Esther: Bright Star in a Dark Place

by Samuel E. Ward

 

October 6, 2013

 

View PowerPoint slide presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/esther-4-ss or http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/  for all of Pastor Ward's presentations.

 

Introduction

 

Too often Christians have a sense that a particular action ought to taken or biblical view expressed that would be just the thing needed at a time to meet a need or make a point.     These feelings of "oughtness" need to be given serious consideration before dismissing them and leaving it to someone else who you might be deemed better "qualified" to handle them.  Why?  Because this is exactly the way the Holy Spirit works.  Our consciences belong to Him.  He is the one that empowers, directs, and if necessary, gives us the words to say when we testify concerning Christ.

 

Acts 1:8 (NIV2011)  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

 

Matthew 10:19-20 (NIV2011) Mt 19  But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20  for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

 

In the story of Esther, we have seen her replace Vashti as King Xerxes' queen.  This was the result of a refusal on Vashti's part to allow her to be displayed at a banquet among the king's drunken officials.  Esther was chosen to bring comfort to the king after a major military campaign against the Greeks that left him severely depressed.

Esther happened to be related to an official of Xerxes' court, Mordecai, who was also a Jew and ministered at the king's gate.  Haman, an Amalekite, was honored by the king with a high position of authority in Xerxes' kingdom, the king required all the royal officials to kneel before Haman whenever he passed.  Mordecai refused. 

Haman was offended by Mordecai's defiance and upon hearing that he was a Jew, influenced Xerxes to write an unalterable law that he hoped would lead to the extermination of all Jews in the Persian kingdom .  He based his request on the false charge that Jews were belligerent toward the king and likely to rebel sometime in the future.  The Jews and Haman's ancestors had a long-standing feud that stemmed back to the days of the Exodus when the Amalekites sought to prevent Israel from passing through their territory. 

In review, we have seen how . . .

 

I. God's Hand Prepares for the Future

II. God's Hand Rules in the Present (Mordecai's and Esther's contemporary situation)

 

God begins His sovereign plan to protect His people in chapter three.

 

A. Haman's Plot, Esther 3

 

Haman's plot to destroy the Jews leads us to Mordecai's plan to rescue his people.  The chart indicates where we are in the whole scheme of the story of Esther and the deliverance of the Jews.

 

B. Mordecai's Plan, Esther 4.

 

1. Mordecai's bitter mourning, Esther 4:1-3

 

Esther 4:1-3 (NIV2011)  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. 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.

 

a. Mordecai's mourning was a public display, Esther 4:1.

 

Mordecai was mourning an impending disaster.  The slaughter of innocents qualifies as an cause for mourning.  In our day we should be mourning the execution and persecution of Christians around the world.  We should be heartbroken over the aborting of babies and the euthanizing of others of any age. 

 

b. Mordecai's mourning was excluded from the king's gate, Esther 4:2.

 

Mordecai's hope seem to lay in the hands of an unbeliever to whom he had no access but perhaps could at least gain notice.  We in America still have recourse to address grievances through our laws but even that does not guarantee a favorable hearing or resolution.  Nonetheless, we should state the biblical position on moral issues for the purpose of effecting change and bringing justice to those without the power to obtain it for themselves.  That being said, the church has no mandate to accomplish these changes through violent means.  If society continues down an immoral course, Christians are to obedient to God's Word as members of His holy nation and leave judgment of civil governments to God (Rom 12:19).

 

c. Mordecai's mourning became a national demonstration, Esther 4:3.

 

Mordecai's mourning spread throughout the kingdom among the Jews.  It is entirely appropriate for the church to establish national days of focus for such issues as abortion, persecution of Christians, and such.  It is by these means that public awareness is raised and facts not otherwise known are published. 

 

2. Esther's great distress, Esther 4:4-9.

 

Esther 4:4-9 (NIV2011)  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. 6  So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate. 7  Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 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. 9  Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said.

 

a. Mordecai's mourning was brought to Esther's attention, Esther 4:4:a.                

b. Esther's attempt to bring him inside the king's gate with proper clothes was rejected, Esther 4:4b.

c. Esther's attendant was sent to ascertain the cause of Mordecai's mourning, Esther 4:5.

d. Mordecai's evidence of Haman's plot against the Jews were delivered to Esther, Esther 4:6-8a.

e. Mordecai's instructions to Esther was to beg for mercy from the king on behalf of her people, Esther 4:8b.

 

Whoever coined the term "silent witness" to describe the actions and behavior of Christians surely must know that unless at some point words are used to explain to what those actions and behaviors give witness, they do little in terms of Christian witness.  These people are merely good and, perhaps, kind people.  of which there are many unbelievers who might be so described.

Esther was a kind, winsome, beautiful person that might have described many unbelievers in Xerxes' harem.  But when she identified herself as a Jew with convictions rooted in her own faith, she became a testimony to the strength and validity of that faith.

Matthew 5:13-16 applies directly to this point.

 

Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV2011) Mt 13  "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14  "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  15  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

3. Esther's justifiable fear, Esther 4:10-11.

 

Esther 4:10-11 (NIV2011) 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."

 

God's Word gives us other examples of those who shrank from their faith when they felt their lives were threatened.  Among them are no less than the disciples who had walked and witnessed the works of Jesus for themselves.

 

Mark 14:44-46,50 (NIV2011) 44  Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." 45  Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. 46  The men seized Jesus and arrested him. . . 50  Then everyone deserted him and fled.

 

Luke 23:44-49 (NIV2011) 44  It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45  for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46  Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47  The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man."  48  When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49  But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

 

John 20:19 (NIV2011)  On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"

 

The scriptures give counsel that should guide us when we are intimidated to silence due to the fear of men.

 

      Fear of men is a trap meant to separate us from our true security in the Lord.

 

Proverbs 29:25 (NIV2011)  Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

      Fear is best overcome by giving it to the Lord in prayer.

 

Psalm 34:4 (NIV2011)  I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

 

      Fear of man is misplaced when viewed in light of the greater power of God.

 

Psalm 27:1-3 (NIV2011) 1  The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? 2  When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.  3  Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

 

4. Mordecai's illuminating insight, Esther 4:12-14.

 

Esther 4:12-14 (NIV2011) 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 was certainly aware of God's promises to Israel.  Even though he had not returned to Israel to rebuild with others who had gone before, he evidently maintained a  relationship with God just as many others of God's people in captivity.  One promise in particular might have been the source of his message to Esther.

 

Jeremiah 46:28 (NIV2011)  Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you," declares the LORD. "Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished."

 

With this promise in mind, he could confidently say that God would protect His people in Persia regardless of Esther's decision.  But Esther must consider that she was the means by which deliverance would come.  Either way, there were no guarantees that she and her family would survive if she kept silent.

 

5. Esther's courageous faith, Esther 4:15-17.

 

Esther 4:15-17 (NIV2011) 15  Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16  "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." 17  So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions.

 

Whether Esther had the same depth of confidence in God as reflected by Paul in Philippians is not known. 

 

Philippians 1:19-21 (NIV2011) 19  for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20  I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

 

In one sense, however, her act might be considered even more courageous considering her experience with God in crises was not as extensive as Paul's.  And yet she resigned herself to accept life or death as the consequence of doing the right thing for her people.

This puts Esther in line for the blessing Jesus gave all future believers who trusted  in Him, many unto death, without seeing any of the works His first disciples witnessed.

 

John 20:29 (NIV2011)  Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

 

Conclusions

 

1. Life can throw some very terrifying situations into our path and terror will most likely be our initial reaction.  We may, like Mordecai, feel like wailing and crying while we fall into despair.  If, however, we allow the Holy Spirit the opportunity to work through our prayers, He promises to turn the confusion and terror we express before God into intercessory requests on our behalf.  His are just the right words that need to be heard in the Father's throne room.

 

Romans 8:26-28 (NIV2011) Ro 26  In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.

 

2.  God is a God of peace.  He wants us to experience peace not as the world gives it, but as only He can give it because He is also the God over all circumstances.  He has a plan.  Once the knee-jerk fear is passed, God is ready to immediately step in to comfort us with His presence and the knowledge that He has a plan.  It may be different than what we would expect, but it will be for His purposes and our good if we love Him enough to release our fears to Him.  Deliverance is inevitable; the means of that deliverance has innumerable possibilities.

 

Romans 8:28 (NIV2011)  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.

 

Philippians 1:19-21 (NIV2011) 19  for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20  I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

 

Psalm 23:4 (NIV2011)  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.