Esther Part 2

Introduction

1. Illustration

2. Recap

A. God’s Sovereignty and human responsibility

1. God is sovereign over everything. As we can see previously, God used Haman and Ahasuerus to get His plan accomplished.

2. God can use those that follow Him and those that are opposed to Him.

3. God will get what He wants to get accomplished done.

B. Communion cripplers

1. Beware of who mentors you.

2. Beware of grudges.

3. Beware of what you submit to.

4. Beware of pride.

5. Communion cripplers and following in the steps of Haman will surely meet the same demise.

C. I began to discuss in the last sermon a “glorified beauty pageant”.

1. Let’s start in chapter 2 vs. 1 and get a brief description of what is going on here.

a. Read 2:1-4.

b. The process was to gather the virgins.

c. After this there was a process of beautification for 1 year. 1 year the

virgin was taken under the care Hegai. She was given cosmetics, perfume, myrrh, ointments. For one year the woman was molded into what the king wanted then given the opportunity to impress the king.

d. This is very important: Many scholars believe that those that didn’t make the cut, became concubines (slaves) for the rest of their lives.

-During this process, we are introduced the two characters we will be discussing today:

Moredecai and Esther. Read 2:5-8

Mordecai Character

Transitional sentence- here we get brief descriptions of each character. Let’s examine the descriptions and elaborate on each of their characters after that.

1. Let’s begin with Mordecai

2. In vs. 2-8 we get the two important characteristics of Mordecai: He is raising Esther and he is a Jew (one of God’s people).

3. As we can see in vs. 7, Mordecai took care of Esther as if she was his own daughter. Even though they were cousins, Mordecai and Esther’s relationship shared the likeness of a father caring for his daughter.

4. Last sermon, we examined the relationship between the King Ahasuerus and Haman. This time I want to challenge you to look at Mordecai’s and Esther’s relationship.

a. Mordecai is a mentor of Esther’s and she respects him. She listens to what he says.

b. Be a good mentor.

c. Mordecai displays the most important characteristic of a good mentor: He genuinely loves Esther and cares for her well-being and He is a follower of God.

d. Being a good mentor means= loving the person you are pouring into, and following God.

5. We can see that he has a deep care for her.

a. This is a shoulder length, obligatory love. It is an above and beyond love. He cares for her, he desires to protect her.

b. He tells her not to let anyone know that she is a Jew 2:10, 2:20. This is somewhat debated: I can see why, but it is understandable why Mordecai would’ve asked this. By the way, it comes back around when he asks Esther to go into the king to save the Jews.

c. We see that he has a tendency to be at the gates, close by waiting on her.

1. Brother illustration

A. My brother was always instructed to watch over me.

B. He never found it burdensome.

C. Quite a few times he would save me from a dangerous situation or he would just be there.

D. Sometimes just being there and caring for the person in more important than having the right words to say.

2. In the same way, Mordecai is waiting and checking on Esther.

d. In order to be a good mentor, we must have a genuine love and care for those we are mentoring.

1. Look at Mordecai’s example. While we may see some of his actions as somewhat flawed, there is no question that he deeply cares for Esther.

6. Mordecai is a Jew. His morals and actions are often reflective of this.

a. He refuses to bow down to Haman the descendant of an Amelekite.

1. BTW isn’t it interesting that he asks Esther not to announce she is a Jew but then he tells others the reason he doesn’t bow is because he is a jew? Throwing caution to the wind.

b. He thwarts the plan of the assassins. He doesn’t cry and moan when he isn’t rewarded.

c. He cares about the other Jews.

7. Again, the two most important characteristics are: He is raising Esther (loves her, protects her, cares for her) and he is a Jew.

Esther Character

1. In class, we spent 8 weeks reading the book of Esther and no other book. I came away with an interpretation that differs from some people.

2. I believe Esther in the beginning, isn’t as heroic as many people portray.

3. This interpretation derives from chapter 2:8. The words “gathered” bothers me here. In Hebrew the word is “kavats”. It means gather, gather together, or to assemble. After they were gathered they were “taken”, which comes from the Hebrew word “lakakh” which means taken or taken away. Why does this bother me so much?

a. The big reason it bothers me is because it doesn’t say the manner in which they were gathered and were taken. Were they taken against their will or did the ladies volunteer for the attempt to become queen?

b. I’ll let that sink in for a minute…Did Esther volunteer for the attempt or was she taken against her will.

c. I’ve lost sleep over this.

d. Discussion boards. What’s the difference? It’s huge!

e. John MacArthur “It is impossible to tell if Esther went voluntarily or against her will.”

4. Esther was either an individual that was making the best out of a terrible situation or was an individual that was hungry for power and was willing to bet that she would win.

5. Remember: it is you get the prize or you get to be a slave!

6. For those of you that think I’m crazy, I would encourage you to take a deeper look into chapter 2.

7. This changes things: Either she was a heroine or harlot.

8. After reading Esther more and more, I have come to this conclusion: what difference does it make?

a. The main character is God within the book of Esther, not Esther.

b. I don’t think anyone will argue that Esther is flawed.

c. Here is the good news for Esther and us: God uses imperfect people.

d. The second applicational point is: Being willing is better than being perfect.

8. We always tend to think that God uses the best and the brightest don’t we?

a. This tempts us to not even try.

b. But if you believe that God can use the broken, then you come to the realization that you can be used to. More importantly, God has a specific plan for you.

Esther paraphrasing

1. The beauty pageant is held, Esther has found favor in the eyes of the king. She is promoted to queen.

2. After these things, Haman requests the execution of the Jews and the request is granted.

3. Mordecai finds out about the plot and dresses himself in sackcloth and ashes which is an outward representation of inward distress. He marches straight up to the gate.

The request

1. Read

a. Dad you are embarrassing me!

2. Read 4:5-8

a. Mordecai reveals Haman’s plot to Esther.

b. He then requests that Esther go into the king and implore his favor and to plead with him for her people (the jews).

3. Read 4:9-12

a. A good way to paraphrase vs. 11 is “no”.

b. An excuse

c. Of course Mordecai understood the weight of what he was asking. He was the one that requested that Esther remain silent about her people. Now he was throwing caution to the wind and pleading with her to approach the king knowing she will reveal who she is.

d. You know what this reminds me of? Moses.

1. Moses says, “who am I?”, “who shall I say sent me?”, “they won’t believe me”, and “I don’t speak so well.”

2. God can do powerful things through an individual that says yes.

The Climax

1. Read Esther 4:13:14

2. There is a lot to unpack here.

3. I want to start with this, Mordecai has been a mentor to Esther and then he challenges her. I specifically mentioned in the last sermon in the mentor test if your mentor challenges you.

a. This brings me to this point of application: FIND YOUR MORDECAI!

b. Mordecai speaks some harsh truth to Esther, but it is necessary.

c. You absolutely need that one person in your life that is able to re-attach you to your identity when crisis hits.

d. The individual that will remind you that this crisis still serves a purpose. The one that will remind you

e. Mine is my wife.

4. In vs 13 Mordecai says to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.”

a. The applicational point here is: Do not hide who you are.

b. Bang illustration. No one knows who you are but by your actions.

c. Do you think that Esther would have been able to hold it together while her people were being slaughtered? While the person that raised her would’ve been killed? Or do you think she would’ve cracked.

d. Jesus says in , “but whoever denies me before men, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.” These opportunities will come up. You will know that there is a choice between revealing who you are and flying under the radar.

e. We shouldn’t hide who we are. We should embrace the identity of Christ.

5. In vs 14. Mordecai says, For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish.”

a. Third applicational point: God doesn’t need you, but wants to use you.

b. This is a humbling concept isn’t it? God will get what he needs to accomplished. He doesn’t need you, but he delights to use you.

c. “You can be a tool in God’s hand and witness His glory, or you can just witness His glory.”

d. So often we look at the act of service as a burden, but it is a blessing.

e. We get to witness amazing things and how God can work through us when we submit to His will and do as He asks. Yes it is taxing and it is exhausting. I have spun my wheels and felt like it has gotten nowehere.

f. I’ve seen people come to Christ by sharing the Gospel, I have witnessed miraculous healing after praying for it, I have seen the simple acts of moving furniture or helping someone with a computer issue begin a ripple effect where people serve one another.

g. All of this I wouldn’t see if I wasn’t willing to say yes to God’s Word. I’m sure if you think about it, you will come to the same conclusion.

6. In vs. 15 Mordecai says to Esther, “And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this.” For such a time as this.

a. The fourth applicational point: You are right where God has intended you to be.

b. Everything in your life has served the purpose to get you to where you are today. God has been over that and working in that.

c. I want you to grasp this idea: Esther was in a position of comfort. She was sitting pretty. This request hit her like a tidal wave.

d. We need to remember this when tidal waves hit us. God knows it is coming and he has been working on your and equipping you for when the wave hits. You are positioned exactly where you need to be.

e. Use the position and gifts that God has given you to serve others.

Esther’s Response

1. Read vs.15-17

a. Esther decides to hold a fast in order to seek God. She asks Mordecai and others to do the same.

b. The fifth applicational point: Seek God for wisdom before big decisions and at a time of crisis.

c. Esther takes pause and does not immediately approach the king. Instead she seeks God in her time of crisis. And He gives her wisdom through this process. We need to replicate this.

d. Do you seek God for wisdom before big decisions? How often do you act hastily then regret not seeking God? We need to seek God when crisis hits or before we make big decisions. He will bless us with wisdom.

Paraphrasing the end

1. Esther approaches the king and requests to throw a banquet for the king and Haman. Seems odd….

2. She asks the king if she can host a second banquet for him and Haman.

3. At this second banquet she reveals Haman’s plot when her husband is good and drunk. Throughout last sermon, we learned that he acts on impulse and is angered easily, the drink certainly enhanced these emotions.

4. The king leaves in a rage and comes back to witness Haman pawing at his queen (he was actually pleading for his life). The king hangs Haman on the gallows. The edict is later revoked, the Jews are victorious at defending themselves, Mordecai is given Haman’s ring and promoted, and God saves the Jews through the actions of two people.

Conclusion

- I think the greatest thing that we can learn from Esther is what God can do through individuals that say “yes God, I will”.

-Esther was flawed and God could still use her when she turned from the ways of her flesh and towards him.

-The same could be said for you.