Responding to Evil with Good

Esther 2.

Message Three of Esther Series, God at Work Behind the Scenes

ETS: Mordecai and Esther are introduced into the story and work together to spare the king’s life against a plot for him to be killed.

ESS: We should respond to evil with good.

OSS: [MO: Ethical] {SO: I want the hearers to heed the warning and example of Scripture to respond to evil with good.} Cognitive: I want the hearers to know the importance of this part of the story and the example it provides. Affective: I want the hearers to feel the tension in the story. Psycho-motor: I want the hearers to respond by committing to the good even amidst the evil.

PQ: What are a few keys to help us understand the story plot moving forward?

UW: Keys

Intro.: [AGS]: Jesus instructed the disciples and those gathered to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. (Mt. 5:44-48) Additionally, Jesus exemplified this type of love as Peter testified about His life in 1 Pt. 2:21-23. [TS]: Today, we find another example in Scripture of two people loving someone who had not treated them rightly, so to speak. Mordecai and Esther spared the king’s life from a plot to kill him, even though he was wicked and out to get them. [RS]: Each of us encounter different people who have evil intentions for us or perhaps someone we know. It is our responsibility to respond to evil with good, even when it does not seem fair to us or to others around us.

TS: Let us examine now a few keys to understand the plot of this story moving forward.

The first key is the criteria for the women in the “beauty contest.” (v. 2)

Three criteria were established for the women: beautiful, young, and a virgin. Frederic Bush specified that “virgin” implied the girls were young, but of age to marry, yet having never married or known a man sexually. (Bush, 361)

Mervin Breneman explained, “…it was not a very happy assignment for most women. They were uprooted from their communities which implied confinement to the king’s harem, and moved to what would actually be perpetual widowhood.” (Brendeman, 314)

The second key is the introduction of Esther and Mordecai. (vv. 5-7)

Both Esther and Mordecai were Jews. They were cousins, and Mordecai took Esther under his wing because she had no father or mother (v. 7). Esther was very loyal to Mordecai and his instruction as indicated in v. 10.

Karen Jobes highlighted that the temptation and motive for hiding their ethnic identity was likely tied to the strong desire to advance in the kingdom and knowing that their Jewish background might prohibit that. Jobes further wrote, “It is no less a temptation for Christians today, living in a society that is becoming increasingly hostile to biblical principles.” (Jobes, 102)

The third key is Esther being chosen as the queen. (vv. 15-18)

V. 15b is a key for this, “Esther gained favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her.”

Also, vv. 16-17, “She was taken to King Ahasuerus in the palace in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. The king loved Esther more than all the other women. She won more favor and approval from him than did any of the other virgins. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.”

This is a key to the story because it highlights Esther moving into a position, specifically, that would enable God to work on behalf of the Jews in a special way.

The fourth key is the protection of the king. (vv. 19-23)

These verses outline a plot to kill the king and the response of Mordecai. Two important factors: King A was evil and very carnally minded, yet Mordecai responded with good; The eunuchs had evil intent to kill the king, yet Mordecai responded with good.

Notice, both Mordecai and Esther responded together in good, amidst evil.

Secondly, notice the close relationship, still, of Mordecai and Esther: He was at the gate. He was in a position of importance and influence, too. He was in a position for God to use him.

CONCLUSION:

[1] Each of us encounter situations that are motivated by and perhaps rooted in evil. God places each of us in specific positions that enable us to have unique opportunities to respond in those situations.

[2] How will you respond? Do you trust that God is at work behind the scenes of even seemingly ordinary, mundane activities?