Esther

Northside Church

June 25, 2023

FFIUC #2

Good morning,

My name is Jamey and I am the lead pastor here at Northside… It’s always good to be with you guys…

Have you ever had an experience where you looked around and asked the question… God where are you?

God where are you? If you are who you say you are, why don't I feel you, why don't I see you, why do I feel far from you? Where are you?

I have. times where life has been incredibly difficult, where my prayers seem to be falling on deaf ears. where my world just wasn’t right…

And in all my years of ministry… I know I’m not alone.

Last week I asked you the question… How many of you would say, life has turned out exactly the way you thought it would… and all I got was a lot of nervous laughter.

The older I get, the more I realize there are really two things I’m sure of.

Two things I have found certain.

Life is uncertain.

The reality of God and His truth.

One of the only certainties in life is that life is uncertain.

The other thing I am certain of… is the reality of God and His truth.

Everything else rises and falls… it flashes and fades… but God His word stands forever…

It’s why over and over again God tells us to build our lives on His truth… and to set apart Christ in your heart as Lord.

June of 1993, I walked across the stage to get my HS diploma… I had no idea what was next. My life wasn’t heading in a good direction, I was far from God. Later that summer two friends convinced me to go to Bible college… I knew something needed to change, I had no idea what else to do… so I went home and told my parents that in a few weeks, I’m moving to seattle.

That first year of bible college was one of the hardest years of my life. You’re not going to believe this… but the vast majority of people that show up to a college that's all about training people for ministry are fairly serials about God… I was not. Not yet anyway. I didn't fit… I felt isolated… alone… far from God…

That year ended, I told everyone at the school I wouldn't be back. I went back… to the same job I’d had for years, doing the same things I’d always done… but when fall came around I had this overwhelming sense of unfinished business. I went and told my boss of 4-5 years,I have to go back… he grabbed me by the shoulder and told me… if that place can do for my daughter what its done for you, would you take her with you.

And that was the first time I saw it… even though it was hard… even though I was completely unaware and didn’t feel it… felt far from God… God was there… working… in and on and through me.

That reminds me so much of the book of Eshter.

Esther is such an interesting book…

For instance…

God is never directly mentioned in any of Esther’s 10 chapters.

But the more I read it.. I started thinking it was brilliantly intentional. It’s like the author is telling us that God is present and working… even when we are far from Him, when we don’t feel Him.. even when His name is not in our hearts and on our lips.

While God is not mentioned, His hand is clearly seen.

God’s Providence is a huge theme in Esther.

What does providence mean?

God, working through the everyday, ordinary things of life in powerful and unseen ways that either go unseen or are better seen in the rearview mirror. You need to know that's true of you too. Even now… in the mundane, normal things of your life… God is at work in, on and through you.

And it is why God tells us in His word… to not worry about tomorrow… to make the most out of every opportunity… that live is a mist that’s here and then gone.

When I became a believer, that was the most overwhelming thing… seeing God’s hand in my life through the years, even though I was totally oblivious.

In order to understand Eshter, we have to give some background…

Hundreds of years before Esther, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came in and destroyed Judah, the temple, and hauled many Jews off in captivity. Babylon was later sacked by Persia… and tons of Jews were there. They were free, but not home.

King Cyrus of Persia… Decreed that the Jews could return home to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple… but only about 50K went, which left nearly 1 Million Jews in Persia.

Persia was THE top dog… the largest, most powerful empire in the world. But the Greeks were on the rise and tensions were high.

The Book of Esther opens up with the king, Xerxes also known as Ahasuerus, in the third year of his reign, throwing a 6 month party for his army, nobles, and officials. Most likely… 180 days of most likely selling the idea, planning, and preparing for a new war with the Greeks.

After that, it says he gathered the people of Susa, and threw a 7 day party, likely to celebrate victory that was sure to come. Scholars said it was basically a drunken orgy. The King called for his queen… he wanted her to put on her crown and then come parade around… basically showing her off to his guests.

Queen Vashti was the granddaughter of king Nebuchadnezzar.

Probably used to getting what she wanted… She publicly refused which angered and embarrassed the king who quickly stripped of the crown. Xerxes was known for out of control rage.

Scholars believe right after this, Persia went on the offensive with the Greeks and things didn’t go well. About 4 years later, Xerxes returned to Persia… distraught… having regrets about how things went with Vashti…

When his aids came up with this idea. Let's have a nationwide beauty contest. Only the best and most beautiful virgins from all of Persia will come…

They will receive 12 months of only the best beauty treatments and them come before the king… and which ever one pleases him the most would be crowned queen.

You're not going to believe this… but this idea pleased the king. The decree was sent out… and thousands of women were brought into the kings court…

This is when we meet Mordecai, who played some kind of role in the fortress at Susa.

He had a beautiful cousin… it says in form and feature… the historian Josephus said… she was the most beautiful woman in all of creation.

At a young age, Esther's parents both died and her cousin Mordecai adopted her and raised her as his very own.

Right away Esther’s beauty got attention… She was given favor and a special meal plan… she received 12 months of beauty treatments, and finally her day came and it says the king was blown away by her. He put the crown on her head and just like that…

This orphan girl Esther, became the most powerful woman in the world.

And that seemed to come with a promotion for Mordecai who was now seated at the gate… likely a judge in the kings court.

Morecai had warned her to keep her Jewishness a secret… so she did.

One thing… Mordecai and Eshter were Jewish, so marrying a pagan would have been unacceptable.

Many scholars believe that this was the nature of Jews in Persia… feeling abandoned and isolated, they’d fallen away from God.

One day as Mordecai was sitting at the gate, he overheard two of the king's servants who were in charge of the king's quarters scheming to assassinate the king. They had the means and access to do it. He told Eshter two told the right people… who looked into it, found it to be true and those two men hung for it.

The Persians recorded everything… This assassination attempt was recorded in the royal record and credit was given to Mordecai.

At that time… Haman the Agagite was promoted to 2nd in command in Persia… the fact that he was an Agagite matters…

Some believe Haman’s Agagiteness was included so that we might understand the far reaching consequences of disobeying God.

and some believe it was given to show the far reaching consequences disobeying God.

Way back, God had directed Israel to wipe out the Amaletikes for all the stuff they’d done to Israel… but their King Saul didn’t follow through. He allowed their King… Agag to live… and it says in 1 Samuel that the prophet Samuel confronted Saul… and then hacked king Agag to pieces…

And what we are about to see is… that bad blood between the Jews and Amalekites is alive and well.

Part of the deal with Haman and his new role was that all the officials had to Bow before him but Mordecai refused and when it came to his attention, Haman was furious. Getting back at Mordecai wouldn’t be enough… so he went to the king and said there is a large people among us that refuse to follow you decree’s… we have to get rid of them… Haman told him… we can take all they own and add it to your war chest… the king agreed.

So it says that Haman rolled the dice to appoint a day when Genocide would take place… they’d compleatly rob and destory the Jews on march 7th… nearly 11 months from that day.

Haman sent word far and wide… and the Jews were terrified.

One author said it reminds us a lot of what happened in Nazi Germany… and pointed out that it has to make you at least think about spiritual warfare… how early on Genesis talks about how there would be a seed of a woman who would crush the head of the snake (Satan)... but who would it be… Satan’s only play would be to wipe out the Jews… and is that way… throughout the course of history… the Jews consistently find themselves the target of all kinds of heinous things.

Esther had sort of lost touch with her people while at the palace. She had no idea what was happening. Mordecai came and told her and brought a copy of the decree… and told Eshter you have to do something.

She was afraid… approaching the king without an invitation could mean death… and not doubt what happened to Vashti was on her mind.

Mordecai shares what I think are the three most powerful verses in Esther.

Es 4:14–16. ESV

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?” 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.”

If you do nothing, if you are unfaithful, God will still deliver His people, but it won’t go well for our family..

But WHO knows… maybe God put you in this place… at this time… for this very reason.

And I can’t help but wonder where God might want to say that same thing to you and I. That He has placed you right where you are… at this time… for reasons we may not even be aware of. To be faithful in everyday, ordinary things through which God can do extraordinary things.

God doesn’t need the miraculous from you… that is what He does.

Faithfulness… obedience… Character… Even when we feel far from Him. Even if we’ve messed up in significant ways… God uses that.

Esther tells Mordecai to round up all the Jews in Susa and to fast for 3 days and nights, not eating or drinking anything but seeking the Lord and his provision and protection… passionately. She and her servants will do the same… and when it's over… she will face the king… and if she must die, she dies.

And she did. She put on her royal robes and went before the king who received her… and asked what it is that she wanted, that he’d give her anything… up to 1\2 of the kingdom.

She said if it pleases the king I would have you and Haman join me for a banquet today.

The king called for Haman and they went…

And I don't know if the timing was off or if she just got scared but at that banquet the king asked… What can I do for you… and she said, if it pleases the king, lets to this again tomorrow… and he agreed.

Haman was on top of the world… who gets to sit and eat with the king and queen… TWICE… as he left the meeting he went by the gate and realized that Mortecai did not bow or tremble… he became furious and went home and told his friends and family all about it.

His wife… Zeresh came up with the plan… ask the king to kill him now. Build a 75 foot pole and have him impaled on it. So Haman had the pole built.

That night, the king couldn't sleep so he had his servant come in and read from the royal record… and either by chance or God’s providence… they came to the part of Mordecai saving the king from certain assassination. The king had forgotten… and asked what had been done for the one who saved the king… the servant said… Nothing as of yet.

The next morning… Haman was the first to arrive and just before Haman could ask for Mordecai’s head… the king said… What would you suggest I do for someone if I want to honor them in the highest way…

Haman thought… surely it's me… he said I’d dress them in your finest robes and put them on your finest horse and have them led through the city as a harold shouted… THIS… THIS is what happens to the one the kind wishes to honor.

The king loved the idea… and said you… go do that for Mordecai. Can you even imagine? Seconds away from asking for his assassination, now faced with leading the enemy of his people around like that…

That night, his wife and friends told him he was in trouble. If this is how the king treats a jew… dude, that ain't good.

Later that day, the 2nd banquet happened and the king begged Esther to share what was so heavy on her heart… She said… if it pleases the king and if I have found any favor at all in his eyes… save my life and the life of my people.

The king said… who… who would be dumb enough to even come at you. And she pointed to Haman… and said that evil man.

The king was so mad he stormed out… Haman hit his knees to beg for his life and when the king returned… It looked as if Haman was forcing himself on the queen… and later that day, Haman was killed on the very pole he built for Mordecai.

Mordecai was elevated to the second in command…

The king knew that his decree to kill the jews could not be undone… so he sent a second decree out far and wide. That the jews should come together… fight… and wipe any that wish them hard.

It says they were so afraid that many converted to judaism right there.

And on March 7th… thousands of their enemies died.

To this day the Jews celebrate what is called the Feast of Purim. It's a day that they remember God's faithfulness and God's Providence. How God is true to his promises even when they are not.

And how

God uses regular people in regular places doing regular things to accomplish only what he can.

CONC…

So what does that have to do with us?

No doubt they found themselves in unfortunate circumstances… honestly… be their own doing. But even though they lost their way, even though I am willing to bet they felt abandoned and far from God… those very circumstances caused them to look for Him and for what faithfulness to Him might mean again.

Do you think this young orphan of a captive people… who was adopted by her cousin ever felt like God would or could or would use her in any significant way?

She was a regular person, doing regular things, in regular places… and you need to understand this…

God uses people just like that EVERYDAY; sometimes in ways that we will never see.

In a book that never mentions God by name… He is clearly revealed as the one who cares… as the one who is faithful and who works in behind the scenes kinds of ways… doing what He alone can do.

I do think that is why God calls us to faithfulness when things are good and when things are bad. In fact I believe, that

Sometimes it takes incredibly hard circumstances to move us to these places of looking for him, seeking him, following him as he orchestrates would only he can.

I would encourage you to look around. no matter how hard it is,

I can't help but wonder if God would say it to you too. For such a time as this I have put you in this place, in the lives of these people, to be faithful in your everyday regular things so that I can do only what I can do in you and through you.

How would your life be different if you lived like that? if you realize and understood the providential nature of God who often Works behind the scenes in ways we don't even realize. look back at your life, do you see it? do you see his hand at work even when you didn't recognize it at the time.