Remembering to Celebrate Part 1 (Esther 9:24-28)

Esther 9:24-28

GBCCR 10/5/25

Introduction

Comments-

Last week we had a great time visiting the church that Liz’s dad once pastored in Fort Bragg and had a good vacation, with a little bit of sickness but a lot of together time

So thank you Don for getting James started

We had a great time at the Man of God conference yesterday, learning about men who belong to God, bring others to Christ, and build up others… plus some great food

And thankful to have the Gayton Men representing trail life in uniform

Prayer

Lord, we pray for Gail Cor-on-Don-ee’s surgery this upcoming week, may it go well and her recovery is quick. Give Chris strength and health to care for her over the following weeks

We pray for Judy Stork’s recovery from her surgery as well

And lord, may you grant the gayton’s and others great opportunities to serve others and grow as men in trail life

Now lord, let us learn to celebrate well

Catch- Imagine a holiday where kids dress up, wander around the neighborhood in costumes, make joyous noise, and receive sweets from all over the place

I’m not talking about Halloween. I’m talking about a biblical Jewish holiday that involves costumes, candy, and the reading of the Scriptures

Purim is the biblical holiday celebrated worldwide in Jewish communities in March. It’s a joyous holiday on which the Jews celebrate the rescue of their people recorded in the book of Esther.

And every year they read the same story and go through the same traditions, which is a great reminder of a salvation that occurred millennia ago

For Christians,

Purim reminds us of God’s providence and sovereignty over all human lives.

Even people are not following god properly like Esther and Mordecai , we’re blessed by God’s providence.

God’s great providence means we get a glimpse of what God does through people—including us.

This yearly reminder exists for how easily we forget

God over and over again calls Israel to remember

Deuteronomy 9:7- “Remember, do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.

Samuel calls for a rock of remembrance

1 Samuel 7:12- Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

Ebenezer = the stone of help” or “the stone of the helper.”

Samuel is reminding them, at Ebenezer we they not have help because they pridefully tried to force GodBut when

But when they humbly submitted, God helped

Jeremiah needed to remember in the dark time of the destruction of Jerusalem

Lamentations 3:21–23- This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

And as Peter is close to dying, he writes his letters to the churches, giving his purpose

2 Peter 1:13- I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,

We need times to help us remember who our God is

Review

Esther has shown us God is working silently through hidden providence

It comes after Lamentations in the Jewish cannon which ends with whether God has rejected Israel

Esther shows God has not forgotten them

While it looked like the Jews would be wiped out through Satan’s great attack using the ancient enemy Haman

They are spared when Queen Esther reveals she too would be killed

Mordecai is raised up to second command

He makes it legal for them to defend themselves

And they have victory over the many people who attacked them

We’re in Act 4- The Triumph of the nation of priests

But even in their great triumph, they avoided the temptation of greed and forsook the plunder

This was possibly in response to remembering how the Israelites had previously tried ot take the plunder for themselves

Then v16 began Act 5- Mordecai’s success for the purpose of blessing others

We saw how God used Mordecai to calm down a growing conflict

The divide between Big City and rural community over what day to celebrate seemed to be a big enough deal to be mentioned over and over again

We saw some important biblical commands on peacemaking

So today, we get to see part 1 of what to celebrate

Let us stir up our memory, celebrating what and who to God’s glory

Remember again the right reason to celebrate (9:24-28)

They rehearsed their salvation (24-26)

Explanation

Verse 24 begins with the reason for celebrating

There was a great danger and they were rescued from it

Dr Will Varner of Master’s University, who spent much time with their Israel program, wrote, “I once heard a description of a Jewish holiday as ‘They tried to kill us. God delivered us. So let’s eat.”’

Haman had a long history of coming from the family of Agag, who was an Amalekite that attacked Israel again and again

He grew up with that animosity of his ancestor Agag being defeated by King Saul

And so he was born to be an enemy of of the jews

And he used all his powers to plot against them

But what is fascinating about this word plot, is not it’s meaning of plans made

But where else it is used

Genesis 50:20- “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

“Meant” could be translated plot as the Jospeh’s brothers wanted him gone

But God’s plan was good, salvation

Here a dark trial came upon the jews as the man with power cast pur, or lots to determine when they would all die

But as we seen God says He is in control

Proverbs 19:21- Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.

With the danger given they jump straight to the solution

In verse 25 it gives the king credit

we who have read the story much point out that it was the king’s fault in the first place

And yet, he still did good to give the evil man his comeuppance… what he deserved

This is what wisdom says will happenProverbs 5:22- His own iniquities will capture the wicked,

Proverbs 5:22- His own iniquities will capture the wicked, And he will be held with the cords of his sin.

So we should rejoice over good things coming out of the sinful government and courts

Much recently the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals filed a preliminary injunction affirming Jessica Bates’ rights and allowing her to reapply to adopt, free of discrimination.

Bates was not willing to take a child to “medical appointments for gender transitions,” but she would love and accept any child placed with her. Several months later, officials informed Bates that she did not “meet the adoption home standards” and barred her from adopting any child through the state

Bates sued state officials in April 2023, stating that their denial violated her religious rights and free speech rights

And after a long battle, she’s allowed to adop again

Illus…we need to remember

A picture is worth a thousand words because a picture helps you remember those thousand words. "Hear a piece of information and three days later you'll remember 10 percent of it. Add a picture and you'll remember 65 percent.

But if you want to really remember… add the stress hormone cortisol, which allows your brain to hardwire the memory in

Pain lodges into memory and even enhances memory for an event.

I know I can remember so well with one of my children having a horrible accident

And that image is seared into my mind

God purposefully uses pain for your good in the form of discipline to guide you back onto the right path so "that we may share his holiness.

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Heb. 12:10-11).

Let the hard times sear into your mind a strong image of God’s holiness and goodness

Let me give some applications

You need to recollect how God has brought you through the hard times

When God spoke about the difficult 40 years crossing the wilderness, his perspective was very different

Deuteronomy 8:15–16- “He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint. “In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.

Wouldn’t it be nice if God waved a magic wand and gave us perfect lives this instant ?

But if this happened , instead of having to trust God day to day , wouldn’t you take the credit for your success?

But we are called to remember how God got us through

Deuteronomy 8:18- “But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Dr John Gottman, argues that one measure of the strength of a marriage is how husbands and wives view their past — how they tell their story . Couples who have a positive view of their story are able to maintain a positive view of each other and their marriage

You must tell the story of your previous difficulties are a call for you to remember God’s previous faithfulness

Do you ever notice how we Christians tned to live better when things are more difficult than easy?

We pray more, we read our bibles more, we fight sin

So we need memorials

I hope you noticed that they are celebrating the evil of Haman returning on his own headso should we rejoice over the defeat of evi

so should we rejoice over the defeat of evil

While we are to be should never rejoice over bad things happening to people

Proverbs 24:17–18- Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Or the LORD will see it and be displeased, And turn His anger away from him.

The New Testament tells us we can rejoice over God’s justice saving us from the wicked

2 Thessalonians 1:6–7- For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,

Too many people want the judgment to prove they are right, not that God saved them

We must choose to be confident without being arrogant

Trans: And the remembrance wasn’t just personal

They required ongoing remembrance (27-28)

Explanation

Having this holiday established by Mordecai the Jewish people accept it and spread it

A tradition to celebrate is not expected not just for them

But for their children

Just as a ‘mixed multitude’ had joined Israel in the exodus, so the events celebrated in Purim follow the pattern of the exodus and include more than just the Jews

And this remembrance spreads for generations

And we think this was followed all the way into the first century,

Jewish historian Josephus mentions it

And there is some evidence that Jesus celebrated this holiday

Turn with me to John 5

John 5:1- After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

There is much debate over which this is

We know that it cannot be other certain holidays because

John 6:4- Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.

John 7:2- Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near.

So, what comes right before Passover in April and the feast of petecost in June?

Purim in March!

Our savior probably followed this tradition

Illustration point- We must pass on what we believe is important to remember

Every generation of the church is teaching the next by what we celebrate

One famous Bible professor saidIf I have learned anything in 35 or 40 years of teaching, it is that students don’t learn everything I teach them. What they learn is what I am excited about, the kinds of things I emphasize

If I have learned anything in 35 or 40 years of teaching, it is that students don’t learn everything I teach them. What they learn is what I am excited about, the kinds of things I emphasize again and again and again and again. That had better be the gospel.

Ongoing remembrance only happens if we really love it

Application

While I do not believe you and I are commanded to celebrate Purim or other Old Testament holidays

Simple answer, No

Romans 14:5–8- One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

There was a great conflict here between the Jews and gentiles over what to do with Holy Days

Paul’s response?

Whether you celebrate or not…realize you are here to serve Jesus

So don’t judge others who think differently

Just make sure you’re doing it because of Jesus

And so notice how Paul describes the way we celebrate the festivals in

1 Corinthians 5:8- Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Let us live the Christian life in a holy way

It is about saying no to sin described by the leaven and yes to God

So, let us be careful of how we make celebrations about us

I know many people think of Halloween as the high holy day of Satanists

But it is not the most important day

The Satanic Bible says "The highest of all holidays in the Satanic religion is the date of one's own birthday. ... So, the Satanist celebrates his own birthday as the most important holiday of the year."

They are reflecting on a normal human problem with too many celebration..

We make it about ourselves

Birthdays are whatever I want to do

But Noel Piper reminds us that even birthdays be a time for thanksgiving towards Christ(forgive the long quote, but its good)

(forgive the long quote, but its good)

significant events – birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, funerals – honor particular people. At those times, how do we demonstrate that God is at the heart of every celebration? Can we honor God appropriately while focusing so much attention on people? How do we keep God at the center?

We can answer those questions in various ways. Paul said, “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Ac. 17:18); “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:36). Through Him we have birth and life and every thing and every person in our lives. So God is the reason we have anything to celebrate. He is the ultimate source of our celebrations. As we read in James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” When we realize that the child, spouse, the life, the friends, the family are all gifts from our Father, it makes every celebration a “thanksgiving” day, a time to express our heart of thanks to God.

Her husband, John Piper sasy “If created things are seen and handled as gifts of God and as mirrors of His glory, they need not be occasions of idolatry – if our delight in them is always also a delight in their Maker.”

So let us celebrate with Christ centeredness

Plan with Christ at the center.

Important as it is to make food and decorations

we don’t just plan for the food and drink,

Let us make Jesus at the culminating point.

Instead of a prayer being what we just need to get to so we can eat

We need to get more excited when we’re thanking God

Or even in the planning

True feasting is not about being socially comfortable, but having the heart of Jesus to ask, “Who should we invite to dinner?”

Luke 14:12–14- And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

We should be those who love, not to get, but because christ has already gotten us

Speak a Godward word

. Have someone lead by expressing the purpose of the party,

whether it’s to express universal gratitude to God (Thanksgiving), or celebrate God’s sending his Son to save us (Christmas), or his resurrection from the dead (Easter), or thanking God for someone’s life (birthday) or marriage or labors (anniversaries).

Every celebration can be a time to thank Christ

Stephanie Welch gave a great list when I asked about ideas on facebook

Thanksgiving is a great time for thankfulness for His sacrifice. Valentines day can be a celebration of true Love that laid down his life for His friends. Labor Day reminder that Christ has prepared good works for us that we may walk in them. Also that work is a gift from God to man pre-fall. St. Patrick's day, the true story of Patrick bringing the gospel to his enemies. New Year's Day, you are a new creation in Christ and the gospel has the power to allow you to put off your sin and put on Christ-likeness. Halloween, Christ has conquered death and sin, also the Reformation. Juneteenth freedom from the slavery to sin through Jesus.

Thank God together.

Feasts are made holy “by the word of God and prayer”

1 Timothy 4:4–5- For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

Make it a time of prayer

Therefore

Since we have seen (Cohesion)- part 1 of celebrating

They remember what they had been saved from

And they passed it on

Next time we’ll see who they celebrated

We know we must (Resolution)- Remember and forget

Paul makes an interesting comment about remembering

Philippians 3:13–14- one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

This is the context of Paul saying all the things he used to boast about what he had done is nothing

Don’t we often remember how great we used to be? How good were things in the past?

But even in the best case, that is focusing our remembrance on the gifts of God, not God Himself

We need to remember our Ebenezers of God’s work

This is exactly what the hymn Come thou Fount speaks of

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy, never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Here I raise my Ebenezer

Here there by Thy great help I've come

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home

Songs remind us of the truth, do they not?

We are forgetful, so we must remember Jesus Christ

Tim Chester writes, “For Christians our Ebenezer is the cross. At the cross, we see the seriousness of sin, the weight of glory, and God’s generous help to sinners. We raise up the cross and say: “Thus far the Lord has helped us”. And if he has helped us by giving his own Son, then

“For Christians our Ebenezer is the cross. At the cross, we see the seriousness of sin, the weight of glory, and God’s generous help to sinners. We raise up the cross and say: “Thus far the Lord has helped us”. And if he has helped us by giving his own Son, then surely he will bring us safely home to glory: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

If your memory tells you times have changed, we must preach that God has not changed

He proved his goodness by Jesus dying on the cross for us

God gave the ultimate price, so as you hold that up, you can remember he is not stingy of anything else.

There is a good plan for us Christians

Closing prayer

Lord, may we remember you are good

As we rehearsed in communion, you showed you are good

As now sing songs to your to you being mighty, may we remember you can do all, so we trust you with what you do in your name Jesus, amen