Esther

Introduction

Interesting Point:

Esther The Joyous Rite of Celebration

It’s interesting that during World War II the Nazis hated any mention of the Book of Esther. In fact, one historian recorded that if a Jew arrived at one of the concentration camps with the Book of Esther in his or her possession, that Jew was immediately put to death.3

The Nazis wanted no message of hope or deliverance whispered inside the barracks of the death camps. Still, many of the inmates of Auschwitz, Dachau, and Treblinka produced written copies of the Book of Esther from memory and then huddled together, reading them quietly to each other in secret during the Feast days of Purim.4

This is story know and to remember. It is a story of a Great Man and a Great Woman of Courage and Faith.

Tell the Story - Bible’s Game of Thrones

Scene 1 - The King and His Queen

King Xerxes / AHASUERUS (mighty and poweful), ruled Persia which was 127 Providences from India to Ethiopia - most of known world.

Held a BIG PARTY - lasted for 180 days for all his officials

Then a party for all of those in the city of Susa for 7 days

His Queen VASHTI - held a party for the women

At the end of the Party - he ordered several of his men to bring Queen Vashti with here crown to show her off - she was very beautiful.

BM BM BM - QUEEN VASHTI REFUSED.... BM BM BM

KING AHASUERUS - very angry - What to do with her?

Her refusal will be known by all the women in the land they will begin refusing their husbands. Mayhem will ensue.

King - was bannished from coming into the King’s presence every again.

After some time, King Ahasuerus was beginning to get lonely. A search for a queen began: Gather all the beautiful young women to come before the king. Whomever he favors among them will be Queen.

Scene 2 - A New Queen Is Chosen

Years past, Nebuchadnezzer the King of Babylon carried away the Jews from Jerusalem.

One of the descendants of those carried away was in the city of Susa and his name was Mordecai

Mordecai was raising his cousin who had lost her parents. He was raising her as his own daughter.

Her name was Hadassah - we know her by the name of Esther.

Esther was very beautiful. She did not have the predominant Jewish physical traits that was common with the people in those days. I.E. She did not look Jewish.

Esther was one of the young women who was chosen to go before the king. (1 YEAR PREPARATION- 6 months myrrh, 6 months spices and ointments)

Ladies - can you imagine? If your husband asked you out on a date but first you had to go through a year long COSMETOLOGY SCHOOL to get ready for that first meeting?

Long story, short - Esther was taken before the King. The King loved her more than any others.

Esther was made Queen.

Now don’t miss this.

A Young, Lowly, Orphaned, Jewish Peasant girl - is now suddenly Queen of all of Persia.

Sub Plot

Mordecai - remember him - he overheard a plot to kill the King.

Mordecai - told Esther about the plot.

Esther told the King

King found the men behind the plot (Bigthan & Teresh) and executed them by hanging.

This was written down in a BOOK. (Remember this…)

Scene Three - Death Decreed

After all of this, King Xerxes promoted Haman (who is an Agagite/Amalekite) to be in charge of all the officials.

All the king’s servants were to bow and honor Haman.

MORDECAI the Jewish refugee - refused to do this.

Haman became angry with Mordecai.

Haman sought to destroy ALL THE JEWS (Mordecai’s people) for this transgression.

The determined the BIG DAY OF DESTRUCTION OF THE JEWS

12 Year of Xerxes Reign, 12th Month

Haman presented to the King...

There are jews scattered among you. They do not keep the king’s laws and therefore it is in the kings best interest they be destroyed. I will pay 10,000 talents of silver to those who will carry out this deed, so - dear King - they can put that $$ into your treasuries.”

King Ahassueres Agreed - the edict was sent out to all 127 providences.

THE DAY IS SET, 12TH MONTH OF XERXES 12TH YEAR ON THE 13TH DAY - ALL JEWS WERE TO DIE ON THAT ONE DAY.

— So here we are — A Persian King agreed with an Amalekite Official to annihilate all the Jews. Big fly in the ointment here .... the King’s Queen - whom he loved is Jewish.

Scene 4 - Decision to be Made

Mordecai learns of the scheme and went into mourning.

Esther sought out Mordecai to find out what was going on and she learns of the plot. Mordecai sent word to Queen Esther - commanding her to go into the king and beg to change his mind on behalf of their people. (Remember nobody knows Esther is Jewish).

Esther - replies “I can’t just walk into the king’s presence. That is certain death.”

Modecai - You have to, even if you keep silent and deliverance comes for the rest of the Jews - you will not survive this.

“Who knows, perhaps this is why you have been placed in the Kingdom for such a time as this!”

Esther - go hold a 3 day fast on her behalf - then I will go to the king. Even though it is against the law.

=== RISK, COURAGE, FAITH

Scene 5 - Risking it All

After 3 days - Esther puts on her royal robe, enter’s the presence of the king (risking her life).

THE KING INVITED HER IN....

“What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.”

Whew!!!!

Esther - Come to a banquet today I have prepared - just you and Haman.

At end of Banquet - King to Esther : “What is your wish? It shall be given to you, even to the half of my kingdom.”

“Come to a feast tomorrow - just you and Haman”

Now at this time, Haman is feeling pretty good about himself. He has been invited to 2 banquets with the King. Just him. Nobody else.

Struts through the King’s gate - and who is there? MORDECAI

Guess What - Mordecai did not bow or honor Haman.

Now HAMAN is reminded - He gets furious.

Haman’s wife suggested - go build a gallows 50 cubits high. Then go to the feast and tell the King to hang Mordecai.

Notice Haman’s PRIDE. He is boasting, now he is so confident - he is not going to ask the King to execute Mordecai - He is now going to TELL HIM to execute. He is so fully confident in his own abilities - he builds the gallows.

Conclusion: The Great Reversal

Remember that book where it was written down about how Mordecai saved the king from assisination earlier?

The night before the morning feast the King could not Sleep. He called for that book to be brought him.

The King read about how Mordecai has saved his life.

The King honored Mordecai. - sent Haman to put on Mordecai the royal robes, placed him on one of the king’s horses and lead him through the city announcing “This is the man the King delights to honor.”

Aftewards at the feast Esther prepared for the King and Haman - the King asked - “What is your wish?”

Esther 7:3–5 NIV

3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.” 5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”

The GREAT REVERSAL

The King ordered Haman to be exectuted on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai.

Took the King’s ring from Haman’s hand and gave to Mordecai

Esther put Mordecai over the House of Haman.

Esther pleaded with the King to reverse his former edict to happen on the 12year of his reign, the 12th month and the 13th day.

The King sent a letter to all provinces that allowed the Jews to gather, defend and destroy anyone who comes to destroy them.

On the 13th day, of the 12th month - the Jews in all the providences rose and defeated those coming to destroy them. In the city of Susa alone over 500 men were killed plus the 10 sons of Haman.

Aftewards the Jewish people held a feast and celebrated their deliverance from sure death and annihilation. They call the feast Purim (remember Pur/Lot).

It is still celebrated today - according to the command of God.

What a story. A Great story of Hope - of Fear and Courage. A Great story of Faith.

Where is God in this Story?

The book of Esther has been debated for centuries whether it is divine spiritual writing to be contained in Holy Scripture. The reason - there is not 1 mention of God in this book. Not 1 mention of his name. It is the only book in the Bible that does not contain the name of God in any of it’s pages.

However, while this is great story for our reading. A great and fabulous account of Queen Esther’s and Mordecai’s courage and faith - it is a story most importantly all about GOD - even if the Father is not mentioned by name.

God is found all through out

The rebellion of Vashti

The courage of Esther

In the Protection of Esther

The rise of Esther to Queen

The purpose of Esther to fulfill His plan

The Defeat of Haman

The Deliverance of God’s People from certain death

Where God is found = the Gospel is revealed.

When we return we will discover the GOSPEL in the book of Esther

Gospel in Esther

Commoner rises to Royalty

Esther a common jewish girl, rises to be Queen. First time in Perisan history, the king forsook centuries of poltical tradition and placed the crown on the head of a young common girl - a peasant, orphan, foreigner and child exiled Jews.

Us: We are the fallen sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. We are common sinners alienated from God. BUT GOD allows us to be adopted as sons and daughters into HIS royal family. - Full rights and priviledges.

He will also crown us as His bride and let us reign with Him in the future eternal kingdom. 2 Tim 2:12 Rev 22:5

2 Timothy 2:12 NIV

12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;

Revelation 22:5 NIV

5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

We will trade the common clothes of mortality for the royal robes of immortality

We will trade the body of failure and imperfection for the glorified body that is sinless and perfected in holiness

We will trade the sorrow and sadness of earth for the joy and pleasure of heaven,

We will trade the fear and uncertainty of speaking to an invisible God for the thrill and wonder of speaking to God… face-to-face.

How can this be--- The King of Kings has chosen you, a commoner to be His bride.

The Inescapable Edict of Death

King Xerxes published an irrevocable, inescapable edict of death.

Hebrews 9:27 NIV

27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

In Esther - the Jewish people were not condemned to die because of what they had done - instead they were condemned for WHO they were.

It is the same for us today - we are under the edict of death not for what we have done, but because we are part of the human race.

murderer and the moral man will experience the same death.

Rich and Educated, poor and illiterate, Serial killer and social worker

All under the inescapable edict of death.

Romans 6:23 (NIV)

23 For the wages of sin is death,

We are completely defenseless against the justice of God’s edit. There is absolutely nothing we can do to avoid death.

We busy ourselves with all sorts of activities and devices to avoid this inescapable edict.

Intercession is Made

In our story - after 3 days of solitude, Esther suddenly appeared before the king without introduction and interceded on behalf of her people to rescue them from this inescapable death.

She risked her own very life to save theirs.

Jewish tradition has taught for centuries that the dead will come to life after 3 days from the start of the final judgement. Based on a misinterpretation of

Hosea 6:2 NIV

2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.

Proper understanding realizes this a picture of the resurrection of Christ.

Jesus rose from the grave and stands before God the Father, interceding on our behalf. He did not just RISK His life, He GAVE his life for us.

The Petition is Accepted

We see too that The Father gladly receives the petition of the Son and welcome all those who come through Him in faith.

John 14:6 NIV

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

A New Edict Is Delivered -

This is an edict of Life

Hebrews 7:25 NIV

25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

2nd half of Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 (NIV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The 2nd edict begins with one of the greatest words in the Bible - BUT… It’s critical.

In conversation with others - whatever comes after the word BUT is what really matters.

“That was a great job, BUT....”

“We really enjoy have your son in our class BUT...”

“Everything looks good, BUT..”

It has the abilty to NULLIFY what comes before it.

Rom 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

An inescapable edict of judgement --- BUT now an opporunity for Rescue - for salvation.

John 11:25 NIV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

None of us can avoid the edict of death - But all of us can, by faith in Jesus Christ - accept a new edict of LIFE.

Sermon Conclusion

Notes

Special Note: Haman was an Agagite. Agagite was the descendants of Agag, King of Amalekites or at least from Amalekite heritage

Samuel put Agag to death in 1 Sam 15:2-23.

Amalekites were enemies of the Jewish people since the days of their wandering in the desert.

While they were wandering, tired and worn out - some would lag behind the greater population.

The Amalekites would lie in waiting and attack those in their weekend state.

The were the Pirates of the Desert. (Deut 25:17-19)

The New International Version Chapter 25

19 When the LORD your God gives you resto from all the enemiesp around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalekq from under heaven. Do not forget!

God decreed that his people would totally destroy the Amelekites because of their terror and treachory.

God instructed King Saul to attack and destroy everything associated with the Amalekites. This included the people, the possessions, the livestock - including King Agag.

Saul follwed these instructions but he spared King Agag and the best sheep and cattle. They kept all that was good and destroyed all that was weak and bad.

---- This was God’s last straw with Saul. He sent Samuel to Saul to tell him Israel would now be split. Saul would lose the kingdom.

Samuel called Agag in before the king and killed him as God instructed.

So to say that the Jewish people and the Agagites (aka Amalekites) were enemies is quite an understatement.

So that’s the background with Mordecai would not kneel before and Amalekite and why the Amelekite hated the Jew, especially Mordecai for refusing to bow and honor him.

Underneath this was God’s plan and fulfillment of his promise that He would blot out all Amalekite from the earth.

Esther was being used to fulfill the purposes of God.