For Such a Time as This
Esther 4
October 12, 2003
Background
A. Esther (Hadassah – star): a unique book – a history of the Jews while in exile. God is not mentioned… neither is prayer, thought it is implied.
a. The committed Jews had moved back to Jerusalem.
b. Beautiful illustration of God’s sovereignty
B. It is the story of an orphaned exiled Jewess who was raised by her cousin. She became the queen of Persia after winning the national beauty pageant. That would have made an interesting story for a few of generations, but it wouldn’t have survived 2,500 years unless she had rose to the moment in a time of crisis which followed this. Today, the Jews still celebrate her story on a day called the Feast of Purim.
C. Crises are defining moments. How we face them will determine whether we are life only victims or whether we are overcomers.
a. Moses – not a victim of Pharaoh
b. David – not a victim of Saul
D. Defining moments are sometimes missed opportunities.
E. The significance of each person is so often missed in our crowded cities.
a. In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Comwell control of England
b. In 1649, one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed
c. In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German
d. In 1839, one vote elected Marcus Morton Governor of Massachusetts.
e. In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union
f. In 1875, one vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic
g. In 1923, one vote gave Adolph Hitler control of the Nazi party
h. In 1941, one vote saved the Selective Service System just 3 months before Pearl Harbor
i. In 1934, one traveling evangelist, Mordecai Ham, led a 16 year old young man to Jesus who today at 83 years old has now preached to more people than anyone in the history of the world: Billy Graham.
j. In 1945, one person donated a youth camp registration which an 18 year old was given. That young man accepted Christ into his life and has had the largest impact upon the Christian church since Martin Luther: Chuck Smith.
k. Friday, a car was loaned to the youth group so several could go and visit two Bible colleges. The significance of that one small act could be huge as those lives make decisions about future ministries.
I. Mordecai’s Problems
Background: Mordecai was the cousin of Esther. When the king in a drunken stupor offended his wife, she refused to obey him. To save face, she was put away and a new wife was sought. Mordecai entered his cousin in the “Who Wants to Marry and King” contest and she won. Not long after that, Mordecai overheard about a plot to kill the king. He passed the word to Esther who then told the king and told the king & revealed her source. The king checked it out and found it was true. I t saved his life. Not long after that, Haman was elevated to a position over all the nobles.
A. Haman the Agagite
1. Agagite – descendent of King Agag spared by a rebellious King Saul (1 Sam. 15)
2. Prideful, power hungry man became so angry that he plotted to destroy all the Jews not just Mordecai.
B. Haman’s plot (3:7-9)
1. Slandered all the Jews to the King w/o mentioning their nationality
2. Obtain an irrevocable decree from the king to kill all Jews and offered to pay the price.
3. Haman’s attempt at genocide was the just first and Hitler won’t be the last. The anti-Christ/false messiah will be the last.
II. Mordecai’s Response
A. Mordecai’s public mourning (4:1-3)
1. Tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes and went into the midst of the city and cried out – as did Jews throughout the kingdom with fasting (3)
2. He left his post at the gate of the city (i.e. a judge) to mourn
3. He refused to be comforted by new clothes sent to him by Esther (4)
B. Mordecia’s request of Esther
1. Go to the king and intercede for him and her people (8)
2. Esther’s response was that the king had asked for her for the last 30 days and anyone not invited in would be killed unless the king raised his scepter to spare their life (11)
3. His second message in verses 13-14 READ…
II. Esther’s Response
A. Committed to fasting
1. So often it seems to take a crisis to bring a person to a place of assessing what is really important in life
2. Prayer is not mentioned but implied here
3. God is working among these people even though they have greatly compromised. “All things” are working together for good…”
B. Committed to go
1. I will go before the king… if I die, I die
2. “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matt. 10:28)
“For me to live is Christ, to die is
to gain.” (Phil. 1:21)
3. Denial of self is one thing in a sermon or wedding vows and entirely something else when having to fulfill it.
4. What is the use of faith if faith is not working? (James 2:14-18)
5. What is the use of your possessions if they are not redeeming?
6. What is the use of your gifts if they are not consecrated to God?
7. Isaiah heard the Lord say, ““Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” His response was, “Here I am. Send me.” (Is. 6)
III. Some Observations
A. The rest of the story
1. The queen invited the king and Haman over for dinner who promptly went home and bragged about his invitation and plotted to ask for Mordecai’s death the next day.
2. That night the king could not sleep and have the Chronicles of their history read. When they came to what Mordecai had done, the king asked what reward had been given him… Haman was in the court waiting to ask the king for Mordecai’s head.
3. At the dinner the queen asked for her life and the life of her people from the king. He asked what wicked man would do such a thing and she said, “The vile man Haman.”
4. Haman was killed. A new decree was made that the Jews could defend themselves at the expense of the king.
B. What leads to significance?
1. For everyone, it is unique but some principles can be gleaned from this book.
2. First, it is a miraculous mix of God’s sovereignty and mankind’s willingness to be used.
3. Second, it takes a willingness to see God’s opportunities in life.
4. Third, it takes a totally committed response. For most of us, it is in the smaller things where we do something that takes a sacrifice that doesn’t make it on our threat radar: i.e. a somewhat irritating nuisance rather than a David and Goliath or an Esther and a Haman situation.
What do you have that you have not been given any way?
What do you have that you can keep beyond death?
Are YOU willing to be used by God to make a difference in someone’s life today?