Esther

Summer series - through the lesser known books

today - one shot on Esther

Esther - a classic story

bad guy Haman - the king who’s wrath is abated - the willing substitute savior Esther - a prophetic voice Mordecai

feasts, parties, suspense, plot twists.

this is great literature, and before it’s time.

We start from the first big point of contention.

Cue the villain - chapter 3.

3:8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them. 9 If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents[c] of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.”

3:15 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

How’d we get here?

Chap 1 - Feast Queen rebels - new queen - hide identity

Chap 2 - Esther saves king - plot discovered by mordecai

Chap 3 - things seem good for God’s people - but a new beurocrat enters the scene - Haman. Jafar?

all bow to him - but not Mordecai - So haman decides to not just kill him, but kill all of his people - power hungry evil. flex.

haman’s heart was full of such hatred he built a gallows - massive - right in the middle of town - and it seems like many knew just what it was for. Mordecai.

BUT ALL THE WHILE - something else has been working

by a series of insignificant events - a jew is in the bedchamber of the king - but she’s hidden her identity - not a faithful witness - but God has her there for a purpose.

Mordecai learns of the plot against the Jews and tells Esther

Esther 3:8 For 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?

APPLICATION - How do we live in nations “After” God? No longer under...

Witness or die. Be salty or be cast out to be trampled.

take the land, or die out in the wilderness.

Mordecai told her inintially to hide who she was - no longer.

So Esther begins her plan, not immediate action, fasting herself and on her behalf - then a banquet.

why all the prep? Well, because it seems God designed it that way. God was going to give the king a sleepless night.

no sleep - records read - story of mordecai saving the king

“has anything been done for him” - no

well we gotta do something, i need ideas - who’s in court?

HAMAN! - Except he’s coming to get permission to kill Mordecai on the gallows....

King asks Haman - what shall be done to the one whom the king delights to honor?

Haman’s pride kicks in - must be about me!

Robe! - CROWN - PARADE - PROCLAMATION

Great!! - do this for MORDECAI.

APP - God’s people honored, God’s enemies shamed

even while up to that moment it seemed like it was all over for the people of God, especially Mordecai.

be faithful. the story isn’t over. don’t take the easy way out… don’t be a student of “compromise in order to make progress.” - God is in charge - you can stay faithful to him and trust him with the outcome. He orders your steps… and everyone elses. - whether they know it or not.

ESTHERS BANQUET

king and haman invited - wine flowed - a party over a few days - Esther waited until the right moment...

Esther 7:3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. 4 For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated.

Esther 7:5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared[a] to do this?” 6 And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.

King storms out - Haman knew he was in trouble

then God makes him stumble, right on top of the queen.

the king walks back in “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house!?”

Hamans fate sealed - his face covered with a hood

He is taken to the gallows he prepared for Mordecai and hung there.

SO MUCH HERE - but what will we take away?

This book never mentions God - why? - Because we’re being taught an important lesson.

that God is always working, even if it isn’t obvious, behind the scenes.

IN OTHER WORDS - you can’t look at what’s going on in the world and interpret the outcome. No matter what is happening, ultimately, God’s people win.

we win when we win… we win when we lose.

all things work together for our good - even the terrible losses and hardships.

there’s always seasons that look real bad - like God is being mocked - but ultimately… the Bible says he will not be mocked. And he isn’t. And ultimately he won’t be.

THIS MEANS you can’t even rightly judge the events of your life with your own eyes… maybe you just haven’t hit the plot twist yet?

THIS MEANS - that we must develop a BIBLICAL view of CHRISTIAN VICTORY.

“this country is going to hell in a handbasket”

I understand the sentiment. BUT - ultimately it isn’t. ULTIMATELY the entire world will fall in worship to the king of the universe on the last day. No matter what.

and there is a theology of progress all along the way.

The gospel is exploding in parts of the world that missionaries only dreamed of for the last 100 years.

China, Africa, India, The Middle East…

in fact right now - you’re more likely to be a Christian if you’re born in Beigjing than in Boston

VICTORY is inevitable. DEFEAT is temporary AT BEST. NO MATTER WHAT. So stand strong. Stay faithful. Do not be ashamed.

and don’t let the world trick you into silence or passivity.

becuase that’s all it is… it’s just a trick.

Judas had his plans. So did Pilate. Joseph’s brothers too...

“but what they intended for evil, God meant for good.”

DOES THIS PLOT TWIST REMIND OF SOMETHING?

it should.

the gallows meant for mordecai hang haman and signal victory for the people of God.

The Cross of Christ - defeat? - God’s enemies sure thought so.

even God’s people thought so and ran away - scattered.

but through death, death is defeated. Jesus wins. God wins. Even when we lose we win.

book ends with feast - Feast of purim - of dice - what?

because the point? even in the seemingly random events, all of life is building towards God’s victory.

Don’t look at the world and assess reality. Look to the word.

Haman chose a day to defeat God’s people.

God chose that very same day to defeat Haman, and save his people.

Be faithful. Stand strong. Bear witness.