The Weak Witness of God’s People: Esther Chapter 2

Introduce

Last week, we left off beholding the intimidating strength, impressive splendor, irrational smugness, and idiotic shortcomings of the world empire. Chapter two of Esther picks up not too long after the events of chapter one. In our text, we encounter an episode of the Bachelor: Ancient Edition. However, this story is portrayed in a much darker light than the vain reality TV show. The passage before us this morning answers a short but essential question: what is it like to live in a fallen world? To answer this question, I want you to observe four episodes of this real-life drama.

Retell

To begin with, observe the search for a weak witness (1-4).

Around three years after Vashti's refusal to obey the King, King Ahasuerus' anger cooled. He remembered Vashti, her refusal, and the decree he had made concerning her. The young servants of the king encouraged him to carry out the advice of Memucan and begin the search for a better wife than Vashti. Better in this sense means more compliant to the will of the king—that is weak. Such a search required collecting all the beautiful virgins and an ancient and less politically correct version of The Bachelor.

These young men advised that officers be appointed all over the kingdom to bring in the beautiful virgins to Susa the citadel. They would initially be placed in the first harem of the virgins under Hegai’s supervision. A woman would remain in this harem until after her night with the king. After that, she would either become queen or spend the rest of her days in the second harem of the concubines. All of these gathered virgins had all of their cosmetics freely given to them. And whoever was given the final rose after her one night in the king's chamber would become queen instead of Vashti. The king liked this advice and did what was suggested. He did not want a strong witness; he wanted someone weak and compliant. Thus, a search began for a weak witness.

So far, you have observed the search for a weak witness.

Furthermore, observe the shape of a weak witness (5-11).

During this time, there was a Jew in Susa, the citadel. His name was Mordecai, and he was a Benjaminite. One of his ancestors, probably Jair, had been carried away from Jerusalem when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah and dragged Jeconiah, the King of Judah, away to captivity. The Kish mentioned here is probably the ancestor of King Saul (1 Samuel 9:1; 14:51; 1 Chronicles 8:33). The Shimei discussed here is probably the relative of Saul who cursed King David (2 Samuel 16:5). The connection of Mordecai to King Saul becomes more critical when we are introduced to Haman, who was a descendant of Agag, the Amalekite. King Saul and Agag the Amalekite were arch enemies, and their rivalry was renewed by their descendants. It is like the Lawrence, Kansas and Osceola, Missouri rivalry on steroids. There is bad blood.

For now, however, the emphasis of this chapter is less on Mordecai and more on the woman he was raising as his own daughter. Her Jewish name was Hadassah, and her Persian name was Esther. She was Mordecai's younger cousin, whom he adopted as his own daughter after the death of her father and mother. She had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at. To the world empire, superficial outward beauty is more important than substantial inward character. Not that Esther completely lacked substance, but she definitely had the looks to please Ahasuerus.

When the king did as Memucan and his young men advised and decreed that the officers collect the virgins to bring them to Susa for Persian Bachelor, Esther was taken. She was brought into the custody of Hegai with the rest of the virgins. Her beauty and behavior won over and pleased Hegai. It seems her continual winning the favor of important people is one of those faint clues of God's providential care (Esther 2:17; 5:2; Genesis 39:4; Daniel 1:9). Hegai rewarded Esther with her cosmetics and food. The king's women must be at their peak beauty, with flawless skin and full figure. Furthermore, he advanced her to the best place in the harem.

Though Esther was winning favor in the eyes of Hegai, she was concealing her ethnic and religious heritage. She hid that she was a jew, meaning she likely did not obey the Sabbath, dietary laws, or dress restrictions. She and her older cousin embraced much that the world empire had to offer. She, however, did this because Mordecai commanded her to do it. He likely did this because he thought it would keep him and her safe within the borders of the enemy. He also stayed near Esther after she had been taken into the harem. He sought out to see how she was doing. Here is the shape of a weak witness. The witness of God and His providence is still present in both Esther and Mordecai, but it is faint and concealed.

At this juncture in the story, you have observed the search and shape of a weak witness.

Also, observe the selection of a weak witness (12-18).

In verses twelve through eighteen, we are given a glimpse into the vulnerability and weakness of those who live in the world empire. The virgins who were gathered for this ancient season of the Bachelor were required to complete a year-long beautification process. This process was to help these already beautiful women reach the peak of their beauty before they meet the king. This process was a regulation, rule. The first six months, they were beautified with the oil of myrrh and the second six months with the spices and ointments for women. They would either bath in these elements or sit in a tent fumigated by them. Though no such regulations for beautifying exist today, it is not untypical for a bride to prepare for her upcoming wedding. She may tan, diet, or exercise to look her best for the wedding photos, or maybe even her groom. The night with the king was pivotal. The woman must look her best.

After the beautifying period, a woman would have her night in the king's chamber. She would take whatever she wanted with her from the harem, perhaps jewelry, bedroom attire, and love potions. What happened that night would decide her fate. Once she was in the bedroom chamber, she would remain overnight and do whatever the king desired. Then she would return to the second harem of the concubines, under the guard of Shaashgaz. There she may be called upon by the king to gratify his desires from time to time or simply live in luxurious vanity, never able to marry, have children, or return to her family. Her existence would be like many toys opened on Christmas. A child plays with them once and never touches them again.

From this glimpse of the general happenings of The Bachelor: ancient edition, the focus shifts back to Esther. Her turn came for a night with King Ahasuerus. She had pleased Hegai, the eunuch, who had insight into the preferences of the king. Thus, Esther asked him what she should take with her to make the best impression on the king. She only took what Hegai advised. Not only did she when his favor, but the favor of all who saw her. Maybe she would win favor with the king too.

In the tenth month of the seventh year, nearly four years after Vashti's refusal and dismissal as queen, Esther had her night with the king in his chambers. She pleased him likely in all the ways you assume someone would please a vain king of a world empire. The king loved her more than all the other women. She won grace and favor in his sight more than all the other women. To complete our Bachelor analogy, we might say she received the final rose and the engagement ring, or literally a royal crown. Ahasuerus made Esther queen instead of Vashti. As we shall see, Ahasuerus lost a queen he could not control and gained a queen he could not refuse. The world empire is always overcome by God’s Kingdom. The king threw a great feast for all his officials, granted remission on taxes to the provinces, and gave gifts or generosity.

Again, we see the compromise of Esther, a Jew, to the world empire. She joined a harem, had premarital relations with a gentile that should only be within covenant marriage between two Jews, and married a pagan. However, we should not be so quick to condemn Esther; life is hard for God's people in the world empire. We need not excuse or condemn Esther. Instead, we should simply acknowledge that though she was a weak witness, she will still prove to be a witness to God, His providence, and His kingdom.

Up to this point, you have observed the search, shape, and selection of a weak witness.

Lastly, observe the strength from a weak witness (19-23).

Our text this morning shifts back to Mordecai, the older cousin and adoptive father of Esther. The virgins were gathered a second time. It is not clear what this gathering was for. Still, it could have been anything from a celebration of Esther's coronation, the virgins who only arrived after Esther was selected, or something else. Regardless, at this time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, where legal decisions were made. His sitting at the gate suggests that Mordecai held someplace in the king's administration. Even after her selection as the queen, Esther did not make known the fact that she was a Jew. She did this because she obeyed Mordecai's command.

While Mordecai sat at the gate, two of the king's eunuchs plotted to assassinate the king. These eunuchs would have the opportunity because they guarded the entry into the king's private chambers. This scenario would be like the secret service planning to assassinate the president of the United States. The plot, however, came to the knowledge of Mordecai, who told Esther. She told the king in the name of Mordecai. The king had these matters investigated, and the plot was verified. The two eunuchs were both hanged on gallows. As for Mordecai, his deed was recorded in the book of the chronicles before the king and then forgotten.

In Mordecai and Esther, we see that though their witness is weak and flawed, it still has some strength to it. This act to save the king will have enormous consequences later in the book and contribute to the deliverance of God's people. Even weak witnesses of God prove to triumph over strong servants of Satan. However, it is not by their own power but by the power of God.

Transition

Now that you have observed the search for a weak witness, shape of a weak witness, selection of a weak witness, and strength from a weak witness, we may answer the question I posed at the beginning: What is it like to live in a fallen world? The answer is you are delicate, and life is difficult.

Is it not true that Esther and Mordecai are portrayed as delicate in our story? They are in a situation due to the sins of their ancestors. It was the sin of Judah that decades and centuries before Mordecai and Esther were born that led to their captivity under foreign rule. Esther is taken to be in the king's harem. Maybe she wanted to go, but regardless she could not have said no. Mordecai had to give up his adoptive daughter. There was no place to hide from the world empire and its king.

Did not both hide their ethnic and religious identity and submit to the customs of the world empire? Yes, they did both these things. This is the opposite of what Daniel and his friends did under pagan rule in captivity (Daniel 1:8-16). They stood firm and were bold about their convictions, yet God preserved them and gave them victory. Here, however, the heroes of our story compromise on their convictions and conceal their heritage. They were delicate.

That said, the situations they found themselves in were not easy. Living in the world empire is difficult. Sometimes when choices are presented, each decision a person could make contains a mixture of good and bad. Should they have run? Where would they go? Should they have been bold like Daniel? Perhaps, but would that have resulted in their swift destruction? Is not life sacred? As our story shows, life in the fallen world is difficult.

You are delicate, and life is difficult. This point is the big idea.

That said, how should you respond to the fact that you are delicate and life is difficult? Let me provide you with two answers.

Apply

1. You are delicate, and life is difficult, so trust God.

We do not need to read Esther two in isolation. We know the end of the book. The enemies of God and his people are defeated, and God's people are delivered. God, as He always does, worked all things together for good. Despite His delicate people, God saves them. He did it in Esther, He did it in the life of Joseph, He did it with Daniel, He did it in the Exodus, and He did it most powerfully in and through His Son Jesus.

Jesus, unlike Ether, Mordecai, and you and me, remained strong and faithful. He is God's perfect witness, as He is God the Son Incarnate. He became man, and so was and continues to be man and God in two natures and one person forever. He was obedient to the Father's will in obeying the law perfectly, overcoming the Devil's temptation, and dying sacrificially for His people. He rose victoriously from the grave and ascended gloriously to God's right hand where He sat, showing that He made complete satisfaction for the sins of His people and secured eternal life for them. He makes intercession powerfully for His people, calling, justifying, sanctifying, and will glorify them in His second coming. Also, He secured their adoption into God's family. Jesus will come triumphantly, raising His people from the dead, establishing them on the new earth, and defeating His and their enemies forever.

You are delicate, and life is difficult. God and God's Son Jesus are strong and faithful. You should trust God and trust His Son, whom God sent to save delicate sinners like you.

Christian, you know Jesus and His salvation. You must continue looking to Him. You must continue turning from your sins and trusting in Him. You have every reason to do so. Nothing, even the difficulties of the world or the Devil who roams it, can separate you from the love of God in Christ.

Unbeliever, you cannot save yourself. You are a part of the world empire, and if you continue to be, you will experience the destruction that awaits it. Judgment always comes to the enemies of God and His people. I plead with you to leave the kingdom of darkness, leave the world empire, and leave your phony King Satan. Trust God and His Son. Jesus welcomes and saves all who come to Him in faith.

You are delicate, and life is difficult, so trust God.

2. You are delicate, and life is difficult, so be gracious.

The story of Esther chapter two shows us that we should be gracious and humble people. Even the heroes of the story are flawed. They are in situations beyond their control and forced to make decisions where the choices are all a mixture of good and bad. There will be some things that Christians disagree about. Still, Christians must bear the burdens of their brothers and sisters in Christ and stand firmly together on the essential truths of our Faith.

Christian, you may look at the decisions made by others and think that you would know the right thing to do and would have made the perfect decision. However, when faced with a similar situation, you find yourself making similar decisions as they did. Maybe you simply get stuck with the realization that every choice before you is a mixture of good and bad and that Scripture does not directly deal with the situation. Instead, we should look at our brethren with grace, patience, and compassion. We should point them to Christ, lift them up in prayer, and offer encouragement. Sure, sometimes correction is necessary, but let us remember that we and they are delicate, and life is difficult in those moments. Remember that you will make it to heaven in spite of you and because of Jesus.

Church, remember your fellow members throughout the week. Pray for them. Reach out to them. Encourage them.

Conclude

You are delicate, and life is difficult, so trust God and be gracious. We drew these applications from the story when we observed the search for a weak witness, the shape of a weak witness, the selection of a weak witness, and the strength of a weak witness. May God help you trust Him. May God give you the grace to be gracious to others. May God the Holy Spirit remind you of your Father in heaven and preserve you in your struggles. Unlike the Bachelor, the story we studied this morning is dark, so is real life. Yet, we know the end not only of Esther but the end of the story of history. Jesus wins. May He come and come quickly. Let's pray.