The Story of Esther

One of the ways to learn the Bible is through the stories, no matter what age we are. And with the stories come food for thought, and a lesson hopefully learned.  The story today is full of suspense, with a full cast of characters.  We have a king, an orphaned girl, a cousin, a queen, and what is a story without the bad guy, or the villain?

Our story begins with King Ahasuerus.  He throws a banquet.  Not just any banquet, but a banquet that lasts seven days.  Picture it, food, music, entertainment, dancing, and drinking. There is some serious partying  happening here. Scripture says, they were “in high spirits.” The king announces “bring in Queen Vashti…” He wanted to show off her beauty to the guests because she was extremely good-looking.  But Queen Vashti refused to come. The king lost his temper. Furious over her disrespect, the king called in his counselors and all experts in legal matters. He asked them what legal recourse they could have against Queen Vashti for not obeying him.

Why legal recourse?  Because if the queen can refuse to obey the king’s command, then all women will do as she did and disobey their husbands, too.   The counselors said “Well, you know that there will be no end of disrespect and discord.” So…the king removes Queen Vashti from her position as Queen. He wants to find a new queen… one who would be less opinionated and not so defiant.  He decides to have his whole kingdom search for beautiful young women and then one will be picked to be the new queen: enters Esther.  Esther was an orphan at a very young age.  Mordecai, her cousin, took her in and raised her as if she were his own daughter. Esther, now a young woman, is picked as a candidate to be Queen. When the king saw Esther, he fell in love with her, as scripture says,   “… she gained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen”

Now there was a man who was one of the king’s closest friends. His name is Haman. He’s a guy with a huge ego. Haman convinces the king to make a decree that whenever Haman is around everyone in his presence should bow down to him. Mordecai, is Jewish, and he will only bow to God. Mordecai says there is no way he will bow down to Haman. You can imagine, Haman was furious. So Haman creates a plan to eliminate not just Mordecai, but all the Jews in Persia because Mordecai won’t bow to him. Haman tells the king that there are a group of people who do not honor the king’s command, specifically the one about bowing to Haman. He says, “If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them.” The king tells Haman to do as he pleases with the Jews. So another decree is declared to “destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews–young and old, women and little children.” When Mordecai hears the king’s order, he tears his clothes and sits in ashes and cries for his people. But Mordecai isn’t the only one crying, so are all the Jews.

Word gets back to Esther that Mordecai is sitting outside the king’s palace completely distraught. Esther, greatly troubled by her cousin’s grief, sends a messenger to find out what was going on. Mordecai returns a copy of the king’s decree to Esther and begs her to go to the king and beg for mercy for the Jews.

Now royal practice is that no one, including the queen, is allowed to enter the king’s presence without his invitation. So Esther sends word back to Mordecai that she can’t just go strolling into the king’s court without an invitation. She could be put to death. Mordecai, replies with this answer “Do not think that because you are in the kings’ house that you alone will of all the Jews will escape. 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 royal position for such a time as this? ….who knows?  Maybe you have come to this royal position for such a time as this?

Then Esther sent back a reply to Mordecai, “Go gather all the Jews . . . and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids 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.” Then Esther concocts a plan. She

decides to hold a banquet in the king’s honor, invite Haman, and show his true colors. Her plan is to get the king to withdraw Haman’s order to have the Jews exterminated. Haman, so focused on his huge ego, completely unaware of Esther’s plan, is feeling pretty good about the fact that he is the only one, besides the king, that has been invited to the banquet by the Queen.   At the feast, the King says to Esther, “My dear what is your request? I will give you anything you ask for, even up to half my kingdom.” Esther, seizing the opportunity, says “If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant to me this one request. For I and my people have been sold to destruction and slaughter and annihilation.” The king asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?”  Esther replies, “The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman.” The King says get him out of here and hang him. Esther then asks the king to overrule the proclamation started by Haman to destroy all the Jews. The king happily agrees. Esther continues to find favor with the king. Mordecai is elevated to second in command of the kingdom. And all the Jews in every region, celebrated. There was feasting and joy was  in the land … for the Jews had been spared. A happy ending to a remarkable story full of twists …which is like life, and a story full of turns, which is like life, and a story full of plots and deception, which is like life, which resulted in ultimate victory for God’s people …which is like life. The Queen was there for such a time to save the Jews! Queen Esther turned out to be brave and courageous. She seized the opportunity.

Are you and I like the queen, placed in a time or season for such a time as this…for a purpose? Do we need a Mordecia in our life to say to us “Maybe you have come to this royal position for such a time as this.”? I think of the story, a true story, of a youth in Poland in the mid-1900’s, which I read in the book, Every Child, Every Day, Every Nation by  Robert J. Morgan.1  The youth’s name was Czeslaw Bassara who was raised in a Christian family close  to the  remains of the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz.  He became the leader of a Communist organization group in his school.  He strongly did not believe in God. One night  he made a homemade bomb and detonated it at a  Christian group meeting in  his own home.  No one was killed and the people dedicated themselves to pray for him.  A few months later he was invited to a Christian camp, he went, but wasn’t sure why. Perhaps all those prayers.  Every night at camp, he sat through the stories of the Gospel.  One night a Polish preacher was explaining the word of God and telling the stories and many were saved.

In the silence of a moment, the young communist heard the Lord tell him:  “This is your time.  It will never again be given to you.”  He seized the moment! He received Christ as his Savior.  He went home, attended church meetings, not communist meetings, with the very people he tried to kill.  He was invited to teach children, later enrolled in theological studies. He became leader of a group called CEF, Children Evangelism Fellowship, which is still strong today throughout 197 countries and became a leader along with his wife, Helena, in God’s work behind the Iron Curtain.

I say today, as Mordecai did to Queen Esther,    “… who knows?  Maybe you have come to this royal position for such a time as this!” How are you and I going to respond to that?  God has placed us where we are for such a time as this!

For a time for what?  Is this a time for us to go home and forgive?  Is this such a time to ask for forgiveness?  Is this such a time to ask Christ into your heart?

I will be in the prayer room after the service. As you know, the program, Freedom in Christ was this weekend. Twenty three (23) people walked through our doors Friday night, which took courage, and addressed and renounced such burdens as anger, shame, or guilt or hatred, or need to forgive someone, and much more. Did they feel it was such a time as this and  step up and get rid of their burdens and pain?  Yes!  Was it comfortable?  I imagine not! Were they brave?  Absolutely!

May God speak to our Mordecia  and remind us that we are in this place for a reason.

1Morgan, Robert J. Every Child, Every Nation, Every Day , Missouri, CEF Press, 2015

Old Testament Lesson:  Psalm 104:33-34

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.

Old Testament Lesson:  Esther 4:12-17 (NIV)

 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 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. 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?”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “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.”  So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

Meditations For Your Week

Sunday, May 22 ~ Saturday, May 28

Sunday: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19     Where do you see who needs to hear the Good News?

 Monday: I will sing to the Lord all my life.   I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” Psalm 104:33   Praising God centers us with who we are in relation to our Heavenly Father. Where are you praising Him?

Tuesday: “May these thoughts of mine please him.  I find my joy in the Lord.” Psalm 104:34  Embrace the joy of salvation.

Wednesday: Queen Esther was asked by Mordecai, “Who knows? It’s possible that you became queen for a time just like this.” Esther 4:14  When have you felt you were in a place for a time like this?

Thursday: Go. Gather together all the Jews. And fast for my benefit. Don’t eat or drink anything for three days. Don’t do it night or day. I and my maids will fast just as you do. Then I’ll go to the king. I’ll do it even though it’s against the law. And if I perish, I’ll perish.” Esther 4:16   Be in prayer and fast.

Friday: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10  Serving can take courage, but know that He is with you always.

Saturday: May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 May you have peace in your heart and soul knowing God is your strength.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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