Esther: When God Seems Absent (9)
Notes
Transcript
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Here we are! This is the sermon you’ve all been looking for! My grandfather, when we would finish up a job working together, would often say:
“Well, there it is— that’s the one we’ve been looking for!” - I would then take that to mean “this is the last one”. And this is indeed the last sermon in our series. We’ve come to the end of this book.
We get to finish up this wonderful, dramatic, and inspirational story today. Chapter 10 of Esther happens to be the shortest chapter, but it is still worth our time, and I hope it will be one last opportunity for us within this book to marvel and be amazed at God providence, and to apply the lessons to our lives today.
The world is facing some very difficult things right now, isn’t it? One of the core values that we as leaders here at Walnut Creek are committed to, is having our ministry activities, our teaching, our ministry “stuff” be relevant to the world that we all live in, and must navigate every day— The church should equip you to be “in” that world— reminding you and we are not “of” that world.
That’s exactly what we’ve been learning and dealing with here in Esther— A captive people, who are foreigners, strangers really in another kingdom— different from the kingdom they find themselves in. Strangers, yet they are attempting to live faithfully in the midst of all that.
Much like the kingdom of this world today— Xerxes had issues, and conflict, war. We are facing issues, conflicts and even war.
And how can we see God’s providence in our own world today— how can we trust that even though we may not see it, He is working and is indeed in control?
They represent a closing statement about Mordecai specifically, how he was a distinguished blessing he was--and how he lived through adversity to honor God and trust His leading in his life.
The providence of God is both a comfort and a challenge for us.
There are some hints and encouraging relief for us in just these 3 little verses of Esther Chapter 10.
The greatness of Mordecai is recorded. v. 2
1 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores.
2 And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia?
This book is ending very similarly to how it started. Remember back a couple months ago? This great king, Xerxes and all his power and might. But there is something just slightly different about the ending— what is it? Mordecai is mentioned basically standing right next to the King. It’s the mention of this great person, this wise, loyal, and responsible subject of Xerxes— Mordecai.
Some believe that because of the way this ends, the whole story is more about Mordecai than it is even about Esther. The book is named after her, but a case could be made that it is certainly due to Mordecai’s faithful choices and actions.
Note the phrase here that “these are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia”— This actually refers to another source. An “extra-biblical” or even secular source was a great reference for anyone who wanted to confirm or back-up the story. It’s as if the author is saying “hey, you can go check all this out--”
Mordecai is compared to the kings of Israel.
This comes to us in a similar format as what we read about in the history of the Jewish kings also:
19 As for the rest of the events of Jeroboam’s reign, how he waged war and how he reigned, note that they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.
19 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
This is interesting to me, it’s as if the author is pointing out the importance that Mordecai was for the kingdom. He’s honoring Mordecai— putting him on the same level as the kings of old. Don’t miss that.
Why was he so important?
3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.
So he ascended to become basically the prime minister of a whole empire. Haman was removed, Mordecai was placed there. Just like Esther was placed into the Queen position, when Vashti was removed. So we end the story with two ordinary Jewish people as Prime Minister and Queen of one of the most vast and powerful empires in human history.
Mordecai was a great leader.
Look real close at that verse:
Second in command below Xerxes
Preeminent among the Jews, held in high esteem.
Because he worked for the good of his people
Spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.
He was not only a great public servant— but he was also aligned with God’s providence and priorities. Mordecai had figured out that God is working in the world— and he looked for ways to join God in that plan.
He was working in harmony with the providence of God.
If you and I really want to make a difference in this world… If you’re like me, you really don’t want to just sit back and wring your hands about all the bad things that we see...
We will be wise to seeking to align ourselves with God’s providence also.
Working in harmony with God has two parts:
1. Seeking the “good”- “tov” in Hebrew.
Tov- Hebrew word for “good”.
He’s a good boy. (compliant)
That’s a good bike. (quality)
I got a good grade. (outcome)
Tov in Hebrew actually is a compilation of ALL of these traits— all of the GOOD.
Where to we first see the word “tov” in the bible? Genesis 1.
Genesis 1:4 (NIV)
4 God saw that the light was good...
That’s commonly read commonly throughout the creation story.
Tov describes God’s design for his creation and his people.
At the point in verse 31 we see something just a little different:
Genesis 1:31 (NIV)
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Tov “me’od”. VERY
Mordecai sought the “tov” of his people. In the sphere of his influence, he seeks what God designed. That’s for people to be restored. We can observe him doing this in our story:
-He raises Esther as his own daughter, takes responsibility for her.
-He thwarts an evil plan to assassinate the king. Regardless of what he may have thought of the king, it wasn’t “tov” for these men to kill him. So he acted accordingly.
-He doesn’t bow to Haman. He doesn’t go along with the crowd, or submit to Haman’s selfish pride.
-He is the focal point of the mourning that all the Jews will be killed.
-He compels Esther to step up and to join him in defending the Jewish people
-He serves as the master-mind behind the counter decree to prepare and protect the Jews.
-He creates and mandates the Purim festival,
-He continues to serve the king with wisdom, grace and confidence.
Esther 10:3 (NLT)
3 Mordecai the Jew became the prime minister, with authority next to that of King Xerxes himself. He was very great among the Jews, who held him in high esteem, because he continued to work for the good of his people and to speak up for the welfare of all their descendants.
Esther 10:3 (ESV)
3 For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.
That word PEACE or WELFARE— if you thought “tov” was pretty cool— check this:
It’s translated from the Hebrew word ‘SHALOM’.
Shalom we may here from our Jewish friends. They greet each other with this word- Shalom.
2. Speaking Shalom over people.
The biblical concept of shalom goes beyond the merely absence of conflict. Shalom means a peace that involves flourishing, wellness, and wholeness. Our good Lord desires that we enjoy the fullness of life (shalom) and He gave us the Prince of Peace to do it.
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Everything was created for shalom.
Most of the time we think of it as “peace”— But it means all that plus more. It means “wholeness”, or “complete”. Mordecai is speaking completeness over the people. That they would be whole, like God intended. Like when God created everything.
There are only two places in scripture where “shalom” is actually happening. Can you guess?
At the beginning— and at the end. Genesis 3 through Revelation 20.
Everything else in between is where we live. Everything else is broken Shalom. It’s incomplete. It’s not whole. That’s what evil is— it’s broken shalom. Not whole. Not good according to Genesis.
“In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight--a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.” Dr. Cornelius Plantinga,
He goes on to say also:
Evil is the “vandalism of Shalom”
Here’s the lesson for you and me:
Despite how it feels right now--
God’s providence is actively working for the “good” of his people, and he is actively pursuing wholeness for the creation.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
God’s plan for the world is to be conformed to the image of Jesus. Whole and complete. Restored back to the “good” it was created to be. Paul is basically saying here that there is a trajectory of providence. It all centers on Jesus. That reminds me of the study we completed last year in Colossians:
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
He’s going to bring about completeness, by entering into the story— entering into the painting. He is going to make it all new.
Two key points for us today:
Because of the providence of God:
1. We have hope.
It’s hard to see it when you’re in the middle of it.
As you see it in the rear-view, you can see God’s providence in using your difficulty to bring about your growth and sanctification.
Remember the Jews— in captivity, mourning. They were marked for death. But there is one guy who has a little hint of what is actually going on. He is faithful, he works for the good, and speaks peace.
Look back to the theme verse of the whole book:
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?”
That’s the comfort part. We have hope.
But the second lesson for us today is a challenge:
2. We have a part to play.
WE need to listen carefully, and act accordingly.
Jesus called us to be his witnesses. Salt and light on the earth.
We should be living in such a way to give a “glimpse” of what is to come— Jesus is coming again and he will restore all things.
We do it through our actions and our words.
This is why we are engaged with correcting the wrongs in the world.
WE need to SPEAK GOOD, and SEEK SHALOM for the people around us.
How can that happen?
Living a life that is faithful to the expectations and standards of God, without judging others.
Being a living sacrifice, minding your own life with diligence and cheerfulness. Loving people in grace and truth.
Do you have at least one friend, one acquaintance in life that doesn’t know Jesus? Many of us have our family, our church, our circles that we run in— but we never even meet someone who may be different than us. Someone who may have a different skin color, or background, someone who may vote differently than you… How might you connect with even just ONE other person to share God’s vision for Goodness and Peace, “completeness” reconciliation and “wholeness”?
Getting involved in our community where there is a need that you can help meet. That your presence will bring “good” and “shalom” to someone, or something that you can change.
Refugees— a Ukrainian family needs friends and partners.
Organizations like Love INC, Toward the Goal, Pure Gift of God, New Grounds, Save and Serve, Nehemiah release time, Sacred Ground, Agora, Christ for the City International, Mission Aviation Fellowship, SWAP, and so many others need volunteers and support in ways that maybe only you could provide.
What are your passions? What gets you going? That’s a clue as to where God might be leading you. Let’s work together to get you going in that direction with your power, your position, your purpose.
Because who knows...
“Be a leader”. “don’t be a follower”— be a leader. Let’s not be a thermometer— How about we are a thermostat. Let’s not just reflect the temperature in the room— like everybody else. Let’s SET the temperature in the room.
