For Such a Time as This

Intro

Text - Esther 4.13-14

Esther 4:13–14 NASB 2020

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

Title - For Such a Time as This

Background

Jewish Diaspora in babylon - after the 70 years captivity many Jews remained in Susa in Babylon under the reign of Persian kings

Hadassah was placed in the care of Mordecai her ucle

the palace called for a replacement of the queen who shamed the king before his guests. Esther was placed among the candidates

After a year of preparation she stood before the king, who was captured by her beauty. She became queen

The book of Esther is a book of deliverance

a unique deliverance because God saved His people from their enemies by means of a woman - not by military might or judges

Haman - the enemy

embodiment of the evil forces that want to destroy the people of God

he paid/donated to the king’s treasuries for the king’s signature of a law that would exterminate Jews

Esther - God’s deliverance

her experiences were like fairy tale, but God’s plan was different

Mordecai - God’s minister

he showed Esther God’s purpose in her life

Jesus challenged his disciples -

be ready to face the same as he experienced because of the gospel

do not be hindered by fear

speak out

Matthew 10:24–33 NASB 2020

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he may become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household! 26 “So do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are two sparrows not sold for an assarion? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31 So do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows. 32 “Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

Story - Deitrich Bonhoeffer