Esther: Queen of Courage
For Such a Time as This
Text: Esther
Introduction:
In her book, Living with Love, Josephine Robertson tells a
story. "In 1883, a youthful missionary,
Joe Roberts, arrived by stagecoach in a blizzard to minister to the Shosone
Tribe of Wyoming. Soon after he, the son of the chief was shot by a soldier in
a brawl, and Chief Washakie vowed to kill the first white man he met in
retribution. Since this might mean the start of a long, bloody feud, young
Roberts decided to take act. Seeking out the camp, fifteen miles away in the
mountains, he stood outside the chief’s teepee and called the chief's name.
When Washakie appeared, Roberts opened his shirt and bared his chest.
"I have heard
of your vow," he said, "The other white men have families, but I am
alone. Kill me instead."
Washakie was amazed and told him to come into his tent.
"How do you have so much courage?" he asked.
Joe Roberts told
him about Christ, His death, His teachings. They talked for
hours. When Joe left, the chief of the Shoshones had renounced his vow to kill
and resolved to become a Christian.
Would you if you were the missionary Joe Roberts travel 15
miles to offer yourself to appease a father’s rage in order to preach the
Gospel? Would you sieze that time, in the midst of death, anger and sorrow, to
introduce yourself as the new preacher in town? That took real courage and
faith in what we are going to talk about this morning, the Providence of God in
the story of Esther, as we open our series for the month of May, Women of
Faith.
God’s Providence Esther 1:10-12
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry
with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar,
and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the
king, 11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal,
to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. 12 But
the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains:
therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
The Providence of the Past Nations, Peoples and Events
In the book of Esther we see several events which seem
random or unconnected, but actually are under the providence of God. Events
that will work to bring about God’s will and save God’s people.
In this case we have an enormous banquet put on by the most
powerful but now drunk king in all the world at this time, Ahasuersu or as
other histories recorded him Xerxes. We
have Queen Amestris who the Bible give us as Vashti, a title which meant “most
beautiful.” Then we have the critical event in our story, the king calls for
his queen to dress up and show herself before his guests, which may have
numbered in the 10s of thousands but the queen refuses to come. We are not told
exactly why she refuses. Was it because of the drunkenness of the guests? Was
it because she did not want to be paraded like a prize horse. Perhaps it was
because she had her own banquet for the women at another palace and it was her
duty to stay there. We don’t know but her refusal brings about a cascade of
reactions and crises that only God could use to accomplish His own purpose.
So let us discuss Providence because the book of Esther is a
perfect example.
The Providence of the Present Nations, People and Events
Learning to trust God in His providence not in the past as
we can see with hindsight in the book of Esther and all the Bible, but trusting
God’s providence now in our present when it is not visible at all and we must
touch providence by faith not by sight.
Providence: Literally means foresight, but is generally used
to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes.
Rom 8:28 And we
know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who
are the called according to his purpose.,
Col 1:17 And he is
before all things, and by him all things consist.
God's providence extends to:
The affairs of men
Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD,
as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
James 4:14-15 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the
morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little
time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we
shall live, and do this, or that.
It applies even to the free actions of men Pro19:21, 20:24;
Php 2:13 Eph 2:10
As regards sinful actions of men, they are represented as
occurring by God's permission and as controlled and overruled for good. God
does not cause or approve of sin, but only limits, restrains, overrules it for
good. The mode of God's providential government is altogether unexplained. We
only know that it is a fact that God does govern all his creatures and all
their actions; that this government is....
universal Ps 103:17-19
particular Mt 10:29-31
efficacious Ps 33:11 Job 23:13
embraces events apparently contingent Pr 16:9,33 19:21 21:1
is consistent with his own perfection 2Ti 2:13
and to his own glory Ro 9:17 11:36
Illustration: “We Sent Two Boats and a Helicopter.”
Here's a great story about providence. During a terribel
flood, volunteers risked their lives to rescue victims stranded in the deluge.
One old Pentecostal preacher was up to his knees in the fast-rising waters when
a rowboat came by. "Hop in, we'll save you!"
"No thanks,
the Lord will take care of me."
A short while
later, the water had risen to the roof and the man had climbed there for
safety. A motor boat was sent to save
him. Again he declined: "No thanks, I have faith. The Lord will save me."
Soon the water was
up to his chin, a helicopter was dispatched at the last minute. "Climb
aboard, this is your last chance!"
"Thanks
anyway, but I have faith. I don't need
you, the Lord will save me."
Before the
helicopter returned home, the old man drowned and went to heaven. He was bewildered and mad, banging on the
Pearly Gates. He bitterly complained to St. Peter, "I never doubted, I had
faith why wasn’t I saved?"
Peter looked at
him, shook his head, and explains: "Hey! We sent two boats and a
helicopter!”
The providence of God continues through the events of the
Persian court as Vashti is removed as the queen, and a search is began for a
replacement to teach her and all the women of Persia a lesson about who is
really in charge, the king or queen, men or women. It is an interesting side
story that history tells us that though Vashti was removed and Esther put in
her place, the lesson ended after that and Vashti was put back into her role as
queen sometime after our story ends. So in the final tally the battle between
the sexes wasn’t dealt a decisive blow here, but if you are married, you
probably already know that.
But lets move back to something easier to deal with, God’s
providence. Providence especially when it comes to the nation of Israel or the
church will be especially seen in God’s Person.
God’s Person Esther 4:13-14
Then Mordecai commanded to answer
Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more
than all the Jews. 14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this
time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another
place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth
whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
God Uses Esther to save Her people
In chapter 2 we once again see God’s Providence at work as
we meet Mordecai and Esther through the search for Vashti’s replacement.
Mordecai was one of the Kings officers who served in the court and whose
station was “at the Kings Gate” this may have been a literal gate in the palce
or it may have simply meant a place where the kings officers would wait to be
called to the King.
We then met Esther, her Persion name, in Hebrew her name was
Hadassah. Mordecai had raised her as his dauther when her father, Mordecia’s
uncle had died.
Esther has been installed as the replacement of Vashti in
the Kings attention and affections when in chapter 3 we meet Haman, a proud
vain sycophantic man who want first place in the Kings court. When he ride out
one day past the the other officers in the court Mordecia refused to bow down
as the others do. Seems the Jews have a problem with bowing before anyone but
God. Haman in is spite to punish Mordecia decides to destroy all the Jews in
all the lands of the Empire. An Empire that stretches from throughout most of
western Asia at this time.
Haman though is position with the King, has a law put into
effect that on the 13th day of the 12 month all the Jews in all the kindom were
to be killed and those who did the killing could keep the possessions of the
families that they killed as a bounty.
It is under the danger of that decree that Mordecai comes to
Esther and tells her she must be God’s Person for this hour. Eshter had never
even told the King or anyone else that she was a Jew and now she must walk into
the King’s presence without an invitation, which could result her own death and
try and stop the slaughter of Mordecai and her people.
Mordecai in convincing her asks this famous question, “who knows whether thou
art come to the kingdom for such a time as this.
He then appeals to her using three principles in 4:13-14
Faith: …then shall deliverance arise to the Jews from
another place (based upon God’s promises.)
Fidelity: Thy fathers house shall be destroyed (loyalty and
duty to your family)
Fortitude: thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this
(courage to act)
We know God used Esther and Mordecai but the question for us
today is….
Will God Use You?
In the Bible there are many examples of “for such a time as
this.”
Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego: Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and
said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this
matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we
serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver
us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if
not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor
worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Daniel in the lions den: Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was
signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber
toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and
gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Peter and John before the Sanhedrian.: Acts 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them
before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that
ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with
your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered
and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
You might say, “sure if those things happened I’d stand for
God just like the heroes of the Bible.”
Le me give you some other examples from today.
A teacher attacks Christianity and opens the class for
discussion. Do you speak or hold your
tongue?
Co-workers or friends call you over to listen to a dirty
story or watch an immoral video on their smart phone. Do ackwardly smile and just go along?
Your children want you to buy them music or take them to a
show that you know is a bad influence and show sin as enjoyable. Do you say ok?
Friends decide to eat out after work and when you arrive
they order a pitcher of beer for your table even though they know you don’t
drink as a Christian. Should you stay while they drink?
You and a friend are driving down the highway and pass a car
with the hood open and steam coming out of the radiator. A mile or two later you pass a man walking
with a container in his hand. Do you stop and help him?
The point is that no one can know for sure when God will use
us, therefore we must be always ready “for such a time as this.”
How do you know what to do in these situations? What
principles will you use to decide what to do? Just like Mordecai’s appeal to Esther we must
have:
Faith in God’s promises
Fidelity to your God, you family and your Church
Fortitude, the courage to act now.
Those principles will never fail you in any decision you
will make. I think they are reflected and summarized here in ….
1 Chronicles 19:13 Be
of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for
the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.
Transition:
God’s providence is at work, God’s person is in place and
now we will see…
God’s Power Esther 8:5-7
And said, If it please the king, and if
I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and
I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by
Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews
which are in all the king's provinces: 6 For how can I endure to see the
evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction
of my kindred? 7 Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and
to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him
they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
God’s Power through Esther and Mordecai Saves the Jews.
Esther risks her life to go before the King and he points
his scepter at her allowing her to live and come into his presence. She invites
him and Haman to a dinner which of course appeals greatly to the vanity of
Haman. At the dinner she pleads for her life and the King asks who would dare
to threaten her and her people and Esther points and says, “The adversary and
enemy is this wicked Haman.”
The King is filled with wrath and has Haman hanged on the
gallows that Haman had built to kill Mordecai. He then signs a law that allows
the Jewish people to defend themselves when the day comes that Haman had
devised to have them eradicated.
And though Esther, Mordecai and the King were all involved, it
was God in His power, working thorugh thm, who brought about their deliverance.
Can God work through you?
If you are a child of God you want the answer to be, yes.
But know that even if you are not saved, the answer is still yes. In the former
God works though you willingly and in the latter He still works through you though
you may be unwilling. Either way God’s power, through God’s providence shall
accomplish God’s will.
I hope and pray that all of us here are in the first group.
We want to willingly be used of God, to see His will done and power seen in our
choices and service. We must always be aware
of the reality and the opportunities in the same way that Mordecai spoke to
Esther, “for such a time as this?” Has
God brought you, has God brought our church, has God brought others, into the
times and events of our lives, for such a time as this?
What open doors do we see? What challenges? What chances for
service? What tests of faith?
Are you facing these with faith, fidelity and fortitude? Or are you shrinking back from what you should
be, true, honorable and courageous?
Ezekiel 22:30 And I
sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the
gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Is there a gap, a breech in the wall, that you should be
standing in? Is there a break in the
battle shield wall that you should be stepping into? You must be willing to trust God and then
like Esther and Mordecia, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo, Like Daniel,
Peter, John and so many others, you can be used of God for such a time as this.
Conclusion
Let me conclude with the most important event in all of
history when “for such a time as this” came down to one man in a garden and His
choice made a difference for all of us for all eternity.
Christ in the garden of Gethsemane.
Luke 22:39-44 And he
came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples
also followed him. And when he was at
the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he
was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not
my will, but thine, be done. And there
appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an
agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of
blood falling down to the ground.
Christ stood at the crossroad of all time and eternity, at
the edge of man’s salvation or destruction.
He had come into this world “for such a time as this” and He would not
run, he would not turn away, though His heart and soul staggered at the cost
and the pain it would bring.
What has God brought us to in our lives, our schools our
home, our workplaces “for such a time as this?”
Yes it may be frightening, painful or embarrassing. It may cause
physical or emotional loss, but God has placed you there for just such an
opportunity.
All of us face our own time of decision, our own time to stand
in the gap and we must all decide …my will or thy will be done.
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