thing. To do God’s will even in the midst of others who are hostile to us. To remember that even when it looks like God isn’t with you that He is active in your life.

-It also shows us that God was continuing to uphold the cause of His people. That God had a future for His people. That one day it would come in Christ who would reverse the fortunes of the whole world.

Hebrews 10:22-23 “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.”