Esther III.

 

 Esther ch. 6-10 "The Deliverance of the People of God"

   This is where the rubber meets the road .  God delivers the people of God.  This does not happen automatically, and in that we discover the true doctrine of the Providence of God.  He works through means, and His people.  We are not puppets.  He values our choices as His people and we have them.  We can choose to stand by and say, " Do it God", but He does not work that way, does He?  ( sidenote- I see much confusion among people about this.  They try and put themselves in a place where they try and understand God's ways, but as Isaiah says " My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, my ways declares the LORD. " Is. 55)

1. The King cannot sleep. Chapter 6.  Here begins the rescue of the Jews from Haman and those who do His people harm. Here again I review the Heidelberg Confession of faith ( another reformed Confession of faith as the 39 articles) on God's providential direction of our lives.  Q" What does it benefit us to know

that God has created all things

and still upholds them by his providence?

A.

We can be patient in adversity, 

thankful in prosperity, 

and with a view to the future

we can have a firm confidence

in our faithful God and Father

that no creature shall separate us

from his love; for all creatures are so completely in his hand

that without his will

they cannot so much as move"  

We think that the little things do not matter, but they do, and God works His will through them.

In his sleeplessness he discovers he did not honor Mordecai after the two plotters tried to harm the King.  In a stunning reversal Haman tells the king to honor the man who the king wants to honor with royal robes. Thinking he was talking about Haman himself he finds he is not, and Mordecai the Jew is rewarded.

Application- What things have we done and is there reward in them?  Yes, for God sees .

2. Chapter 7-8 . Queen Esther has her banquet, and asks the King to save the Jews,her people.  Haman is hung on the gallows he made for Mordecai. "And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. "8:17

This should be happening today as well in our places of worship as people see God delivering His people.  We spoke of I Peter 3 earlier and how our witness can be influential.  

"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear...." 

Christ is our example I Peter 2. "  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:."

Application: Our behavior should reflect our Saviour, and it does matter.  We have influence through our lives.  Our actions do show witness. Walk the walk as we talk the talk.

3.  Because of Esther's faithfulness the Jews destroy their enemies. Ch 9-10

Purim, the festival of lots is celebrated. God shows Himself faithful to His people who trust in His Divine providence despite what the wicked and evil doers practice around us.

Matthew Henry said, " Mordecai was truly great, and his greatness gave him opportunities of doing the more good. He did not disown his people the Jews, and no doubt kept to the true religion. He did not seek his own wealth, but the welfare of his people. Few have it in their power to do so much good as Mordecai; but all have it in their power to do hurt, and who has it not in his power to do some good? We are not required to do what is not in our power, or is unsuited to our station; but all are bound to live under the influence of the tempers displayed in the saints, whose examples are recorded in the Bible. If we live by the faith of Christ, we shall be active according to the ability and opportunities he gives us, in promoting his glory and the best interests of men. If our faith be genuine, it will work by love. Wait in faith and prayer, and the event will be safe and glorious; our salvation is sure, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

 Application- In what way can we be faithful despite the problems?  We can be depressed about things, but if we trust in God's providence, He will work it out.  Here Romans 8:28 works " And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."

Conclusion

This is at the heart of our Christian faith. Without faith we cannot please Him That means believing without seeing the results right away.  In God's time all will be made plain. " But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 19Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. ." Esther 9:18-19

 In fact, this focus on Mordecai and Esther’s hope brings us all the way back to the curious feature of this book, that God is never mentioned. When God’s people are in exile, unable to obey the Torah perfectly, and when God seems absent, does this mean God is done with Israel? Has he abandoned his promises?

The book of Esther says no.

"The story invites us to see that God can and does work in the mess and moral ambiguity of human history" from the  bibleproject.com