The Book of Esther Pt. 1

For such a time as this…

Major Themes:

Dependency on God like we have no idea of! Exiles!

The illusion of control. The greatest of human Might, Technology and wealth is powerless against God’s will.

Active Waiting [PRAYER & FASTING]

God’s Sovereignty over all events, big and small.

God’s Preservation of HIS People. When God makes YOU one of His People that is not changed by anything YOU do. God has a History of preserving HIS people, who would birth HIS Messiah / SON

God Calls People to Act. God designs each of us for specific tasks [Ester had great beauty, it was her way in]. When God’s children allow God to lead their life HE may call us to action. Mordecai was placed as much as Ester was. God’s Children must recognize that God has them somewhere for a reason.

God wants us to depend on Him

God desires His People to connect with Him in Extremely Intentional ways!

God can completely ‘flip’ a situation…the first become last and the last become first

God’s People must commemorate His great acts of deliverance [Jewish Festivals]. Ebeneezers to what God has done are important [REMEMBER THE LORD]

Pt. 1 Chapter 1 HCSB

1 These events took place during the days of Ahasuerus, who ruled 127 provinces from India to Cush. 2 In those days King Ahasuerus reigned from his royal throne in the fortress at Susa. 3 He held a feast in the third year of his reign for all his officials and staff, the army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials from the provinces. 4 He displayed the glorious wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness for a total of 180 days.

  • Written as a form of historical record [it will reference other such records]
  • 486 Darius, the King who lost the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC dies
  • Xerxes ascends to the throne
  • Xerxes was the oldest son of Darius 2nd wife [daughter of Cyrus]
  • Xerxes was a handsome man who had no equal among the Persians in beauty or bodily strength. However, neither as military leader nor as monarch was he a worthy successor of Cyrus or Darius. His character was unstable and vacillating but not basically bad. He put down major revolts in Egypt and Babylon early in his reign but suffered grave defeats from 480 BC until his assassination in 465 BC.
  • 480 BC He attempts to conquer Greece, he is unsuccessful [movie 300]
  • 3 years earlier He holds a 180 day feast / banquet for all his officials & officers
  • An apex of human control…Empire, Ruling Class and Security Forces…

5 At the end of this time, the king held a week-long banquet in the garden courtyard of the royal palace for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were present in the fortress of Susa. 6 White and violet linen hangings were fastened with fine white and purple linen cords to silver rods on marble columns. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of red feldspar, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.

  • AND a week long party for the ‘Common Folk’ who made the fortress run
  • The rank and file got to live like the ‘Other Half’
  • Wealth beyond comprehension…remind you of anything???
  • The idea of ‘A Show of Wealth’ is an old idea… What a waste!

7 Beverages were served in an array of gold goblets, each with a different design. Royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty 8 and no restraint was placed on the drinking. The king had ordered every wine steward in his household to serve as much as each person wanted. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women of King Ahasuerus’s palace.

  • AND to top it all off the King let the wine flow! OPEN BAR!
  • AND the women got to be included in this one of a kind opportunity [separately]
  • This was not a time and a culture of equality for women [we will see more]

10 On the seventh day, when the king was feeling good from the wine, Ahasuerus commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who personally served him, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before him with her royal crown. He wanted to show off her beauty to the people and the officials, because she was very beautiful. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command that was delivered by his eunuchs. The king became furious and his anger burned within him.

  • ‘The King was feeling good from the wine’…I bet! He drank for 187 days!
  • Big ceremony with HIS personal seven eunuchs [quite a few eunuchs around]
  • He waited until the last day of the whole thing to acknowledge the Queen
  • He wanted to show her off, perhaps she had expected this earlier???
  • One historian writes Vashti was a Great Grand Daughter of Nebuchadnezzar
  • Was It was beneath her to attend the male only drunk fest? [females served]
  • Was Xerxes trying to show Queen Vashti she had value only for her beauty?
  • If she goes she is made to be a commoner, if she refuses, a disobedient wife

13 The king consulted the wise men who understood the times, for it was his normal procedure to confer with experts in law and justice. 14 The most trusted ones were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. They were the seven officials of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and occupied the highest positions in the kingdom. 15 The king asked, “According to the law, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey King Ahasuerus’s command that was delivered by the eunuchs?”

  • The king is looking for some help / or these guys are part of a intentional plot
  • Bring in the consultants!
  • King calls in His wise men, learned men, science, math, law experts
  • Cabinet Secretaries / Ministers / Senior Staff
  • He wants to know what he ‘could’ do within the confines of the law
  • He did everything by the book, as though it would be scrutinized late…

16 Memucan said in the presence of the king and his officials, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the officials and the peoples who are in every one of King Ahasuerus’s provinces. [Map of Persian Empire] 17 For the queen’s action will become public knowledge to all the women and cause them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti brought before him, but she did not come.’ 18 Before this day is over, the noble women of Persia and Media who hear about the queen’s act will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in more contempt and fury.

  • One particular guy speaks up very quickly [spokesman or driven by something]
  • He articulates the case against the Queen, she has wronged EVERYONE!
  • He contends this one action will destroy the order of their culture [alarmist??]
  • He contends the wealthy women in the country will follow the Queen’s example

19 “If it meets the king’s approval, he should personally issue a royal decree. Let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media, so that it cannot be revoked: Vashti is not to enter King Ahasuerus’s presence, and her royal position is to be given to another woman who is more worthy than she. 20 The decree the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom, so all women will honor their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”

  • We cannot let this stand!! Time to issue a royal decree…a permanent solution
  • And Memucan has a decree all locked & loaded [maybe his wife was acting up]
  • Vashti is canceled…she is labeled ‘unworthy’, she is to be replaced [banished?]

21 The king and his counselors approved the proposal, and he followed Memucan’s advice. 22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language, that every man should be master of his own house and speak in the language of his own people.

  • It seems like Memucan leads out in the execution of the decree [immediately]
  • Persians were known for writing laws in the middle of the night after drinking
  • Mass Communication of a legal / cultural standard: Men are in charge!
  • The language thing at the end…[Map of Persian Empire]

‘In Persia every man will be master of his own home and speak in the language of his own people, regardless of the language his wife speaks. If he had foreign wives, let them learn his language.’

What have we learned?

Lust of mankind for conquest and power was at it’s peak in this world [pretty ugly]

When ruled by desires for ourselves we manipulate and scheme

God will direct kings and janitors lives to accomplish His will, despite our sin

People are people, we all want control of our lives, and we really don’t have any!

Without eternal security ‘In Christ’ we are all vulnerable to what sin can do

To the powers of this world we are as expendable as Queen Vashti.

But God has made a way for us to overcome the power of this world, the power of sin and eternal death! Christ Jesus!

/by

FIVE PEOPLE

Christianity / Body of Christ = Transformed People

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ~ 2 Cor 5:17 NASB 1995

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. ~ Roman 12:2 NLT

What People Do When They Live Based On Biblical Vision & Values

Intentional Discipleship / Familial Shepherding / Healthy Relationships

Rich Body Life / Empowered Prayer / Humble Servanthood / Authentic Worship

Active Witnessing / Sacrificial Giving / Cooperative Ministry / Abundant Living

Intimate Connection / Kingdom Purpose / Biblical Salvation / God Honoring

Christ desires to transform / sanctify HIS BODY into His image! In doing that He accomplishes HIS kingdom purposes! Our Vision & Values summarize this Christ initiated, Spirit enabled transformation.

Values and Vision are lived out by people; making choices, believing things, acting in particular ways, trusting in specific things, investing in particular things, renouncing particular things. For MIDTOWN CHURCH these things are guided by the Holy Bible the Old & New Testaments.

Bottom Line: Christ bought YOU with His life so He could make You like HIM!

There are FIVE people He want to transform all of us into: Lifelong Trainee / Trusted Sibling / Considerate Servant / Intentional Witness / Ardent Worshiper

Scripture will guide us on how to begin, the basics of attitude and action, and how to keep going

Lifelong Trainee:

#1 Priority… if we do this well , everything else flow from it!

Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them,because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” ~ Matthew 9 36-38

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ~ Matthew 28:18-20

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” ~ John 8:31-32

Trusted Sibling:

Relationships with other disciples are crucial…and Jesus’ standards are high!

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” ~ John 13:34-35

And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. ~ Hebrews 10: 24-25

Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. ~ Hebrews 13:1-3

Considerate Servant:

My experience in The Philippines

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” ~ Matthew 20:25-28

No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” ~ Luke 16:13

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. ~ John 12:24-26

Intentional Witness:

This is our biggest growth opportunity as a body!

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ~ Acts 1:8

To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. ~ Colossians 1:27-29

So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” ~ Romans 1:15-17

Ardent Worshiper:

‘Ardent‘ = Whole Hearted / Dedicated / Sincere / Committed

‘Worship’ = Exalt / Revere / Glorify / Honor / Adore / Praise / Respect

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. ~ Romans 12:1-2

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” ~ Matthew 4:8-10

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” ~ John 4:23-24 NLT

Application:

What is important to these five people?

What do they experience in their walk with Christ?

What do they do on a regular basis?

What do the people they spend a lot of time with?

Communion:

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

/by