Esther 4:11-17 “Living with God in a Godless World”

You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

! Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.

We're going to keep talking about the goodness of God.

this morning we're particularly going to talk about the story of Esther

and learn together some of what it looks like to live in exile.

In other words, how to live with God when God seems absent.

How to sustain hope when the promised land seems really far away.

How to live courageously when you're not the one in charge and those who are seem against you.

Last week we saw the prophet Daniel.

We saw his friends in a foreign kingdom of Babylon when God's people are first taken into exile.

This is now about a hundred years later. Yet another generation of exile still far from God's land.

Now we're into the early fifth century BC in the kingdom of Persia.

A new kingdom not set up according to God's laws. A new king who doesn't care about God's heart.

New threats to the very existence of God's people even in the moment that some of them are returning to Jerusalem.

How do you live in a world so unfriendly to your God and your priorities?

God's people then wrestled with that question and so do we.

I want to bring it a bit more into our story before we read part of Esther's story.

These are glimpses into the lives of Southwood members.

A college freshman who grew up in the church is sitting in world history class when the professor says,

Is there anyone in here who actually thinks the stories in the Bible's Old Testament really happened?

Out to build a new reputation around new friends.

Eager to start out on the right foot academically.

Not wanting to be singled out.

The student hesitates in the silence of the classroom.

Praying briefly.

But then he raises his hand.

A young couple sits in premarital counseling just weeks before their wedding day.

They're talking about finances and the importance of addressing this student loan debt that they have.

But they got really excited last week at a conference about a work God is doing overseas.

And they started talking about wanting to support it financially even though they have few resources and many needs.

They know it's going to put them behind many of their friends.

They wrestle with the down payment that they had planned to use this money on.

And then they pray and agree to give it away.

A long time employee has worked 15 years to move into middle management in her company.

She's responsible enough there now that she's been in some HR meetings recently where decisions are being made

that are going to hurt some of her fellow Christians in the office.

The decisions are unethical but probably legal.

After the last meeting she overheard her boss and some others laughing about how pretty soon there won't be any Bible thumpers around this office.

The safest way to keep her job and the paycheck that she desperately needs to support her kids is to stay quiet like usual.

She prays one more time and then knocks on her boss's door.

Esther is a young Jewish orphan adopted by her older cousin Mordecai.

They live in Susa.

It's the capital of the Persian Empire at the time.

And they wonder when they can get back to Jerusalem.

They wonder how long has it been since we heard anything from God.

And then through some remarkable events you can read about in the first chapters of Esther

that serve to highlight the decadence, the pride, the immorality of the Persian king and culture.

As well as through some, let's just say morally ambiguous decisions that Mordecai and Esther make that are just not the focus of the book.

Okay.

Esther becomes the new queen of Persia.

Married to a king, mind you, who is very unstable in his commitment to his wives, to say the least.

Very dishonorable in his treatment of women, period.

And a king who has no idea of her Jewish ethnicity or her God.

Confusing.

But a confusing and not particularly exciting situation gets worse.

The king's trusted advisor, Haman, convinces him to issue an edict that all the Jewish people be killed.

Mordecai alerts Esther to this dangerous development.

And he pleads with her to do something to rescue her people from the intended genocide that's coming against them.

And Esther sends a reply to him in chapter 4.

We're going to pick up the reading here at verse 11 as we read Esther's words in God's infallible word.

Esther 4 at verse 11.

All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called,

there is but one law to be put to death.

Except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live.

But as for me, Mordecai, listen, I've not been called to come into the king these 30 days.

They told Mordecai what Esther had said and Mordecai told them to reply to Esther.

Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.

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.

And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this.

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai.

Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa and hold a fast on my behalf and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.

I and my young women will also fast as you do.

Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law.

And if I perish, I perish.

Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

If you've never heard the end of the story, it's actually quite enthralling.

There's lots of tension and irony and nuance to it.

But for sake of time this morning, the key developments are Esther does go to the king.

And he does extend the golden scepter and offer her whatever she wants.

And she is able to convince him to issue another edict, rescuing the people of God from destruction at the hands of the Persians.

Moving Mordecai into great prominence in the king's court in place of Haman.

Again, God rescues his people.

Yet again, it's story after story we've seen that.

And this time, the young orphan girl become queen of Persia, whether she likes it or not,

is at the center of God's amazing rescue.

Let's ask God to show us who he is in this and what he wants for us to learn today.

Let's pray together.

Father, it's a remarkable story.

You are indeed a remarkable God.

And so as we look to understand, would you show us yourself, show us who you are,

that those of us in whom you live may be faithful in our day.

That those of us struggling to see you in our day might see you afresh,

might know your love, might be able to trust you even when we're unsure.

Help us, we ask in Jesus' name.

Amen.

There are only two books in the whole Old Testament out of 39,

this is trivia, okay, where God is not mentioned at all.

One of them is the Song of Solomon.

It's an extended poem celebrating marital love.

Can you guess what the other one is?

That's right, Zephaniah.

Yeah, exactly.

So, no, of course, it's Esther, the one we're reading this morning.

It seems to be a really intentional choice by the narrator of Esther

to help us learn about God's silent sovereignty.

We talk about him being sovereign, in charge, but this is how he's in control,

how he's behind the wheel, how he's at work, even when we don't see him or hear him,

which for most of us is most of the time.

I mean, isn't that often the case for us?

Imagine, for just a minute if you can, try to imagine a season of life,

maybe a month or two, where you don't go to church at all,

where you don't attend your grace group or any Bible study,

where you don't even read the Bible on your own, okay?

Nothing explicitly spiritual that you're involved in.

I think if you imagine, most of us could go to work and watch the news

and socialize and have a great couple of months and go a long time,

perhaps even longer than a couple of months, without hearing about God.

Right? Without considering his role in our world or our life,

we are not living surrounded every day by the smells of sacrifices from the temple.

Right?

We're not living with Red Sea-like miracles in every moment.

Neither is Esther.

Where is God?

Have you asked that question?

Perhaps when tragedy struck?

Perhaps when faced with a difficult situation that you don't know how to handle?

Perhaps when everyone around you is living as though he doesn't exist

and you think, maybe I should just move on without him too.

Maybe that would be more effective, more efficient,

more helpful in my life if I just stopped thinking about him.

Where is God anyway?

Well, once again,

in a new situation,

yet another of these Old Testament stories we've been tracking through,

God is at work.

Generation after generation rescuing his people,

showing them that they can trust him,

reminding them and reminding us

how much he values our relationship with him.

So even when we can't see him or understand what God is doing,

he is always sovereign,

always in charge.

And among other things,

in Esther's story,

what's he doing?

He's always keeping his promises.

Notice verse 14

as Mordecai and Esther send these messages

back and forth to one another.

If you keep silent, Esther,

at this time,

relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews

from another place.

How does Mordecai know that?

Well, Mordecai remembers God's covenant promises.

We've seen them repeated through these stories, right?

Remember, God has said

he's going to make Israel into a great nation.

He will bring from them

the promised seed of the woman

who will crush the head of the serpent.

Even more recently,

that he will place a king forever

on David's throne.

Now, God's people have gone through

all sorts of terrible suffering.

Suffering that I suspect

they didn't expect,

that we reading these stories

may not have expected.

Most of them right now are being disciplined,

exiled, far from home.

Not where they imagined the promises leading.

This is not the way it was supposed to go.

But God is still faithful.

Mordecai understands relief and deliverance will come.

I don't know what it'll look like,

but this God always works

to bring his people out of disaster

into relationship with himself.

Whatever else seems to be going on,

you can count on it.

God is keeping his promises.

And specifically,

Mordecai trusts God is rescuing his people.

Mordecai here is really preaching the gospel to Esther

even before Jesus comes.

Rescue will arise from somewhere.

It doesn't mean it will go the way we expect.

It doesn't mean that it won't cost us.

It doesn't mean that it won't hurt.

Some may well perish.

But Mordecai believes this rescuing God

is present and at work.

Working all things,

Romans 8, 28,

we say all things together

for the good of those he has called.

Even when we can't see it,

even when we don't know what he's doing,

that's not required, is it?

For him to be working for good.

And this is actually the focus

of Esther's story.

It's not primarily a morality lesson

in the ways we sometimes think.

The author ignores a lot of those questions

that we think,

wow, hold on, what's going on?

Why is she not,

why is he not saying,

why are they not doing?

What Esther is trying to do

is give us another glimpse

of the rescuing God

who always fights for his beloved people.

Aren't we grateful for that?

Don't you need to know that?

Because one day,

God himself is going to invade,

to rescue us from certain death

at the hands of our greatest enemies,

and he is going to fight

to bring us safely home.

That's where this story's headed.

He's a God who rescues people like that.

One last thing you can always count

on God being up to,

positioning his people.

Notice the end of verse 14.

Who knows, Mordecai says,

who knows, Esther,

whether you have not come to the kingdom

for such a time as this.

Whether you have not come.

It's a passive verb that,

in other words,

could well be translated.

Who knows whether or not

you have been brought.

What?

Implication by God.

Brought by God

to this place in the kingdom

for this specific time.

Is it possible, Esther,

that God has put you

in this unique place

because he knows

what's best for you

and because he intends

to use you

for kingdom purposes

that are beyond

what you imagine?

Is it possible, Esther,

that you feel abandoned

and forgotten

but that in God's eyes

you are remembered

and significant?

Is it possible

that even when you're

in the heart

of a pagan government

surrounded by people

and values

that war against your God,

that God intends you

to see his strong arm

fight for you,

to deliver you,

to provide for you

so that you know him

and that you love him more?

Is it possible

that's what he's doing?

Maybe, just maybe,

young, neglected,

orphan queen, Esther,

is not so alone

as it appears

from her situation.

It's really hard

for her to see God

but Mordecai reminds her

that doesn't mean

that she should stop

trusting him to show up

or stop considering

where he has placed her

for his ultimate glory,

for her ultimate good.

I bet there are a bunch

of us here this morning

that God is reminding

that he's sovereign,

that he's at work

in your world,

in your life,

that he's really,

really good

at keeping promises.

He's been faithfully

keeping promises.

He's been faithfully

rescuing his people

for generations

and for millennia,

longer than you've been around.

So when you ask,

where is God?

What is going on?

Where are you, God?

In some way or other,

that's what he's up to

for you, too.

If you can't figure it out

right now,

you can still trust him.

You can't trace his hand,

you can trust his heart,

right?

We've seen this

over and over.

God's people keep

learning that.

And then,

if you're willing

to lean into that

about him,

as you see who he is,

as you start trusting him

afresh,

then because you trust him,

look where you are.

And as you look again

at your situation,

assume that he has

not sinfully, of course,

but silently

and sovereignly

put you right there.

Now, that'll give you hope.

That will change

your perspective

on where you are

if God has put you

exactly there.

See, because of who God is,

because he's the hero,

because he is sovereign,

even when he's silent,

we can be different

where God has placed us.

We're not without resources

to know how to engage

where he has called us

in this world.

We can actually live

like Esther and Mordecai

do here

with what is remarkably

bold faithfulness.

If you've not yet

stopped to think

long and hard

about what they do,

it's beyond

what most of us

have thought faithfulness

would look like

or potentially cost us.

because of who God

always is,

we see here

that we, his people,

must always be

first expectant.

Who knows

whether you have not

come to the kingdom

for such a time

as this?

That famous phrase, right?

You might not have even known

that was from Esther,

but you've heard

for such a time

as this.

God is always using

his people

in his time.

Just think about

who he's using

at this particular time

in their history.

They're languishing

in exile.

And some of them

start to return

to Jerusalem,

the new kings

allowing it.

And who does God

raise up?

God raises up

Ezra,

an old preacher

to give me some hope.

This preacher

is going to remind them

of his heart

and their calling.

God raises up

Nehemiah,

a veteran city planner

and builder

who humbly uses

leadership gifts

to rebuild

the wall of the city.

And he raises up

Esther,

a young woman

in the palace

who uses her

political connections

to work for justice,

to the protection

of God's people.

faithful.

You see,

all of us

are needed.

All of us

are called

to be faithful

wherever God

has placed us.

Paul says

in Ephesians

that God

has prepared

good works

for all of us

to do

as we walk

in the places,

in the relationships

that he has placed us

in.

There are works

for you

and me

to walk in.

because God

is always

at work,

young Esther

should expect

that God

has her where

she is

for a reason.

That she will

get to be a part

of his work

in the world.

I want to talk

to young people

for just a second.

I didn't bring you

up on the stairs

because I'm going

to cry when I try

to say this anyway

so you might as well

be further away.

It will feel

less awkward

for you.

Young people,

the world

in which you live

is increasingly

hostile

to the heart

of your God

and the things

that you've

grown up

being taught

even to God's

people sometimes.

You may be

challenged

at school

maybe by friends

even by a

social media

influencer

who doesn't

even know you

will challenge

you

to compromise

what you believe.

To give up

on following

God

because it's

just not

worth it.

To think

perhaps

that you

can't do

anything

significant.

Maybe you

think like

Esther

can you imagine

being this

young girl

who becomes

the queen

and all of a

sudden all this

pressure being put

on you to stand

up for God

and maybe you

think you don't

have any

special skills

any track record

of success

living for God

and maybe you

think and I

remember feeling

this way

if God's going

to do something

amazing he's

going to use

someone older

than me.

There's got to

be somebody

smarter

than me.

There's got to

be somebody

who's more

connected

more popular

you know.

But what if

God put you

not me

but you

in your

classroom

on your

team

on your

dance squad

in your

friend group

in your

video game

community

what if he

put you

in that

conversation

specifically

to be a

light for him

to tell the

people around

you what he's

like to show

his love to

them even

when they

don't love

you that

way.

God loves

you so much

that he will

go with you

and use you

there for

his kingdom

purposes so

be expectant

of that.

If he wanted

me to do it

if he wanted

your parents

to do it

he would have

put them

there.

But I don't

get to go to

third grade

anymore.

You do.

I know you're

thankful for

that.

You get to

go right where

God's put you

and watch him

work and he's

doing it in

your life

right now.

Look for

that.

Look for him

to show up

with you.

Let me tell

you something

there is nothing

more exciting

in all your

lives than

to be a

part of

God rescuing

and restoring

people to

relationship with

him.

The special

relationship that

he made them

for and helping

them know that

and feel that

from you.

There's nothing

better that

you'll ever be

a part of.

So when Esther

expects God to

use her, when we

all get a glimpse

that he's going to

use us, we just

go for it,

right?

We stubbornly

just put our

head down and

plow ahead,

right?

No.

No, this is for

all of us, young

and old.

She remains

intentionally

dependent upon

him.

Look at verse

16.

Go gather all

the Jews to be

found in Susa

and hold a

fast on my

behalf.

Do not eat or

drink for three

days, night or

day.

I and my young

women will also

fast as you

do.

It's not a

rush.

I don't have to

feel the pressure

and the urgency,

but I'm going to

hold a fast and I

need everybody to

be fasting with

me.

That would have

meant a time of

refraining from

eating in order

to pray, in order

to cry out to

God, along with

others of God's

people, in order

to remember that

her hope was not

in herself, but in

her God.

Man, we need

help remembering

that.

So often we rush

quickly into doing

what we can in our

own strength, with

our own strategies.

We want to be the

one who does things

for God, but the

fact that God is at

work for us, it

frees us from the

pressure of

performance to

dependence on the

divine.

He's there.

We can trust him.

It's a bold move,

isn't it?

What might happen

in those three

days?

Maybe they start

carrying out the

edict faster than

anticipated.

No.

It's a move

requiring faith to

believe that a

plea to God would

make any difference

in her plea to a

king who doesn't

care about this

God.

How big must this

God be?

That talking to

him is going to

help her talk to

someone who doesn't

even believe he

exists.

Christ.

I was with a

group of pastors

this week, and we

needed to spend

time together

praying that we

would be dependent.

We needed to do

that repeatedly

before and while we

were being

strategic.

Are you like me,

like us, sometimes

a little slow to

slow down?

A bit too eager to

assume that courage

or boldness means

self-reliance?

Not with the

sovereign God at

work on your

behalf.

It's not all up to

you.

He puts you there

in that position.

He knows what he's

doing.

You can trust him to

empower you there

too if he's put you

there.

Finally, the hardest

part of all this

bold faithfulness to

which we're called, I

think you've seen

this coming.

At the end of the

verse, what is

she say?

And if I perish, I

perish.

Sound familiar?

Sound like the

exiles from a

hundred years ago

facing the king's

fiery furnace?

Our God is able to

deliver us, O king,

but if he doesn't,

if we perish, we

perish.

He's still faithful.

There is a self-forgetfulness

that I can't even

imagine having

unless you are

deeply certain

that God is keeping

his promises

and rescuing you

no matter what happens

to you here and now.

The question of self-forgetfulness

may not always be a

life-and-death

decision,

but it's still a

tough one.

Are you willing to

use where God has

put you for

his kingdom and

people rather than

just for yourself?

To be more specific,

are you willing to

say your job,

your family,

your home,

your time,

your connections,

your gifts

are at

his disposal

to do with what

he wants to

for the sake of

his kingdom

even if it

costs you?

I don't want to

lose my job,

my friend,

my money.

Where did it all

come from,

y'all?

He gave you

the job.

He gave you

the talents

to get in the

position,

the relationships

to be included,

the resources

to be where

you are.

So Esther

realizes because

of that truth,

because this is

all from him,

she can hold it

all in an open

hand,

even what?

Even her

very life.

It's a gift

from him.

She's not in

charge of it.

She can trust

him with that.

If I perish,

I perish.

He's still

worthy of

my trust.

He's given

me this gift

to use it

for his glory

according to

his will.

With open

hands as I

receive his

gifts,

I can instead

of clinging

to the things,

I can cling

to him,

the one who's

faithful,

and say,

do whatever

you will

with me.

That's bold

faithfulness.

It is life

saving,

world

changing,

eternity

impacting

faithfulness.

Human actions

here by Esther

and Mordecai

that God

commends

right alongside

divine

sovereignty.

He's clearly

at work.

He's clearly

in control.

And Esther

lives

and acts.

And God

uses her

powerfully

right where

he placed her

to rescue

thousands of

his people.

It doesn't

always work

out like

that in the

short term.

God doesn't

promise,

does he,

that the king

will always

extend the

golden scepter?

Did Esther

get that

promise ahead

of time?

No.

He does

promise

that we can

trust him

regardless

as we

boldly

remember his

goodness

and sing

about it

over and

over.

And so we

realize

that because

of that we

can forget

ourselves.

Seek first

his kingdom

and let him

take care of

us.

The college

freshman who

raised his

hand found

himself in

the professor's

office later

that day with

a professor who

was genuinely

seeking truth,

who had

questions about

the Bible that

he wanted to

ask someone who

believed it and

who wanted to

know where he

went to church

and if he

could go with

him.

Not what the

freshman saw

coming.

The young

couple is

married now.

They're not

the wealthiest

family that I

know but

they're out of

debt and

faithfully,

joyfully serving

Christ's church.

The employee

was eventually

let go from

her company

but has found

in a new

season of life

a renewed

joy in

where God

has her.

each of them

was willing

to lose

to see

kingdom

gain.

A lost

grade, a

lost nest

egg, a

lost job.

Worth it

somehow

in the service

of the

sovereign

rescuing

faithful

God.

would God

make this

a church

family and

community

full of

Esther-like

bold

faithfulness?

For such

a time

as this

in an

age of

confusion,

in the

midst of a

government

shutdown,

in grief

and uncertainty,

would we

boldly and

faithfully

trust him

and live

like that?

See, the

encouragement is

you can live

like her

too.

Wherever God

has placed

you, whatever

difficult decision

he asks you

to make,

whatever costly

sacrifice you

may have to

make, you

can live with

expectancy and

dependence and

even self-forgetfulness.

Why?

How?

Because God is a

father to us.

Because he

delights to

give us good

gifts that

meet our

deepest needs

so that we

can forget

ourselves and

still not be

forgotten.

Amazing.

You can live

this way only

because as a

good father to

us, God sent

Jesus as

more than an

example.

Okay?

Esther can be

an example,

even an

inspiration.

I hope she is

to some of you.

But we need

more than that.

Jesus was

willing to

forget himself

and stand as

a representative

for God's

people facing

certain death

to say not

if I perish

but when I

perish.

And your

great mediator

stood with

bold faithfulness

all the way to

the cross in

your place to

ensure your

protection, your

eternal safety

for even the

moments when your

faith fails,

even when you

don't come

through like

Esther.

He has come

through once

and for all

for you.

Praise the

Lord.

He has

rescued you.

But don't

miss it.

This is

beautiful.

He didn't

rescue you so

you could sit

complacently,

fearfully,

in a church

pew,

and hear

about someone

else's life.

No.

He also

sent his

spirit into

you so

that you're

empowered to

live with

your father

like he

does,

expectantly,

dependently,

self-forgetfully,

just like him,

boldly walking

in all the

good works he

prepared specifically

for you to

walk in.

it may look

and feel

right now.

From all

you can tell,

you are in a

God-forsaken

situation

or world.

You're not.

In the worst,

most dangerous,

most overwhelming

situation,

God is at work.

A father

to you

who sent

his son

for you,

who sent

his spirit

to be with

you so

that you

can walk

boldly to

the throne

of grace

this morning

and boldly

to the throne

of any king

this week

with faith

that he is

in control,

that he is

at work,

that he is

with you

where he

puts you.

We can be

confident

of this

because as

Paul reminds

us,

if God

did not

spare his

own son

but gave

him up

for us,

he's not

through with

us.

How will

he not

also with

him

graciously

give us

all things,

graciously

continue to

work for

his own

glory,

graciously

keep us

in his

eternal

good,

he will.

At this

table,

he meets

with you

to assure

you that

he's worthy

of your

trust,

to strengthen

your faith

in him

that leads

to your

faithfulness

for him.

Come meet

with him.

It was the

night that

Jesus was

betrayed,

sent to

his death

on a

cross,

that he

sat with

his disciples

who were

about to

feel like

they were

in a

really

God

forsaken

place,

yes?

And here's

what Jesus

did,

he took

bread,

and he

broke it,

and he

gave it

to them

as I

ministering

in his

name,

give this

bread to

you.

He said,

take and

eat,

this is

my body

given

for you,

do this

in remembrance

of me,

and then he

took the

cup after

supper and

said,

this cup

is the

new covenant

in my

blood,

which is

shed for

many for

the forgiveness

of sins,

drink from

it all of

you,

for as

often as

you eat

this bread

and drink

this cup,

you proclaim

the Lord's

death until

he comes.

You say to

a world that

feels God

forsaken,

my God has

entered in

to this

world.

He's given

his life

for me,

he's not

left me

here alone,

he's with

me,

and Jesus

says keep

doing this.

Even after

I leave,

I'm going

to send

my spirit

to meet

with you

at the

invitation

of King

Jesus,

Southwood

welcomes

all of

you who

are brothers

and sisters

in Christ,

members of

any of

his churches,

to come

this morning

and eat

with us

and with

him at

this table.

If you

don't trust

Jesus

personally,

or haven't

yet professed

that publicly,

we're so

glad that you

are here

to,

and we

invite you,

if you

would like

to come

and observe,

we'd love

to be able

to talk

with you

up close,

even pray

with you.

If you

prefer,

please feel

free,

you're welcome

to stay

seated and

just consider

what King

Jesus is

offering.

A king

who would

give his

life to

protect his

people and

invites us

then into a

life of

purpose and

rest and

joy with

him.

hear that

invitation,

consider

Jesus'

love and

life and

death and

resurrection for

you as we

come to this

table.

Let me pray

and then we'll

partake.

Jesus,

what an

amazing

gift you

gave us,

not just

one time to

give your

life once

for all,

but also to

give us a

gift of

your presence

in this

meal,

of your

spirit sitting

with us,

whispering in

our ear,

in our lips,

feeling that

you've given

your life for

us, how

will you not

also keep

caring for

us into

eternity?

And so

would you

take very

normal bread

and wine

and use it

in a very

special way

in our

hearts?

In Jesus'

name,

amen.

For more

information,

visit us

online at

southwood.org.

to

to

to

to

to

to

to