Our Secular Lives
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Introduction
Introduction
Continuing in the book of Esther.
Esther 2:1-20
Esther 2:1-20
Going to break it up and talk about sections so that it is more manageable, and we are not Going to Get through all of that Today.
After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her. And the king’s servants attending him said, “Let them seek attractive young virgins for the king. Let the king appoint chief officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, and let them gather every attractive young virgin to the harem in the citadel of Susa under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let him give them their beauty treatment. And let the young woman who is pleasing in the king’s eyes become queen in place of Vashti. The thing was good in the king’s eyes, and he acted accordingly.
A period of time has passed between chapters 1 and 2. We don’t know how long, “after these things” does not give us much to go off of. It was enough time for the wrath of the king to subside. So after the hangover went away, to a year later. I don’t know. But when he remembered Vashti and what he decreed. He starts to wonder what now.
The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 11: Ezra / Nehemiah / Esther The Plan to Select a New Queen (2:1–4)
Josephus, a Jewish historian from the first century A.D., interprets Ahasuerus’ feelings in this way:
Now, although the king was in love with her [Vashti] and could not bear the separation, he could not, because of the law, be reconciled to her, and so he continued to grieve at not being able to obtain his desire.3
We know historically that kings had many concubines; they were considered “lesser wives.” They also had numerous wives of higher rank who could wear the crown at any time depending on the whim of the king.
History bears out that one of Ahasuerus’ higher-ranking wives Amenstris had borne him a son whom he chose as heir to the throne. Amenstris had either passed away or no longer had the king’s favor during this time. We don’t know why, but the Bible informs us that Vashti had taken her place for a brief season as the favored wife.
But now with Vashti gone, there was a void in the royal palace, as well as the king’s heart—he regretted his decision to banish her.
The Hebrew construction of Esther 2:1 strongly implies that Ahasuerus blamed his seven counselors for persuading him to banish the queen.
He wasn’t in a good mood.
So the king’s servants who attended to him suggested that the beautiful young virgins be sought for the king. Often we kind of look at this as a beauty contest. This is not Who got talent, or the bachelor or even miss America.
There was a Jew in the citadel of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, who was deported from Jerusalem with the exiles who were deported with Jeconiah the king of Judah, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had deported. He was raising Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she did not have a father or a mother; the young woman had a beautiful figure and was very attractive. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had taken her as his daughter.
Now we are introduced to the major characters of the book. Modecai and Esther
Mordecai is s a Jew and the passage focuses on telling us that. A Jewish Man. Here was a Jew that could have gone back with the other Jews that left. See Ezra and Nehemiah. But He didn’t for whatever reason.
Esther The Leading Characters Appear
Hundreds of years earlier, when King David was running for his life from Absalom, Mordecai’s forefather Shimei threw rocks at David and cursed him for stealing away Saul’s throne. David’s son Solomon later put Shimei to death. If Mordecai knew all this, then perhaps Jerusalem represented a place of defeat for him. It was the place where his family had lost their bid for power—a place of embarrassment and shame
This is no sin but staying does put him and his adopted Daughter, his Cousin who he is raising as his own when she was orphaned, In a place of danger and in a position of great struggles and secularism. Mordecai comes from a line of People that were taken in the captivities. At first read in many translations it is tempting to put Mordecai as taken in the captivity putting him at this point around 130 years old but it is more likely that Kish as the LEB which is on the Board points out was taken in captivity.
Both of these Jews, Ether and Mordecai, are undercover Jews. Mordecai is known to be a Jew by many, we will see this later when we meet Haman.
The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 11: Ezra / Nehemiah / Esther Introduction to Mordecai and Esther (2:5–7)
The name, “Mordecai,” is a Hebrew translation of the Babylonian name, “Mardukâ,” the name of a Babylonian god, Marduk.
Esther has two different names. her Hebrew Name and her Gentile Name.
The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 11: Ezra / Nehemiah / Esther Introduction to Mordecai and Esther (2:5–7)
Most scholars agree that the name “Hadassah” meant “myrtle (tree),”7 and the name “Esther” comes either from the Persian word meaning “star” or from the name for the Babylonian goddess “Ishtar.”8
Esther is lovely and Beautiful all that the king is looking for.
Is keeping the secret about not winning the crown. I don’t think so, I think Mordecai saw the anti-Jewish culture growing that would allow such a law to be passed. maybe it was xenophobia or just Jews we don’t know. but I don’t think this is just about becoming the most favored queen.
Our Secular Lives
Our Secular Lives
Before we get all hot and bothered about Mordecai’s secret. We need to pause and wonder how much of a secret our own relationship with Jesus Christ is. In the kingdom that surrounds us everyday , your home, work, shopping center, gym, neighborhood, even those you pass in your car.
Are we keeping Jesus Christ to ourselves?
We must check our actions. How are we living our lives. Do they match up with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Do they show that we know Jesus and we are Not of this world. We are not home yet, we are of a different Kingdom. That we are being formed into the likeness of Jesus every day as we walk with him.
And We must also check what we Say.
I know the easy thing to say is “well I am not very good at saying things so I just live my faith.” Which is great we need to be living out our faith in everyday. As one pastor told me there is an ancient Hebrew word for that attitude and it is pronounced cop out!
If people don’t know why we’re living the way we are, they will most likely give us the credit. The only way they can see our good works that glorify our Father in heaven is if we give glory to Him. We need to tell them He is the reason we are living the way we are and doing the things we do.
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word about Christ.
Salvation doesn’t come by watching. So it is true you may be the only Bible someone reads. Faith comes through Hearing you. Hallelujah.
So let’s not keep our Christianity a secret like Mordecai hid his Jewishness in the kingdom of Persia.
Let us Glorify The Son
Next Steps
Next Steps
Your secular life trumps you Christian life
ABC
