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EstherBright Star

in a dark place(Chapter 4)

By Samuel E. WardFor text version: cbckck.blogspot.com

Introduction

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Chart of the Book of Esther

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I. God’s Hand Prepares for the

Future—Chapters

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II. God’s Hand Rules in the Present—

Chapters 3-8

III. God’s Hand Brings Judgment

in its Time—Chapter 9:1-19

IV. God’s Hand Executes Justice in

the End—Chapters 9:20-10:3

The Great Banquets

Dethronement of Vashti

The Choice of a New Queen

Haman’s Plot – Plot #1

Mordecai’s Plan

Esther’s 1st Banquet

Haman’s Plot – Plot #2

Haman’s Humiliation

Estther’s 2nd Banquet

Mordecai’s Elevation

A Great Slaughter

A Great Vengeance

A Great Celebration

Mordecai’s Letter

Esther’s Confirmation

Mordecai’s Greatness

 

II. God’s hand Rules in the present

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.

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B. Mordecai’s Plan, Esther 4.

1. Mordecai’s bitter mourning, Esther 4:1-3a. Mordecai’s mourning was a

public display, Esther 4:1.b. Mordecai’s mourning was

excluded from the king’s gate, Esther 4:2.

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

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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

Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV2011) 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.

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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.

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

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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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!”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

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

Mordecai was certainly aware of God’s promises to Israel.

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.”

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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.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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. 26

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Romans 8:26-28 (NIV2011) 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.

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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. Deliverance is inevitable; the means of that deliverance has innumerable possibilities.

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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.

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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.