Esther #4

Introduction:

Connection:

As Canadians we love our holidays. Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas… We all long for these days to come around because they are feast days. They are days of great food, fellowship, and fun. They are days of great feasting, gladness, and peace. They are a time with family and friends. They are a time of rest from labour and rejoicing in the living God. Holidays are meant to be Refreshing and Rejuvenating (not that they always are—but that’s what they are meant to be). The word translated holiday in the book of Esther means a good, useful, beautiful, and pleasing day. We should long for such days.

Theme

Feasting, Gladness, and Peace

Need

We need to have a better view of what our God has done for us—so that we can respond with joy unspeakable, resting in His power, presence, and promises.

Purpose

To instruct the saints in God’s sovereign grace and salvation—to exhort the saints to feasting, gladness, and peace in response—and to instill hope within the saints for the full and final redemption that is coming our way.

Mention Text:

Esther 9:17-10:3 ESV

Summary/Recap of Last Week:

The Book of Esther takes place after the people of Israel had been sent into exile, judged by God—specifically, the Book of Esther is recounting the history of some of the exiles who remained in Persia, even after some Jews were permitted to return to the promised land.

Here is the plot recap from last week:

The King remembered and honoured Mordecai the Jew and commanded Haman to Reward Him!

Haman mournEd over the blessings that were lavished upon his enemy, Mordecai

Queen Esther presented her wish of Salvation for the Jews to the King and revealed Haman’s wicked plot

Haman begged for his life but was hunt on the gallows that he prepared for Mordecai, which satisfied the wrath of the King

Mordecai was advanced to the place and position of Haman, and he received the signet ring from the king

Queen Esther approached the King again and a new decree is given which allows the Jew’s to defend themselves from their enemies

The Jews rejoiced with gladness and honour in response to God’s saving plan through Esther and Mordecai

The Jews gained victory over their enemies and destroyed all who tried to kill them

Now, we pick up after the victory—with celebration and joy unspeakable.

PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY

(1) After the Jew’s Victory over their Enemies they Rested with Feasting and Gladness (9:17-19).

Esther 9:17–19 ESV

This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness. But the Jews who were in Susa gathered on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness. Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another.

Here we see that the immediate response of the people of God to the victory that God has granted them is a celebration of feasting and gladness! They set apart a holiday so that they would remember what God had done for them—and so that they could have hope for his future grace and deliverance. We need to remember God’s victory, God’s salvation, and God’s promises—it is only here that we find cause to rejoice with eternal pleasure and spiritual happiness.

What a stark difference this is compared to the earlier state of the Jews in their weeping and lamenting. Through a season of affliction, being downcast in spirit due to their hardships and persecution—we saw the wondrous story of God’s grace and how victory, deliverance, and salvation was right around the corner. God brought a temporal salvation to his people through Esther and Mordecai—which was but a shadow of the eternal and spiritual salvation that would come in Jesus Christ the only Saviour of mankind.

Note: God’s people often feel weighed down by the weight of this sinful and evil world. We feel the pain of the curse. We live in a fallen society. We breathe the air of a broken world. And if we’re being honest, sometimes we lose sight of God’s power, we lose sight of God’s presence, we lose sight of God’s promises. But the story of the book of Esther teaches us that God is always faithful and that He will will fulfill His promises to his people, by his infinite power and strength, and his gracious presence will never leave us nor forsake us—even when we don’t feel his nearness and when we don’t understand his purposes. He is always with us, because in Christ He is for us.

1 Corinthians 1:7–9 ESV

so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Beloved—through the pain, depression, darkness, persecution, and hardship—God is faithful in Christ, and He will sustain you—because He has already called you into the wondrous fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord—if you are looking to Jesus in saving faith, then you belong to Jesus and nothing can change that. Hear the Lord’s precious promises to his people:

John 16:20–22 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Just as the Jews were weeping and lamenting—but now are joyful and rejoicing—so too will we weep and lament as we feel crushed by this present evil age—yet we can be joyful and rejoice because Jesus has overcome this world, and has secured our inheritance in the age to come!

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus is the Prince of Peace—He is our Peace—in this fallen world as exiles, like the Jews of old who were under tribulation and trial from the wicked enemies of God—we too will experience this—but we can take heart, because Jesus has overcome the world! He is the King of kings and Lord of lords who is reigning and ruling at the right hand of the Father over all things for the sake of the church—and He is returning to make all things new and to bring everlasting life in everlasting glory for all of his people, all of his true Israel, all of those who are children of Abraham by faith in Jesus Christ.

Beloved—your weeping and lamenting—it will turn into joy unspeakable when Jesus returns.

In fact—we can experience this peace and joy now as we rest in His promises, which the Spirit uses to produce hope, assurance, and confidence. This gives way to celebrating our victorious King and longing for his return to bring our full inheritance to all those who have loved his appearing.

The Jews knew that the only proper response to God’s salvation was to respond in praise, thanksgiving, gratitude, joy, and gladness. They set apart a day so that they would remember what God had done.

So too must we remember what God has done for us in Jesus Christ, on his holy day, the Lord’s Day—Sunday. This Sabbath is the weekly celebration of the Redemption that Jesus Christ has won for all of his saints.

Let’s continue and see how this celebration unfolds and spreads to all the Jews:

(2) Mordecai obligates all the Jews to observe the Feast of Purim (9:20-22)

Esther 9:20–22 ESV

And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

Here we see that Mordecai not only feasts with the Jews in the main city, but he also records these things and sends them to the Jews in all of the provinces of King Ahasuerus, in order to obligate them to celebrate God’s wondrous grace, and to send gifts to one another and to the poor. It was a day of celebration, worship, and charity.

Note: All of God’s people, in all places, in every nation, tribe, and tongue—we are all called to give glory to God our Father for sending God the Son to save us, and for both of them sending God the Spirit to make us a redeemed child of God. Wherever we are, we are all called to celebrate God’s salvation, to worship God, and to care for one another and for the poor.

Did you know that when we gather together as a local church on the Lord’s Day, that we are coming to Mount Zion, the Heavenly City of God. As we gather together we are spiritually gathered in God’s heavenly presence, to join in his heavenly worship, with all of his saints throughout the ages. Hear from Hebrews 12:22-25:

Hebrews 12:22–25 ESV

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

As we gather for worship we come to (1) Mount Zion, (2) the city of the living God, (3) the heavenly Jerusalem, (4) innumerable angels, (5) to assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, (6) to God the Father who is the Judge of all, (7) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, (8) to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, (9) and to the voice of Jesus who speaks, preaches, and warns through the preacher who proclaims the Word of God.

As we gather for worship we gather in the presence of God in the heavenly Zion and City, with all of the innumerable angels, with all of the souls of those who have died in the Lord, and with all of the saints who are still alive on earth, in the presence of God the Father and Jesus our Mediator—and as we gather here, and the Scriptures are proclaimed, Jesus is speaking and warning through his Word and by His Spirit.

Just as all of the Jews were to be unified around celebrating God’s redeeming power—so too are we called to do the same each and every Lord’s Day as we gather for the worship of God in heaven, on earth. Except our celebration is not merely a temporal deliverance—but an eternal deliverance from hell by the blood of Jesus Christ. One pastor says:

There should constantly be a note of celebration and joy in our worship too, for we remember the death from which we have been spared. A somber tone may be appropriate for a funeral, but not for a feast day! Our tongues should be filled with such rejoicing that we can hardly wait to burst into songs of praise to celebrate the great victory that our God has won for us, turning death into life, darkness into light, the prospect of hell into the assurance of heaven.

May we not neglect this duty of celebrating and worshipping God together as his holy church, on his holy day:

Hebrews 10:19–25 ESV

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 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 with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Mordecai obligated the Jews to keep the Feast of Purim—Jesus obligates us to keep the Feast of the Lord’s Day—and here we are refreshed in his marvelous grace and salvation.

Let’s continue to the explanation for the basis of the Feast of Purim that is given by Mordecai:

(3) The Basis for the Feast of Purim is Explained (9:23-28)

Esther 9:23–28 ESV

So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.

Why did Mordecai obligate the Jews to observe the Feast of Purim? Because Haman the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews cast lots, cast pur, in order to destroy the Jews and present his plot to the King. But through God’s sovereign delay of the casting of lots, this allowed God’s people to gain victory over Haman so that his plan would fall on his own head. The lots were under God’s control, the dice were in his hand, and God worked all things for the good of his holy people. Thus, says Mordecai, they must keep this appointed time every year so that they remember how God overturned the work of the enemy—how he crushed the head of the Serpent, the enemy of God’s people.

How often do we forget that when we celebrate the Gospel—that it’s just as much salvation from Satan as it is salvation from sin. We are saved from the curse of sin, and we are saved from slavery to the Devil. We are saved from the wrath of God, and we are saved from the tyranny of the evil one. We are saved from the guilt of sin, and we are saved from the father of sin.

Beloved—you can rejoice, for your great foe has fallen:

Revelation 12:7–12 ESV

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

As Jesus himself told us: he came to bind the strong man, and so he did! He saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven—cast down. For Jesus the Triumphant Lamb has come to destroy the works of the evil one and to save his people from the deceiver, from the ancient serpent. And what is the fruit of this? The salvation and power and kingdom of God and the authority of his Christ have come! And we have conquered the evil one, just as the Jews conquered Haman. We have conquered the devil by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony! Therefore, beloved and victorious people of God: rejoice!

Mordecai wrote this letter, obliging the Jews to celebrate God’s deliverance—and the text says that he did so, so that the day might not fall into disuse.

There is always a temptation to go through a ceremony without our hearts in it. Mordecai knew this. He wrote strongly about the Feast of Purim and obligated not only an outward observance—but an inward delight. That day must not just be a day of gladness, but must be accompanied by a heart of gladness. May the Lord give us strength, may he revive us, that we would cherish the Lord’s Day, delighting in his holy feast day, that we might be met with blessings from the Word and by the Spirit:

Isaiah 58:13–14 ESV

“If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

May God fill us with a holy delight in the Lord, who is the Lord of the Sabbath, that we might be fed by the Lord our God with grace upon grace. May our hearts not fall into a formality and legalism like the Pharisees—but may our hearts join God’s worship with the pleasure of God beating within us, for at his right hand are pleasures forevermore.

And when we feel dry, may we remember that the Holy Spirit is the only one who can revive our weary soul—we must plead with him for refreshment in the presence of God:

John 6:63 ESV

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Psalm 85:6 ESV

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?

The same Holy Spirit that filled Jesus without measure for his ministry as our Mediator—is the same Holy Spirit that He has poured out upon all his saints, we have all been Anointed by the Holy One. And the same gifts of the Spirit described in Isa. 11 are available to us as we ask for God to work them in our lives:

Isaiah 11:2–3 ESV

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

Do you want more wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord, and delight in the Lord? Then pray for God to fill you with more of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life—who works through his Inspired Words in Scripture. Jesus cries out:

“ If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’. Now this he said about the Spirit” (John 7:37b-39a).

May the Lord refresh, restore, and revive us—that our affections would be quickened and strengthened—that our love for Jesus would exceed all other loves—that we might seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness.

1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

How do we drink deeper of the living water of the Spirit? By remembering God’s Grace—by the renewing of our minds our hearts and transformed (Rom. 12:1-3)—and our love grows warms at the fire of God’s wondrous grace as we celebrate all that He has done, is doing, and will do for us. God help us!

Let’s continue and see that not only does Mordecai oblige the Jews to observe the Feast of Purim, but so does Esther:

(4) The Feast of Purim is Sealed and Enforced by Queen Esther (9:29-32)

Esther 9:29–32 ESV

Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim. Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to their fasts and their lamenting. The command of Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.

Here is a second letter—the first sent out by Mordecai, the second sent out by Queen Esther which is also confirmed by Mordecai. The purpose of this second letter was probably for further weight and authority as it was also given from the Queen herself. The Queen and Mordecai, whom the Lord used to save his holy people in this story, both of them witnessed to the truth of God in his salvation, and both gave their seal and testimony to the need to remember and celebrate such wondrous grace.

Notice that the text says that they obligated themselves and their offspring to celebrate the Feast of Purim.

Note: Family worship is essential to godliness in our day to day lives. Fathers must lead their families in the worship of God, reading and praying and singing. Fathers must pass on the faith to their children, and they must wash their families with the living Word, praying for God’s blessing upon it. May God give fathers a great revival of spiritual strength to lead their families, as they live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

let’s continue:

(5) Mordecai was placed in a Position of high Honour before the King (10:1-2)

Esther 10:1–2 ESV

King Ahasuerus imposed tax on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

This is an ironic ending to the Book of Esther. Do you remember how the book opened? With King Ahasuerus flaunting his wealth? Here he is again imposing a tax on the land to build his wealth even higher. So much has happened—King Ahasuerus has just witnessed a mighty deliverance of God—Haman’s scheme was reversed upon his own head—the Jews were saved and history was altered forever…. But the King continues unchanged, seeking his own glory. One scholar adds:

This brief notice invites us to go back and reconsider the extent of the reversal that has happened for the Jews. Yes, the Jews have received rest from their enemies all around … except for one enemy, Ahasuerus himself. It was his callous indifference that enabled Haman’s edict to be signed into law in the first place! … Haman received his just deserts, and God the Great King intervened to give his people the rest that King Ahasuerus would have denied them. King Ahasuerus himself remained untouched, however. He was still in charge, still exercising his power and might in his own interests.

How often is it that wicked and pagan rulers remain untouched even after seeing God’s hand and providence all around them—how often is it that we too remain untouched by the splendour of our King in Creation and Providence, but especially in Redemption.

We busy ourselves with the pleasures of this world—sex, money, and power—distraction, entertainment, and recreation—and we forget the God of beauty, goodness, and truth who is behind it all—who gave his only Son that we might be raised from death to life, changed from children of the devil to children of God, from the tyranny of our own sinful hearts to the delight of worshipping his holy name.

Oh that our hearts would remain soft and sensitive to the Word of God, by the Spirit of God. And may we pray for each other, for our leaders, and for our government—that they would be touched by God, that they would rule in the fear of God, and that they would bring peace, righteousness, and justice to this common kingdom as we wait for the true Prince of Peace, the King of Righteousness, and the God of Justice to come back when Jesus returns—for then the Kingdom of God will last forever and ever, in true holiness and delight—when Jesus makes all things new.

Let’s look at the concluding sentence of the Book of Esther:

(6) Mordecai sought the Welfare and Peace of all his People (10:3)

Esther 10:3 ESV

For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.

The book closes with a description of the right hand man of the King—Mordecai—who was seeking the welfare and peace of his people, God’s people. God had raised Mordecai to a place of honour so that he could dispense blessings to his people. Sound familiar? Beeke writes:

This book concludes with a lovely image of Mordecai reigning as the king’s right-hand man for the peace of the covenant seed. Christ is our peace through His blood, and the gospel is His proclamation of peace to those near and far, Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:14–17). He reigns forever over heaven and earth and is enjoying the fulfillment of God’s promise that He will see His spiritual seed and be satisfied with the fruit of His sorrows (Isa. 53:10). He is a far better king than any Persian emperor, for rather than using up His subjects’ money and labor, He gives them all good gifts (Eph. 4:7–8). Are you part of Christ’s spiritual family? Has He spoken peace to your soul through the gospel of His death for sinners? Does He reign over you as your Lord? Is He your hope for glory? If so, rejoice. If not, pray for grace to surrender to Christ today.

Jesus our our Great High Priest who ever lives to make intercession for his people. He is praying for us on our behalf—he is seeking our welfare, our holiness, and he is speaking peace to us from the heavenly courtroom—and he is holding our peace by his blood.

After Jesus rose from the dead he appeared to his disciples and said: “peace be with you” (Jn. 20:26). The very disciples who fled out of fear—were met with the peace and grace of their Saviour who had just reconciled them to God. Jesus is our Peace—in Him we have Peace with God through his blood, through his life, through his resurrection, through his intercession. In Him we have redemption—we have everlasting shalom, eternal peace—He is ours and we are His.

Hear God’s promise to you, dear children of Abraham:

Isaiah 54:10 ESV

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Repent and Believe such precious promises! Continue to repent and believe such precious promises! You are in the covenant of peace, with the prince of peace, and therefore—you can rest secure, and love your triune God with all your heart as you long for his coming in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now live boldly on mission for his Kingdom and Gospel—in word and deed let the light and love of Jesus shine by the power of the Holy Spirit!

(C) God’s Sovereign Grace brings Feasting, Gladness, and Peace to his Afflicted People.

In summary: (1) We saw the Rise and Fall of Queens, (2) The Plot Against the Jews, (3) Redemption and Reversal, and (4) now we see Feasting, Gladness, and peace!

God is at work behind the scenes, always working for the good of his people, even through the suffering of this life, even while we are in exile in this sinful world, and we can know for certain that he will bring full and final victory when Jesus returns—a hope that is unshakeable. Trust in King Jesus—and live for His Kingdom which shall have no end. Let us cherish the Lord’s Day and find strength divine to live for Him for all of our days.

Closing off this sermon series I will give a wiser man than I the final words:

The kingdom of Ahasuerus has passed away, though the evil empire still remains around us in different forms. Here on earth, we are constantly still involved in a life-and-death struggle with the forces of evil. But it will not always be so. The day is coming when our King will return to claim his throne and the days of the evil empire will end. The day is coming when the angels will cry out at last, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Rev. 11:15). On that day, we too, like the elders in heaven, will fall on our faces and cry out, “Worthy is God the Father and the Lamb that was slain, by whose blood we have been redeemed for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (see Rev. 5:9). To which, all creation will simply add, “Amen!”

(C) God’s Sovereign Grace brings Feasting, Gladness, and Peace to his Afflicted People.

Amen, let’s pray.