The Book of Esther - Chapter 4 January 2, 2016 FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

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1 The Book of Esther - Chapter 4 January 2, 2016 FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death. Proverbs 24:11 Review of Chapter 3: In a display of apathy [lack of interest] and self-interest, Xerxes allowed Haman to set in motion the schemes needed to destroy a nation (Xerxes didn t know which nation). Once the edict was sent throughout the kingdom, the two men sat down to drink. They were pleased. Chapter 4 in a Nutshell: The date was set and irrevocable. The Jews were destined for destruction. But the promises of God to His people could not be swept away so easily by the plots of men. In the palace of the king was a woman who could make a difference. I. INTRODUCTION Before the Storm We ve all watched reports on television showing the aftermath of disaster.

2 Whether it s a tornado ripping through a city or an eruption of violence in the Mid East, the significance of these catastrophes is seen in the anguished faces of the people: Once Xerxes circulated the new edict appointing the day of annihilation, the Jews living throughout Persia were heard wailing. Yet in their villages no wreckage littered the ground; no rubble ruined the landscape. Only a rider had passed through.

3 But in his path he left the familiar faces of tragedy. [Before the storm, while the clouds were still gathering,] the Jews felt the agony and distress of impending disaster. In Chapter 3 we learned about the character of Haman. Chapter 4 serves as a counterpoint to Chapter 3, contrasting the righteous Mordecai with the evil Haman. Let s read Esther Chapter 4 [Gail] II. COMMENTARY Main Idea: The Bible consistently teaches a theology of personal responsibility in harmony with divine dependence. We are accountable for our choices and actions as we rely on God to act in accordance with His nature and sovereignty. A. A Time of Mourning (4:1-3) Supporting Idea: In the face of injustice, people generally respond with protest or sorrow. Protest rises from trampled decency; sorrow from a sense of abandonment. Because of Mordecai s job and his connections within the citadel, Mordecai learned all about the proclamation that all Jews must die. He was privy to detailed information that went beyond the official notice (v.7) and it deepened his indignation (anger against injustice). He responded in the traditional ways of expressing grief and distress: He tore his clothes, dressed himself in rags, and poured ashes on his head.

4 And, he mourned publicly and very loudly. But he was careful to follow Persian protocol: His mourning clothes prevented him from going past the king s gate. The cardinal rule of Persian etiquette was apparently never to upset the king; to shield him from unpleasant sights and sounds. But others would notice and hear his cries of grief. And, Mordecai s response was mirrored wherever the king s decree reached. Undoubtedly, Mordecai realized that his earlier actions refusing to bow down before Haman contributed to this extermination as an act of retaliation. In his sermon on the Book of Esther, Charles Spurgeon said, Even if you know you have done right, yet if you bring down trouble, and especially destruction, upon the heads of others it cuts you to the quick. You could bear martyrdom for yourself, but it is sad to see others suffer through your firmness. Haman s vengeful plan for the mass murder of the entire Jewish population, however, went far beyond a simple payback for Mordecai s disrespect. This was a much bigger scheme that involved Satan himself. B. Dialogue (4:4-17) Supporting Idea: The intense demonstrations of Mordecai s grief created the opportunity for communication with Esther. Though they never spoke face-to-face, the discussions between them became the pivot point for all that followed. 1. Esther Takes Notice (4:4) Mordecai s behavior drew attention.

5 Esther s young women and her eunuchs reported what they had seen. It appears they were aware of the relationship between Esther and Mordecai (though they probably didn t know she was Jewish). Her reaction was great distress. She had no knowledge of the decreed annihilation; but she understood the symbols of disaster. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of sackcloth so he could enter the king s gate and explain what troubled him. But he would not accept them. 2. Esther Investigates (4:5-6) After Mordecai refused to put aside his mourning in order to discuss the situation, the queen sent her servant Hathach to find out what was wrong. 3. Mordecai s instructions (4:7-9) With dead seriousness, Mordecai told Hathach everything. He sent Hathach back to Esther with a copy of the royal decree - to verify everything he had explained to the eunuch and so Esther would grasp the gravity of the decree and Haman s vicious intent. Hathach was also to urge the queen to plead with the king on behalf of the lives of the Jews. As her guardian, Mordecai was telling the queen what she must do next. Just as he had instructed her to remain quiet about her ethnicity,

6 now he commanded her to identify with her people, the Jews. [Esther s nationality may now have ceased to be a secret, at any rate so far as her immediate attendants were concerned.] Mordecai likely thought it was only as the compatriots [fellow citizens] of the queen that he could expect to get the Jews spared. 4. Esther s reminder (4:10-11) Mordecai s plan for Esther s appeal was complicated he was putting Esther in a position to disregard the law and approach the king uninvited. In Persia, no one, including the queen, could go before the king without invitation. This helped protect him from unwanted intruders (assassinations were common then). The would-be intruder would be killed on the spot unless the king held out the golden scepter as a sign of welcome so that he may live. He was also protected from interruptions that might interfere with his schedule. Mordecai was asking her to break royal protocol and risk her life. Esther gave Hathach a message to take back to Mordecai explaining that reality. She was understandably afraid given Xerxes past behavior: demoting and publicly disgracing his first queen Vashti for just one act of noncompliance. She knew her husband to be a potentially violent and irrational man. And, Esther revealed to Mordecai what he could not have known:

7 A month had passed since Xerxes asked for her, which could signal his displeasure. Perhaps Esther feared she had lost favor with the king, or if his affection for her had turned to indifference, and he would show her no mercy. 5. Mordecai s reply (4:12-14) After hearing - through Hathach - what Esther had to say, Mordecai sent back a message of warning to his royal cousin. He told her that her being a palace resident was no guarantee that she would be delivered from death. The royal edict said all the Jews (3:13), and Haman would see to it that every last Jew was discovered and slain, even those in the palace. He wanted her to realize that the palace offered no protection, no special privilege. Approaching the king was no more dangerous than not doing so because her doom was assured by the edict Haman had issued. He urged Esther to be courageous given the seriousness of the situation. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Though he didn t specifically mention God s involvement, Mordecai showed a great faith in God s sovereign power.

8 He affirms his confidence in the covenant of God with Israel to bless and sustain and preserve them (Gen. 12:3; 17:1-8). But he also understands that Esther can perish and he can perish and many other Jews can perish if she doesn t act. Mordecai understood that Esther s placement in the palace was not the product of chance. Mordecai did not mention God. But Mordecai was trusting God to save the Jews. He was asking Esther to trust God also. She should not be afraid of the king. He indirectly appealed to God s providential timing: As if Mordecai was saying, God made you queen so that He could use you to help the Jews. In His purpose, God had given her a royal position for such a time as this. 6. Esther s decision (4:15-17) If I perish, I perish. (v. 16), Queen Esther. Finally embracing her divinely granted role, Esther responded with courage and resolve.

9 She sent her decision back to Mordecai. Even if it cost her life, Esther would do whatever was necessary to protect her people. She called for a fast of petition and intercession. Though Esther s reply doesn t mention prayer, fasting was a feature of prayer, Fasting was a spiritual act. It served as a demonstration of deep distress and mourning over sin, or an expression of utter dependence on God for deliverance from an enemy. The fast that Esther requested of the Jewish community was an absolute fast do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. in keeping with the dire situation that the nation faced. It was a fast in which the Jews formed a solidarity with Esther and stood in dependence on God for His favor. Esther vowed to follow the same regimen, along with her maids, as she prepared herself to face the king. Esther understood the situation. Danger hemmed her in on every side. She was dead if she did; dead if she didn t. (J.Mac) The only choice that offered hope was to seek God s grace

10 and confront the king. III. CONCLUSION Strength to persist in the midst of despair comes from embracing God. Faith invites God into the midst of suffering. Esther s decision to speak to the king was a triumph NOT of argument or persuasion but OF FAITH. She identified with those marked for destruction, And she invited God into their midst. IV. LIFE APPLICATION What does all this mean for us? Jesus said that "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. Your cross, that Jesus asks us to take up, is the place in your life where the will of God and your will are in opposition to each other.

11 This was how it was for Esther, as her will initially was opposed to Mordecai s instruction. And that is how it is often for us. So what is required? As shown by Esther, we too must deny our will and obey God s call. Has God been asking something of you lately? Have you obeyed? Can you learn from Esther who initially resisted but died to her own will so that the plans and purpose of God could be activated through her? I think we all can. ************************************* In the next study we ll see how things turned out. We ll see if God would respond to Esther s faith and bring about deliverance for the Jews! V. PRAYER How easy, O Lord,

12 To talk about faith, especially in our comfort. How petty seem our troubles, how foolish our doubts. Forgive us. Come close, walk beside us. Help us affirm Your love and goodness, and Your faithfulness to all who know You. Amen.

13 Bibliography: Larson, Knute and Dahlen, Kathy. Holman Old Testament Commentary: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, Esv: Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, The New American Commentary: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishers, MacArthur, John. Ruth & Esther-MacArthur Bible Studies. W Publishing Group, Nashville, TN, MacArthur, John. Twelve Unlikely Heroes. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN, 2012 Wiersbe, Warren W. Be committed. SP Publications, Inc.,