Esther: When God's Seems Absent

Turning the Tables, Esther 9:1-32

An “Ebenezer” stone is mentioned three times in scripture— It was a practice to stand up a big stone— or stack up a pile or tower of smaller stones, to mark a spot— to create a memory.

It turns out that there is a powerful biblical story behind the word “Ebenezer.” The term comes from 1 Samuel, which discusses how when an Israelite army was fleeing and being pursued by their enemy at night, they came to the Valley of Ebenezer. They asked God for help in battle, so He made them sound like more people than actually were present. This caused confusion and delayed victory on behalf of their enemies who then turned around without confronting them or noticing it wasn’t just one small group coming towards them but rather a whole battalion with reinforcements waiting nearby!

1 Samuel 7:12 NIV

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

Often times, the Israelites would teach their children about these powerful acts of God through the pile of stones.

Another very powerful “place” where Rocks were piled up is the Jordan River:

Joshua 4:6–7 ESV

6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

This photo captures a double row of 12 standing stones at Har Karkom in southern Israel— this is probably not the actual 12 stones Joshua placed, but scholars believe this is the closest set to what it would have looked like.

But sometimes they would also forget— forget God’s faithfulness, how he moved among them, and they would fall away from God.

Psalm 78:42 ESV

42 They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe,

Remember the larger context of the story of Esther— it dawned on me this week---why are they in captivity in the first place? Because as we read happened often, they had forgotten, and fallen away from God. So he allowed the Persian empire to take them over, take them away from everything they knew.

They did not remember the greatness of God.

Here is the great big point for today— we will move quickly through this 9th chapter, but this is the main point:

“When we forget what God has done in the past, we find it difficult to trust what He is doing now, and have faith in what He promises to do in the future.” -Pastor Charlie Grimes

A Jewish victory

Esther 9:1 (NIV)

1 On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them.

The Jewish people prove to be unbeatable. v.2

Esther 9:2 NIV

2 The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them.

God behind the Scenes: The Book of Esther (The Jews Prove Unbeatable (Esther 9:5))

A ludicrously lopsided battle erupts throughout the empire as the Jews mercilessly defeat their enemies. While this picture of destruction might seem to indicate that the Jews are gruesome and vindictive, it is more helpful to envision them merely protecting themselves from death—precisely as the edict has authorized them to do. They do not instigate the fight but respond effectively to hostile attack; once engaged in battle, they are invincible.

The enemies are wiped-out. v.6

Esther 9:5–6 NIV

5 The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. 6 In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men.

God behind the Scenes: The Book of Esther Their Enemies Are Wiped out (Esther 9:6–17)

The battle statistics are alarming. In the capital city the Jews’ enemies are roundly defeated—500 citizens are declared to be dead, with Haman’s 10 sons listed among the casualties (Esth 9:7–10). They go the same route as the disgraced Haman, ending up not only humiliated but suspended, like their evil sire, high upon Haman’s gallows. Their bodies, just like his, are on display to remind everyone what will happen to those who dare to defy the king’s (counter) edict—to anyone who might venture to attack the Jews. This confrontation effectively ends Haman’s evil legacy; that the storyteller mentions all of his sons by name verifies that all of them are gone. This is a graphic picture of what happens to anyone who dares to take on God or his people.

The Jews correct King Saul’s error from long ago. v.10

God behind the Scenes: The Book of Esther Their Enemies Are Wiped out (Esther 9:6–17)

The Jews do not take plunder, though they are legally entitled to it (this is surely evidence that they are not exacting revenge but merely defending themselves).

God behind the Scenes: The Book of Esther Their Enemies Are Wiped out (Esther 9:6–17)

The Jews of Persia “correct” Saul’s error. Saul took the booty from the Amalekites although he was forbidden to do so; but the Jews of Persia do not take booty from their enemies even though they are entitled to do so. If the feud between Haman and Mordecai is viewed as an extension of the dispute between Agag and Saul, this reversal in reference to booty wipes away the sin of the house of Saul. There is now nothing to prevent a complete triumph of the descendants of Saul over the house of Agag. And indeed, this is what happens in Mordecai’s defeat of Haman and in the Jews’ defeat of their Haman-inspired enemies.

Esther makes a final request.

Esther 9:13 NIV

13 “If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also, and let Haman’s ten sons be impaled on poles.”

Scholars believe she is prompted to add another day of fighting, so as to fulfill the prophecy-like statement back in Exodus:

Exodus 17:14 NIV

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”

God behind the Scenes: The Book of Esther (Their Enemies Are Wiped out (Esther 9:6–17))

In this additional battle day the city of Susa is purged of the Jews’ enemies. This decisive victory irrevocably proves that God keeps his word.

A Jewish celebration.

Mordecai issues instructions to observe an annual remembrance.

Esther 9:22 NIV

22 as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

A feast to remind them of the rescue. v.23

It’s placed on the calendar. They are scheduled to remember! It’s very much like our observance of communion. Jesus says “Do this in remembrance of me”. So at least on every fifth Sunday of a month— plus some other special times like Easter, we too will indeed have a “scheduled” time to remember. We remember— but it is a celebration of not only what he’s done— but also what he is doing in us right now— and we eat and drink to proclaim the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection “until he comes” back.. That is a celebration of what He will do in the future.

A celebration called “Purim”v.26

Esther 9:26–27 NIV

26 (Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.) Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed.

God behind the Scenes: The Book of Esther (The Feast Is to Remind Them of Their Rescue (Esther 9:23–26))

The Jews are never to forget God’s deliverance; this is why the feast is instituted. They willingly consent to perpetuate the celebration to commemorate their rescue from death.

God behind the Scenes: The Book of Esther Its Origin Is in the Name: “Purim” (Esther 9:24–28)

Purim means “lot.” Haman resorted to pagan superstition and his pagan gods to determine when the destruction of the Jews was to occur; now “Purim” reminds them how the true and living God countered this threatened annihilation. It is not by chance that the Jews are saved; God saves them.

I don’t want to be disrespectful, but for our understanding— we can see this Purim festival for the Jews kind of like a blending of our Christmas and Easter together into one holiday! They dress up, and have feasts, and noise makers, and they get rowdy! 2500 years later, and they are still understanding and celebrating the rescue God provided— the way that God turned the tables on evil for them.

But remember, their celebration was not only to remember what God had done for them and through them in the past— it was to over flow into the present. They give to the poor, they share and celebrate with presents to each other now.

And all this builds faith in the future. The promises of God are true— and he will prevail.

A royal decree by Queen Esther. v.29

Esther 9:32 ESV

32 The command of Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.

Esther once again uses her position and her power to validate her people.

Now how can we make some sense of all this for our lives today?

Well, the keys are in what this celebration meant for them--

Purim meant that not even the most powerful, evil man in the kingdom could destroy them. Purim meant that not even the roll of a die, or the casting of a lot could control their fate.. It was not chance.

It was not anything that they could “see”— that would secure or destroy their future. What was it? The hidden, subtle providence of God. The unseen hand of God— never even mentioned in this text, but obviously working.

Jewish faithful are called to remember that— and trust it.

Easily said— difficult to live right?

I know many of you who are facing some really tough things right now. We’ve been praying for some of those regularly, I can imagine many more are there but just not as public.

Even I’m not immune from the stress of what I see— causing me to doubt, or be just a little off. I’m teaching this book, and it’s all about God’s unseen hand of providence— and my choices to work with Him.

But it’s hard— we all know it’s hard.

But there is another little nugget for us in verse 27:

Esther 9:27 (ESV)

27 the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year,

They were never going to celebrate or remember alone. That’s just like us. That’s why we are all here together. Walnut Creek Mennonite Church was established in 1862, on this very plot of land, committed to a community of faithful service and discipleship with each other. Those earliest Amish and Mennonite believers committed themselves, their offspring, and all who joined them to stand faithful together in this world for Jesus. Today, We have small groups, our Sunday school classes, youth activities, social events to love each other, service projects, mission trips— Wednesday nights will start up again in October. We are never alone, unless we choose to be.

We stand together to believe and encourage each other that Jesus is the GREATER Esther— She risked her life for her people— he actually died for us. Jesus is the GREATER Mordecai, Jesus is the GREATER Deliverer— Jesus writes a GREATER decree that takes us from DEATH to LIFE!

And we stand together today to declare that truth to each other and to our world.

We are victorious because of what Jesus has done. We were that Jewish people, the enemy had us dead to rights, just like Haman had the Jewish nation. But Jesus takes that punishment, rights the ultimate COUNTER DECREE, and turns the tables in a mighty cosmic reversal.

Our enemy the devil is defeated, and we are saved.

Do you remember the day you made your commitment to Jesus?

Do you recall the circumstances where Jesus became real— he became your personal savior?

We celebrate His victory over sin and death — every time we meet together.

Have you put your full and un-wavering trust in Jesus?

Do you believe that he was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again victoriously making the way for us to be back in a right relationship with God forever?

If you’ve never made that commitment in your heart, I want to offer you the chance to consider that, and do it today.

We are here for you, and want you to come see any of our pastors or elders. Lets talk, we want you to join us in the victory celebration!