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Join us as we look at the "PURELY PROVIDENTIAL" life of Esther...
The PRELUDE...
Esther has been one of my favorite stories for a long time. In 1978, I heard a message by a preacher named Bob Morehead from Seattle, who was speaking at a men's gathering in Indianapolis.
With 1000 men there, he chose to speak on Esther. It was the first time I realized that God's name is not mentioned in that book of the Bible. And yet it's one of the most godly accounts of an Old Testament story you could ever hear!
His message was very simple… you have to...
#1...REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE
#2... SHARE WHAT YOU'VE GOT
#3... & GO FOR BROKE
Like I said… pretty simple. But it hit me in a very profound way that night. I wrote down a lot of notes on his message and took the liberty to adapt that outline to most anytime I wanted to refer to Esther for the next couple of decades or more.
And then in 2006, with the blessing of the resources of talented people & technology at Northside, we created a 45 minute sermon / production called, "ESTHER IN THE KEY OF E".
And with Susanna Driggers' help as an awesome director, we put together a cast of 50 adults & kids who acted, danced, but never spoke, as they portrayed the story in an incredible way.
I narrated the story & choose the background musical soundtrack. Some of you long time Northsiders might recall that, or could've guess that from my obvious obsession with the need to "play the top tunes in town" as a frustrated DJ!
That's how I saw the story of Esther through the years, but now I look at it in a little bit different way.
Before I saw it as a "providential moment" here or there, orchestrated by God. But now I see His hand all over every aspect of her story!
So I'm glad you're joining me as I take another shot at celebrating the story that the Jewish people still celebrate annually with great passion. But before we get to that, I need to mention something to you…
The PRAY-LUDE...
Just an update on our good friend, Phil Miller and his wife Marcia. They've decided not to continue his chemotherapy, but allow hospice to come alongside them now, so Phil is at home. They're having a special, "WE LOVE YOU, PHIL" weekend May 25th at Fairdale Christian Church, where he serves on their ministry staff. Please keep Phil & Marcia in your prayers. They are such dear people to many of us!
Now here we go with the incredible story of Esther…
MONDAY
Chapter 1..."A TALE of 2 PARTIES"
The Esther story begins with King Xerxes, in the land of Persia, throwing a big party for all 127 provinces, which ran all the way from India to Ethiopia. It was a party that lasted six months and included a tremendous display of the king's "opulent wealth", as the NLT describes it.
When that party finished, the king went out of his way to let the "peasants" have their moment of celebration, which lasted one week.
Now before you think the king was stingy with his time, you'll see in verse 8 that it was "one long happy hour" with "no limits on the drinks".
While that might have seemed to be a stroke of genius, he made a major "faux pas" by asking the queen to come out and be the grand finale, doing a dance of the "seven veils", most likely scantily clad.
He did not get the queenly response from. Vashti that he had hoped. And when his advisors got wind of the fact that she told the king to "buzz off", they knew his response would determine the trajectory of male domination for years to come.
So they advised him you can't really put the queen on probation… "She gots to go"! And she did!
Chapter 2...The SEARCH is ON"
But it wasn't long until the nights got cold and "sleeping single in a double bed" got a little old… (Thank you, Barbara Mandrell for that song title!)
And the idea of a Miss Persia contest nationwide sounded like great reality TV for "the GOLDEN BACHELOR KING". And the search throughout the empire, for the most beautiful young virgins began. And here's where Esther joins the story.
Her most likely "older cousin" had become her adoptive father after her parents had died according to verse seven. Esther's original name was Hadassah. Not sure if that was her Jewish name and Esther was her Persian name, but either way she was extremely blessed because of the compassionate influence of her cousin and his family in her time of distress.
Now, with the Jews being in exile, some blended in and some didn't. She did. So no one knew her nationality, which was the advice given by Mordecai, her cousin.
Now the beauty treatments for these young women in the pageant consisted of six months of oil & spices, followed by six months with special perfumes and ointments. Now these gals got 1 audition with the king, and if he wanted to bring them back for a "second interview", it would be strictly at his request.
The Bible says in verse 15 when Esther was invited to see the king she asked for nothing except what the eunuch in charge of the harem suggested, which simply meant she wasn't a diva. They didn't have to tell her to "save her drama for your mama", so to speak. She was a "low maintenance lady". And it says she was admired by everyone who saw her. Sounds like another sequel to "Miss Congeniality" to me. Sandra Bullock… Move it on over!
Now the King did not need a vote from his royal cabinet as to who to pick. It says he was so delighted with her that he placed the royal crown on her head and declared her queen. There was something about her. They're is always something about a godly woman.
Esther got the rose!
And chapter 2 ends with a commentary about Esther as she was still listening to Mordecai for advice. The cool thing was Mordecai was a palace official. A Jew, who in exile excelled and was highly respected by his integrity and work ethic amongst the nonbelieving pagan nation of Persia.
And a little story is recorded that seems insignificant at the time, but proves to be huge in the history of God rescuing His people.
Verse 21 begins with Mordecai overhearing a plot of assassination towards the king, which information he immediately gave to Queen Esther, so the King's life was spared and the assassins were "shish kebabed" on a sharp pole.
OK, I guess the proper term is "impaled", but you get what I'm talking about.
Esther gave Mordecai credit for the valiant act, and it got recorded in the secular "Book of History of King Xerxes' Reign", but it appears no reward was given or attention drawn to his heroic effort.
I hope to end each day's devotion with a question that you can reflect upon as we allow the theme of "God's Providence" to permeate our week…
Day 1's PROVIDENTIAL QUESTION ...
When did God "CREATE AN OPEN DOOR" for a very special opportunity for you?
What were some of the circumstances that led up to that?
For Esther, it was by being adopted by her older cousin followed by the deposing of Queen Vashti, or that opportunity wouldn't have been there otherwise!
What "door" did God opened for you in an amazing way?
Was it a "door of blessing" that was health related? Was it relationship-oriented? Or was it about a job, occupation or career path?
Thank Him today for "going before you...and behind you"!
TUESDAY
Chapter 3… "the PLOT begins to THICKEN"
There's always a villain. The devil sees to that. This fella named Haman was a pre-Hitler type of egomaniac. The King somehow didn't see the "dark side" to him and promoted him to pretty much a #2 in the whole empire. Being a pretty vain guy, he demanded everyone bow to him as they passed by. Everyone did, except Mordecai. This did not go well with Haman. Rather than simply be offended & take it personally, he took it "nationally", & determined he would destroy all of the Jewish people of which Mordecai was a part.
Now in reading a little further, the research indicates that Haman had an Amalekite heritage. Think with me about 1 Samuel 15 when Saul messed things up and refused to utterly destroy all of Amalek, which God commanded him to do. If you remember, the name of the king of that evil country was King Agag.
And for those of you who might've seen a season of the "House of David", you'll recall that demonic, evil, mumbling king that Samuel had to execute because Saul was "less than obedient", was hauntingly evil! That is Haman's heritage. He had hated the Jews for a long, long time generationally!
Haman gets the "signet ring confirmation" from the king and summons all the secretaries on April 17 with the decree sent by dispatches over all the provinces saying that "all Jews (young, old, women & children) would be killed and annihilated on a single day", which would be March 7 of the next year. It was also determined that the Jews' property would be given to those who murdered them.
"Susa (the capital of Persia)...
We've got a problem!"
Chapter 4…"the TURNING POINT"
Mordecai hears of this evil plot, and does what Jewish people do when they're in grief. He responds with brokenness by tearing his clothes and putting on burlap and ashes, as well as crying with a loud bitter wail. All the Jewish people who were aware of this grieved the same way.
Queen Esther didn't fully realize what was going on, so when she sees Mordecai in that emotional state, she sends him clothing to replace the burlap, but he refuses it. And now comes the time for "clear communication" which is always what's needed when a threat like that becomes a reality.
Esther sends a message with a trusted eunuch, named Hathach to Mordecai asking why he was in mourning and what was troubling him?
In verse 7, Mordecai fully communicates the dilemma. He sends a copy of the decree to the death of all the Jews with Hathach, the messenger. He asks him to show it to Esther and explain the situation to her. He also asks him to "slant the floor", if you will, & influence Esther to go to the king to beg for mercy and plead for her people.
Esther's first response back to Mordecai via Hayhach is "I really can't do that because all the King's officials know that if you "butt in" to the King's life without being invited, you're toast"!
Remember what happened to Queen Vashti? And there was kind of a "30 day thing" that Esther was waiting on, which would put her in position to make a request. But Mordecai knew they didn't have that kind of time to wait.
So he sent back what might be one of the most "classic appeals" in all of Scripture to someone who was in a position to do something about it.
Again, Hathach is "getting a lot of steps on his Fitbit" going back-and-forth between these two, but that's what messengers do!
Rather than me trying to paraphrase Mordecai's response, here's the NLT chapter 4 verses 13 and 14…
"Don't think for a moment that because you're in the palace, you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for such a time as this?"
Whoa, baby.... that might be the most spiritual, firm, gentle & urgent appeal to the integrity of a positional leader you'll ever find!
The talk wasn't a "who's your daddy"? It was a "who's your God"?
And let's give Esther the same respect of a direct quote from the NLT in verses 15 and 16…
"Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai… Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa & fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids (women's small group) and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die!"
And the cool thing is, Mordecai knew his place. He went and did exactly what the queen told him to do. Ironically, just like she had done everything he told her to do most all her life. He had her best interest & God's people's best interest at heart!
PROVIDENTIAL QUESTION...
Can you identify a time in your life that called for a "MAJOR DECISION" God was leading you to make?
Esther had to be made aware of the very real threat, not only on her life, but on the whole nation of Israel.
Her cousin Mordecai didn't tell her what to do, he simply told her what would happen if she did nothing.
The moment she made the decision was when he respectfully asked her the question of God's Providence… "Who knows Esther if perhaps God has brought you to Royalty FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?"
When perhaps was a time you felt God wanted you to do something and you dared not "cower in silence" and let the opportunity pass?
I'm proud of you "finishing well folks" for hanging in with us & still reading!
If you got through this passage today without a tearful response, you're a much stronger person than me.
I pray God has given you strength that you can reflect on looking back at a time that you "stepped up" on His behalf.
Or maybe He's got you in that position right now…
For such a time as this…
Love you guys.
WEDNESDAY
Chapter 5… "ESTHER'S REQUEST"
So Esther and her girls are all prayed up. And wouldn't you know it, the king sees her and does not hesitate to extend the golden sceptor to her, inviting her to approach him and hang out for a while. He initiates the conversation, asking her what she wants. What is her request? And he offers to give to her up to half the kingdom.
OK… This guy is smitten. I get it. I know the type.
And Esther simply requests the King and Haman join her in a banquet that day. And they do. And as they're eating and drinking, eventually, in verse 6, the king says to Esther, "tell me what you want, what you really, really want ?"
(Sorry… How did the Spice Girls get in the story? Just making sure you're awake! )
And it seems like Esther gets cold feet and says, "no come back tomorrow and we'll talk about it". But I don't think it was cold feet. It was a sensitive heart to the timing of God and the prompting of His Spirit in my opinion. Because what would happen later that night, unbeknownst to Esther and Mordecai, would make all the difference in the world! God does what only God can do!
So the scene ends with an invitation to another party the next day & a promise to "tell you more later".
But after that banquet, Haman struts his stuff and brags to his wife about the honor he feels. And she encourages him to build a sharpened pole 75 feet high to impale Mordecai and the Jewish people on. That all sounded good to Haman. But boy, is he in for a shock tomorrow!
Chapter 6…"One SLEEPLESS Night"
God is the giver of a good night sleep, and sometimes he's the giver of insomnia. But always with a purpose.
That night, the king couldn't sleep and he had one of his attendants bring the equivalent of a "late night TV infomercial" to help knock him out. He asked him to read from the events recorded recently. And the attendant "providentially" turned to a page and read the account of Mordecai saving the King's life.
The king had an honest question in his unusually sleepless night. He asked, "what reward or recognition did we ever give to Mordecai for this heroic effort? To which the attendant replied, "Jack squat". We did nothing to honor him.
And that got the Kings wheels turning...
The next morning, Haman, who we've already established as a "suck up" was hanging around in the outer court in hopes to ask the king to impale Mordecai. But before he can get to that suggestion, the king calls him in and asks him the question of "what should he do to honor a man who truly pleases the king?"
Well, Haman mistakenly thinks he's talking about him! And he lays it on thick! Calling for Royal robes, a horse the king has ridden, the Royal emblem on the horse's head and parade him through the city Square with an official shouting, "this is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor"!
Well, boy did the tables turn on Haman, because that's exactly what the King said he wanted him to do for Mordecai the Jew! And Haman is stuck having to honor his arch enemy, Mordecai!
After the humiliating parade, Haman tells his wife and friends what's happened, and they all tell him it will be fatal if he continues to oppose Mordecai. But before he can regroup, it's time for the banquet where Esther "gets to the point".
PROVIDENTIAL QUESTION...
When was a time that God used an "INTERRUPTION" to provide something for you?
Maybe it was an "out of the blue blessing"....
Maybe it was a delay of something that should've happened that you might've been disappointed about at the time, but it turned out all for God's best…
Mordecai is "reaping what he was sowing" because of his heroic behavior on behalf of the king. It just came a little later than expected!
Remember God is never late. Rarely is He early. But He's always "on time"… His time!
Thank God, for His timing in your life & mine, because we couldn't have begun to orchestrate any of it on our own…
THURSDAY
Chapter 7…"HANG 'EM HIGH"
OK, if you're my age, you know where this title comes from. A Clint Eastwood movie back in the 60s, but even more important than that is the song by Booker T & the MG's. That song was made for this chapter in the Bible!
Esther respectfully responds to the King's patient request of what her intentions really are. She couches her request with the phrases that if the King has been "pleased with her" and she has found "favor in his eyes", that he might grant her this request, that her life & the lives of her people be spared.
She further indicated that she wouldn't be having this conversation if they were merely put into slavery, but there is a threat to kill, slaughter and annihilate all of her people!
The King DEMANDS to know who would be so presumptuous as to even touch her. And without any stuttering or beating around the bush, Esther says, "this wicked Haman is our adversary and enemy."
Now the king responds immediately in a rage, and goes out into the garden to collect his thoughts, and while he does, Haman literally throws himself on the mercy of the queen, which appears to be an early attempt of assault in the king's eyes when he returns to the banquet.
At that point, there's nothing left to do except "gag and bag" Haman, which the king orders to be done. The Bible says in verse 8, that as soon as the king spoke, his attendants covered Haman's face, which signaled his doom. Turns out there just happened to be a sharp pole, waiting for him that he himself had created to annihilate God's people with.
And there is no time or need for a trial or a court date. The execution is immediate, and as that happens, the king's anger subsides. Justice always has a way of reducing the anger in the heart of those to whom justice is "highly regarded".
Chapter 8…"Mordecai's PROMOTION & the Jews' PROTECTION"
If you're following along, notice how quick stuff happens here! The Bible says in verse 1, that on that same day, the king gave the property that was Haman's to Queen Esther.
Mordecai was brought in as their "family tree" is identified with them being cousins. The king took off His signet ring from Haman, & gave it to Mordecai & Esther takes it from there. She appoints him to be in charge of Haman's property.
Esther then takes it a step further by tearfully begging the king to stop the evil plot that Haman had legally put in motion against the Jews. So the king reversed it, and even allows the documentation to be translated into the Hebrew language, which was a huge sign of honor.
Mordecai now is wearing the royal robe of blue and white, with an outer cloak of linen and purple. And the Jews are filled with joy & gladness as they have come to a place of honor amongst the Persian people.
PROVIDENTIAL QUESTION... when was the time that God went out of his way for your PROTECTION ?
Ever dodge a bullet? Ever had a close call? Ever seen God prevent what could've been disastrous?
Take a moment and write down what time in your life you saw God "win the day" for you…
FRIDAY
Chapter 9… "Word GETS OUT"
Well, here we are on the last day of this incredible story. It'll be pretty simple. Chapter 9 indicates God is now elevating His people & "word gets out" not to mess with them! The Bible says Mordecai's fame spread throughout all the provinces & he became more powerful all the time.
March 7, which would later be called the "Feast of Purim", is still celebrated today. The Jewish people took out 500 men in Susa, as well as killing Haman's 10 sons in case they got any idea of vengeance. The 10 sons were at Esther's request. The next day 300 more were killed. And eventually the number got up to 75,000. Mordecai recorded all these events and continued to become a great leader of the Jewish people, as well as the Persians.
Chapter 10… "MEMORIES that SHAPE our LIVES"
Mordecai is now the Prime Minister and it's safe to say that he is "large and in charge"! Very last versus of the book master indicate why he was so well thought of...
"Because he continued to work for the GOOD of his people and to speak up for the WELFARE of all their descendants.
That is the heart of God. To preserve justice, lead with integrity, help His people, & bring honor to His name!
Chuck Swindoll says in his study Bible that the many memories the Jewish people had of how God rescued them were what they held onto in order to maintain their faith.
I believe the same thing is true for us. If we can reflect on the goodness of God and honestly acknowledge all those times that He was there for us doing what only He could do.
Just like this song, we sing at church many times…
"All my life You have been faithful… All my life You have been so, so good… With every breath that I am able… I will sing of the goodness of God!"
I pray it's been a good week for you. I know it's a little weird approaching Memorial Day and getting into summer. There's all sorts of transitions going on in the lives of many of our "finishing well" folks.
Now for the next few weeks, as I mentioned last week, I have a few friends writing these devotions for me. I'll be giving a little intro for them. I am so thankful to have pastor-type-friends with great hearts that want to encourage you with their topical and biblical writing.
It will give me a moment to catch my breath. This Tuesday I fly out to Romania, but will be back soon with our daughter, Rachel and her son Izaiah.
Like many of you, Sue Linn & I really enjoy the time that we can have with our kids and their families as often as we can pull it off.
I do wanna give you one little ADDED BONUS that hopefully will be a blessing for those who are interested.
As I mentioned 19 years ago, we did the "ESTHER IN THE KEY OF E" weekend at church, and our good friend Sean Bailey has been kind enough to take the initiative and reduce a 45 minute program down to 5 & 1/2 minutes which includes the basic scenes with the music in the background.
The only thing missing is my narration! But you've already heard my narration... all week long!
Feel free to go to the link and see perhaps some familiar faces of those who acted out the story of Esther nearly 20 years ago. I love it when 50 people on stage get to preach the sermon along with me!
May it simply prompt our hearts to act out our faith with courage & integrity as we live godly lives in an unbelieving culture…just like Queen Esther, and Mordecai did so long ago.
THE LINK for Esther (might need to download video to view in full screen sometimes)
Love you guys & I'm praying God blesses you with a great summer!
george
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