Esther 3 - God's Sovereignty

One of the primary themes in the book of Esther is the sovereignty or providence of God. Although we don’t see God’s name mentioned we see him working quietly in the lives of people to accomplish His will. Sovereignty means that God is in complete control and that His will is going to be accomplished regardless of our actions. He works in the lives of those who don’t know Him as well as those who do to accomplish His will. As Christians God gives us the opportunity to participate in carrying out His will, but if we choose not to do so, someone else will. We simply miss the blessing that we would have attained had we obeyed God. God’s will is not frustrated by our lack of obedience.

Let’s look at several places in Esther where we can see God’s providence in action. The first place that I notice it is when Queen Vashti is removed as Queen (1:10f). We talked earlier about her refusal to obey the king. It is because of her removal as queen that Esther had the opportunity to gain a place of prominence so that she can be the tool that God uses to protect His people, the Jews.

We see several instances of God’s sovereignty in the second chapter. First when Esther was taken into the king’s palace, she found favor with Hegai (2:8), the individual responsible for those to be considered to be the queen. Because of this she was given the best place in the harem and most likely the best opportunity to impress the king. Secondly, she did not make known her nationality. Had her nationality become public, she most likely would not have been chosen queen. This step is unusual because the Jewish people are proud of their heritage and usually make it known. In verse 17 we see that the king loved Esther more than any of the other women. Certainly this was God working in the heart of the king so that Esther could be in this place of responsibility. In verse 21 Mordecai hears of a plot to kill the king which leads to the traitors being arrested and killed and the instance written in the kings book of records. Later the king reads about this and Mordecai is honored just when Haman wanted to put him to death.

In 3:7 lots are being cast to determine when the king’s order to kill all the Jews is to be carried out. The date that is selected is almost a year away, so that the events we read about in the rest of the book have time to take place and the Jews are not killed.

We mentioned earlier Esther 4:14. Here Mordecai explains that Esther has an opportunity to save her people but that if she doesn’t do it, God will find another way to carry out His plan for His people. God has influenced events so that she is in a place to mold the will of the king. It is her responsibility simply to be faithful.

The fifth chapter also contains several instances of God’s sovereignty. First we see that when Esther approaches the king she finds favor with him. She actually placed her life on the line in doing this and God had prepared the king’s heart so that he welcomed her. In verse 14 we see Haman having gallows prepared for Mordecai and subsequently they are used to hang Haman.

Esther 2 - Compromising Integrity

In Esther 1:9 we meet Vashti. She was the Queen of Persia and was giving a banquet for the ladies at the same time the king was giving a banquet for the men. At that time Persia was the largest kingdom in the world, including 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. This banquet had gone on for seven days and earlier verses tell us that quite a bit of drinking was going on. In 1:10 we see that when the king was “merry with wine” (in other words drunk) he commanded the queen to come before all the men “in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful.” There is not a reason mentioned as to why he did this, but we can guess that his intentions were not honorable.

We learn early in life that boys and men are at least initially attracted to girls and women by the way they appear. In my opinion too much stress is placed on the outward appearance. There is much more to a relationship than physical appearance, but many relationships seem to be built on that. We see television shows and movies where that appears to be the prime factor in a relationship. As you develop relationships I encourage you to do that based on the character of the people you meet rather than their outward appearance.

In verse 12 we see that Queen Vashti refused to come. She must have been aware of the potential consequence of her actions which could have included death. No one disobeyed the king’s command. One of the most important things we can learn from her is that she was not willing to compromise her integrity. She recognized the king simply wanted to treat her as an ornament or sexual object and was not willing to allow him to do that. The king’s request was very unusual in that culture because women did not allow themselves to be seen in public. She was brave, courageous and willing to take a stand.

You will face times in your life when you need to take a stand; when you know you should say “no”. There will be tremendous pressure to give in and say “yes”. That pressure may come from someone else or it may come from within your-self. When those times come I urge you to do what is right, regardless of what you think might happen. I can guarantee you that God will honor that decision. Each time you do that you will be strengthened and the next time the situation arises it will be easier to say “no”. However, if you give in once, it becomes extremely difficult to say “no” the next time.

As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives we develop convictions as to how God would have us live them. I pray you will remain true to those convictions regardless of the situation you face.

Esther 1 - Esther Introduction

Today we will begin a short study of the book of Esther. I had only casually read the book until I was asked several years ago to lead a group of ladies in our office in a Bible study. I really benefited from digging more deeply into the book and my prayer is that you will also.

Blessings,

Joe

Esther Introduction

I have chosen to share with you some thoughts from the book of Esther. It is the only book in the Bible in which God’s name is not mentioned and neither is prayer. Esther is not quoted at all in the New Testament. Yet, it is very practical from the perspective that it reveals how God works in our lives each day to accomplish His purpose. He works not only in the lives of Christians, but in the lives of non-Christians to carry out His will.

Probably the most well-known verse in the book is 4:14 where Mordecai says to Esther “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

We can learn much from this verse and one of the most important lessons is that God has a purpose and a plan for each one of us. He usually reveals His plan one step at a time and as we follow His leading we accomplish His purpose. Although I don’t know God’s plan for your life, I do know the first step He wants you to take; that is to trust Him as your personal Savior.

God’s Word tells us in Romans 3:23 that we “all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” We are all born with a sin nature and because of that are separated from God. Romans 6:23 explains that “the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.” Because God is holy and just He cannot tolerate sin, but because He loves us He provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him and to spend eternity with Him. In Romans 5:8 we learn that “God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s love was so great that He was willing to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to pay the price for our sins by dying on the cross so that we might have eternal life. Jesus rose from the grave only three days after He died and is now in heaven preparing a place for those who trust Him as Savior so that we may spend eternity with him.

The critical question is how do we obtain that salvation. Romans 10:9-10 tells us that “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Ephesians 2:8-9 states “for by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” Finally, John 5:24 assures us that our future is secure “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

I made the decision to trust Jesus as my Savior when I was 12 years old; over 60 years ago. I have never regretted taking that step and encourage you to do the same if you have not previously done so. I know that I am going to spend eternity in heaven with God and I have a strong desire for you to do the same.