Esther: When God Seems Absent (5)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
What will you do with the time given to you?
What will you do with the time given to you?
In JRR Tokien’s classic The Lord of Rings story— the “Fellowship of the Ring” (1st book and movie)
Frodo and the great wise wizard Gandalf have an exchange where Frodo laments the weight of carrying the ring— He was given the ring— everything that is evil in the world to carry on a journey to Mt. Doom, the only place where it can be completely destroyed.
He’s says to Gandalf— “I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish that none of this would have happened.”
Gandalf wisely encourages him— “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide… All we have is to decide what to do with the time that is given to us.— there are other forces at work in this world besides evil, Frodo.”
It reminds me of a wonderful part of Psalm 90:12
12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Some of you may feel that way today— Why has this happen to me?— this burden, this illness, this struggle or problem.
There is a dear saint, a wonderful part of our congregation, who has this quote placed on her wall right by her chair where she can see it:
“We are not given the choice of the times we will live, but what to do with the time we are given.”
We are indeed living numbered days- and it’s a wise thing to remember that, and to make the most of the time we are given. To consider how we will live out the days that God gives us. Even if you are a young person among us—
Today, we get another opportunity to connect ourselves with a passage of Holy Scripture— another chance to identify and put ourselves into the story of Esther and Mordecai.
Let us pray here before we begin; God - bless us now as we examine your word- enrich and nourish us by your Holy Spirit among us— Teach us Lord, amen.
1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.
Remember, Haman has successfully set the date, and King Xerxes has issued the decree that all the Jewish people will be killed.
That’s what has been done.
Mordecai and the Jewish people mourn.
2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
The author focuses on Mordecai’s response, but actually everyone in the kingdom that knew of the edict was in grief.
Sackcloth and ashes are a universal sign of grief and despair.
Somehow Esther may not know exactly what is happening. The cloth was very uncomfortable— and the ash represented a symbol of connection with the dead. It’s a signal that something is not right, something is absolutely not as it is supposed to be. Isn’t that the case with our world is today? I’m not sure why I have a twitter account. It’s something we used at Malone a little bit, and I’ve got the account to watch for the news, or headlines, updates, and such, but it is just downright exhausting and viscous at times. I’ve transitioned now to checking it out every so often now as a pastor— looking into the state of the world from that perspective— and it’s unrelenting wailing and despair. I know I know, some of you are saying— why wouldn’t you just delete it? I’m not sure. I do know that we as Christians today really don’t often mourn. We sometimes are drawn to retreat to our little corner of the world here, create some buffer and barricade— and just believe that “God is in control, everything is going to be alright, so only see the sunny side of life”. God is good, and he is in control, but things are not as they are supposed to be. We should know this better than everyone! We need to grieve.
And we see in verse 2 again, that while everyone is in confusion and the Jews throughout are grieving—but you know who isn’t grieving? The King. Mordecai isn’t allow to get any closer to the King than that gate— he’s buffered himself—in this little circle of comfort and cheer.
Just a tip for you who may have influence or leadership in this world— a business, a family, a position— don’t separate yourself from the real world. The end of chapter 3 shows that Haman and Xerxes retreat back and have a great evening of drinking— while the whole kingdom is thrown into confusion and despair- Don’t be like them.
4 When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
Esther tries to comfort Mordecai (v.4)
Mordecai refuses the clothing, and Esther sends a specific helper to find out what is going on.
He is mourning— he is grieving— but I believe he grieves with a small thread of hope:
8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
Mordecai makes a request to Esther. (v.8)
Yes, he is sad— but he has a little shred of hope. Just like we should have when we grieve. It’s often even a healthy thing to grieve. Yes, things are not like they are supposed to be-but we, of all people, should remember that we have hope.
I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him He's always near
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
We may grieve— but we grieve with hope.
It’s interesting here that there must be quite a distance -both physically and “socially” here between Mordecai and Esther— there is this “go between” that is communicating the messages back and forth.
9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said.
One down in the city grieving— one high up in the palace initially clueless— but God is going to use them both.
Esther explains her dilemma.
10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
If she approaches the king, she could die.
Her identity is at stake.
Esther is a survivor— A Jewish orphan, no parents, an exile in a foreign land. She was plucked out of her life with Mordecai. Everything she has— she has had to learn to survive. She becomes the prize of Xerxes. I think she now has the family that she never had. She has people waiting on her, taking care of her every need. She has figured out how to survive, and even excel, in her world. And if she does what Mordecai is asking—to go and even show up in his presence without an invitation--- she could, no probably will, lose everything. Not just her title, her position, her purpose— but her very life. (Does this sound familiar?) This is exactly what happened to Vashti. Put yourself in that place for a moment.
It’s going to get really personal here for a minute. Remember the two kingdoms right? Kingdom of the world, Kingdom of God.
To some extent, all of us have learned to survive in the world. We all have our Esther story— in some way. Don’t exempt yourself. You have learned what it will take to survive and even excel in this world. But has God ever brought you to this type of crisis moment? Has he asked you to go against every instinct in your body as a survivor— to display faithfulness instead? To risk everything for someone else? To stand up for what’s right, even though you could lose everything?
I hold things out as part of my identity— we all do. We find our identity in our personalities, our gifts and talents, possessions, wealth, position, status, sometimes our children, our family— some may even find a deep sense of identity even within this church!
We can say- sure God take everything you want— except this one thing— that’s what Mordecai is asking Esther to do here. Put everything she is on the line for a greater cause. That is no easy thing. Not at all.
SO let’s see what Mordecai’s response to her is— because it’s brilliant.
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.
14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Mordecai is a wise mentor.
He reminds Esther who she really is.
I get it Esther— you are the Queen. You have servants, and clothes, and wealth beyond measure— but your true identity is not the Queen of Persia! You are a Hebrew. You are not just a survivor— a pretty girl who figured out how to make it. But your identity is NOT in your beauty— it’s not in any of these things that got you where you are right now— Your true identity, is that you are a person of God. You are a member of the people of God. You were placed into a Jewish family— by no merit of your own. We too need to be reminded of who we really are— and in what (or whom) we find our true identity.
He reminds her of who is in charge.
14 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?”
Where is that other place that it could come from? Who is that other source? It’s got to be God. He is reminding her of who is really in charge— it’s not King Xerxes— it’s definitely not Haman. It’s not even you Esther. Someone else is in charge.
He compels Esther to look beyond herself.
This is a message that you and I need today. It’s a message that the whole world needs really. We need to get past our stuff. All our hopes and dreams, all our details… they are all part of a greater narrative. We are so susceptible in our world today to only care about ourselves— only to care about how things affect me and mine. Mordecai, with this simple little question, “And who knows? Maybe you have become queen for this very purpose?— for such a time as this very moment?” He is asking her would you have eyes to see that there is way more going on here than your personal survival? Who knows, God may be up to something way beyond what we can imagine here?
The question is far more powerful than the statement of this fact. “Esther, God has placed you there for such a time as this.”— ok, but “Who knows, has God really put you in that position for such a time as this?” The question engages a person’s brain and heart— He just asks the question, and then waits to see what is going to happen!
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:
16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
Esther seeks God’s purpose for her life.
Takeaways for us today:
Remember the two rope illustration? Eden Owolabi gave me permission to show you a little drawing she completed a couple weeks ago.
Some people believe it’s all about them, and their ability, their skill, their work, their choices.
Others may believe it’s all about God— God alone, God’s work, God’s power, God’s plan, God’s providence.
But that’s not what we understand from the scripture, from history, from our own experience. It’s both, my choices, and God’s providence.
Remember Saint Augustine’s comment: Without God, we cannot— Without us, God will not.
Where to you live? Where do we fall on that line of understanding— where should we be on that line? I say let’s ask him.
Principle #1:
God’s providence is always aligned with His purpose.
21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
No accidents in God’s work. The hand of providence always has a direction—it’s not random-- and it’s headed toward God purposes.
Principle #2:
God’s purpose is always headed to redemption.
In 2002, Rick Warren wrote and published a great little book— sold just a few copies— it’s called the Purpose Driven Life. Remember that?
Do you remember the first sentence in that book? “It’s not about you.” Kind of a weird way to start a book, eh? Who wants to read that? right?
I would actually suggest just a little edit to that sentence— I would add just a second little thought— “It’s not about you, but it includes you.” “It’s not about you, but it involves you”.
God’s work in history, in scripture, in our lives is always moving toward his Glory. But the way that God is glorifying himself is through Redeeming creation! There is this stream of purpose and a trajectory to where things are headed with God— It’s always toward redemption. The whole old testament— redemption— the whole new testament— a giant arrow, moving to redemption!
We need to apply these principles to our lives— You need to know that God’s purposes are not headed for your comfort— they are headed for your redemption! Which would you rather have? Careful...
God’ purposes in this world— are not actually about the happiness of the world.. We hear all the time— as long as your happy, you do you, as long as you are happy, happy, make yourself happy--- our comfort and our happiness have become idols to our culture! The works of God are not actually about the world’s happiness--- They are about the world’s redemption.
This plays out in the big huge picture— but it also plays out in the micro- individual level too—like in our little lives here in Holmes Co. Ohio. Esther is exhibit #1.
This young girl is torn from the only family she knew—which didn’t include a mom or a dad. Selected and forced to serve a man that only loved her for what she could give to him— she had no choices, no real security— She is about to take the greatest risk of her young life— and she is about to do something that will be a reflection of the redemption that she has experienced in her life, and a reflection of the true identity and purpose that she was created to accomplish.
Let’s bring this home here: I think you might be able to relate with two different ways to see this passage:
#1 -There is something that you are really good at. And you might be using that talent, or skill for your own comfort, and your own advancement right now. And there really isn’t anything wrong with that— but For Esther it was her beauty, her grace perhaps, her survivor will and strategic mind. She was kind, and made friends easily.
Up until now, Esther was just using her skills, gifts and talents basically for her self. Comfort, status. God is about to redeem her whole person.
Some of you have influence right now in our world— in business, in school, right here in our church— How might God use the position that you have to redeem, to restore, to revive? Maybe you haven’t thought about it that way?
Would God seek to redeem you and what you do on a new powerful level? Have you been given the place and the abilities that you have for such a time as this?
#2: Some of you are in a really hard place right now. Maybe you are facing somethings that — like Frodo— you would just say, “I wish this had never happened— or I wish I didn’t have to carry this.” I get that. But I do know also, that our pain, and our struggle often comes with purpose. And I can’t tell you what that purpose is exactly this morning, and maybe you don’t either, — but would you be willing to be like Mordecai this morning and “open it up” like this— and say “Who knows?” Maybe I’ve been given this burden for such a time as this— and I’m going to find God’s purpose in this struggle.
What might God be up to in your story? Verse 14 reminds us that God could have brought redemption through any means he wanted— but he chooses to use a young Jewish orphan girl. God can accomplish his will and his purpose for this world today through any number of ways— but he chooses to use us. We need to see our selves, our circumstances— yes, even our pain and struggle, through the eyes of faith. What will you do with the time given to you?
“Mordecai Mentor-ship”:
-Reminding us who we really are.
-Reminding us who is really in charge.
-Reminding us to see a vision beyond ourselves!
Do you have a Mordecai in your life?
Are you able to be a Mordecai for someone else?
Let’s pray.