Sermon Tone Analysis

They That Wait Upon the Lord

Read .

Stop right there.

As our text begins, this morning, Esther finds herself in a place in life that she never thought she would ever be.

We left Esther at a cliffhanger moment in the story.

Tension is building, as in any great epic - there are a series of cliffhangers.

Haman’s genocidal plot was passed on to Esther the queen of Persia.

The genocide was birthed in Haman’s heart and mind because of the single action of one single man - Mordecai.

Mordecai would not bow to this ego … and Haman was so filled with hatred that he decided it wasn’t enough to punish Mordecai alone … no, the whole Jewish people had to pay - the entire Jewish race, spread throughout all 127 provinces of the Persian Empire, they will have to pay with their lives.

Now Mordecai isn’t just the focus of the hatred here - he is also the only one who understands all of the implications … including the implications for the queen herself - the younger cousin whom he raised himself, as a daughter.

He passes the information on to her.

But when Esther hears the news about the edict … she doesn’t see the implications of the genocide to herself.

Esther hears the news about the edict … but doesn’t see the implications of the genocide to herself.

She is tempted to stand aside and do nothing, which is kind of understandable, since really, what is she supposed to do?

She may be queen, but she certainly doesn’t hold the power in the Kingdom.

In fact, she knows that if she just saunters into the king’s presence, unannounced, she faces the death penalty - doesn’t matter if she’s the queen or the janitor … unless the king holds out his scepter and welcomes her in - she’s dead.

And to make things worse - he hasn’t called for her in over a month.

For all she knows, he’s moved on and found another love to share his bed with.

So she’s terrified.

She is tempted to stand aside and do nothing, which is kind of understandable, since really, what is she supposed to do?

She may be queen, but she certainly doesn’t hold the power in the Kingdom.

In fact, she knows that if she just saunters into the king’s presence, unannounced, she faces the death penalty - doesn’t matter if she’s the queen or the janitor … unless the king holds out his scepter and welcomes her in - she’s dead.

And to make things worse - he hasn’t called for her in over a month.

For all she knows, he’s moved on and found another love to share his bed with.

So she’s terrified.

This is where Mordecai responds with his powerful words in chapter 4:14, “… if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish.

AND WHO KNOWS WHETHER YOU HAVE NOT COME TO THE KINGDOM FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?!”

Esther is caught on the horns of a dilemma: not do anything and maybe save yourself, but watch your entire people be annihilated … or try to step in and likely be executed yourself in the process.

What will she choose?

Chapter 4 ends with her decision: “I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

She gives instructions to be sent to Mordecai.

They are going to fast for three days (fasting which always includes prayer).

Esther will not move without prayer.

But she will, prayerfully, move.

What a lesson for us.

She gives instructions to be sent to Mordecai.

They are going to fast for three days (fasting which always includes prayer).

Esther will not move without prayer.

But she will, prayerfully, move.

What a lesson for us.

One of my favorite verses - one that I have clung to, over and over and over again in life … when the day seems too much to survive, when the pain of trials seems too much to endure … a verse that God takes me back to, so often … is .

I still love it best in the beautiful flow of the Old King James, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.

They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.”

On this Thanksgiving morning, you are here and you know, “I’m supposed to be thankful always, especially today.

And I know that I have so much to thank God for … but to be honest … today I’m barely making it and I’m having a hard time getting the thanks out … I’m just overwhelmed with this life ...” “Run and not be weary?! I’m just trying not to faint.”

I don’t know what your struggle is - -

Chapter 4 leaves us with 3 days: Esther and all the Jews, fasting and praying, preparing for her to go and face the king who seems to have the fate of the entire nation, in the palm of his hands.

And chapter 5 begins.

_____________________________________________________

, “On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, in front of the king’s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace.”

All of Esther’s life has led up to this point.

For five years now, she has lived the life of a queen.

She has walked the hallways of power … but it has never really belonged to her.

She has always been passive - when the king calls - she goes; when he doesn’t - she stays away.

Esther has let go of her life.

In making the decision that she would go and face the king, uninvited … she has not just made the decision to let go of her position as queen, she hasn’t just let go of her place in the comfort, the security and protection of the harem … she has let go of her very life.

“If I perish, I perish.”

Esther has let go of her life.

In making the decision that she would go and face the king, uninvited … she has not just made the decision to let go of her position as queen, she hasn’t just let go of her place in the comfort, the security and protection of the harem … she has let go of her very life.

“If I perish, I perish.”

This is the very thing Jesus says is necessary for all of His followers.

“If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross DAILY and follow me.”

(Matthew 16:24)

See Esther on this pivotal day of her life, with her handmaid helping her to prepare, she gets dressed and fits the robes of royalty over her shoulders - embroidered with imported fine gold, a fine silk dress encrusted with precious stones, and pearls brought all the way from Africa.

The fine gold crown goes on her head and then she steps into her extravagantly expensive shoes.

Now, with her handmaid helping her to prepare, she gets dressed and fits the robes of royalty over her shoulders - embroidered with imported fine gold, a fine silk dress encrusted with precious stones, and pearls brought all the way from Africa.

The fine gold crown goes on her head and then she steps into her extravagantly expensive shoes.

Surely, all the while, Esther must be haunted by the question assaulting her thoughts: “Is this the last time?”

“Is this it for my privileged life?

Is this it for my life itself?”

The man sitting on the throne had a famously volatile personality … one moment he will throw a party and insist that everyone have whatever they want and as much as they want - money no object … and the next minute he will depose his queen because she refused to dance when he said dance.

Which mood will she meet today?

It’s been 30 days since the king has called for her … has she lost his heart?

Is he angry with her about something?

Has he found pleasure in the arms of another?

Queen Vashti had been deposed because she didn’t come when he called.

Will I be executed because I came when I WASN’T called?!

She walks the hallway of the palace, to the inner court of the king - gold encrusted sandals making a metallic ‘click’ on the exquisite tile of the mosaic floor.

Arriving at the entrance to the inner court, she has come to a massive place, 36 columns soaring 65 feet high - every aspect of the design screams power, shouting the message: “The King is great, you are small; he has the power of life and death over you.”

And Esther pauses, in the shadows, unseen, hidden by one of the massive pillars.

From here, she can see her husband, sitting on his gilded throne, deep in thought, a furrow pressed into his forehead.

There are guards around him, people in his presence tasked with advising and protecting him.

But nobody is talking.

She takes a few deep breaths, trying to slow the pace of her frantically beating heart.

Then it comes back to mind: she has been fasting - seeking the Lord for 3 days.

Her servant girls have been seeking the Lord with her.

And Mordecai has rounded up all of the Jews in Susa - together they have been fasting for 3 days.

Everything that could have been done, has been done .... now it’s time.

“If I perish, I perish”.

Esther stands tall, straightens her shoulders, takes one more deep breath … and steps forward to her uncertain destiny -

_________________________________________________________

Verse 2, “And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court ...”.

This is the pivotal moment of this pivotal day … and it unfolds almost in slow motion … ‘when the king saw Queen Esther, standing in the court ...”

There is a disturbance in the throne room, someone has dared to enter this most-hallowed space in the kingdom WITHOUT an invitation?!

The startled king looks up, clearly irritated at the disturbance.

“Who could this be?”

And in the moment between the startling and the recognition - Esther’s life hangs in the balance like never before.

The royal guardsman beside the king tightens his grip around the axe in his hands.

his grip around the axe in his hands.

Verse 2 continues ....

“And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court … she won favor in his sight … and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand.”

.... “And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court … she won favor in his sight … and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand.”