I think that reflects something of the common attitude about this book. When the king announced the search for a potential queen Mordecai considered it an opportunity. Alistair Begg enriches our study of the book of Esther by focusing on her uncle Mordecai. D. Xerxes was corrupted: He gladly accepted Haman’s bribe in exchange for permission to the mass slaughter of Jews. Sermon on Esther – Sermon outline by Kevin Cauley from the book of Esther showing us the great lessons that can be gleaned from this great story.. King Xerxes needed a new queen and Esther was selected from many young women. Spirit Filled and Spirit Sealed – Esther, Mordecai, Haman Men and women are equally needed, equally prominent in this rescue of God’s people. C. The answer is found in Genesis 50:20 “ As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people. She did not respond to the hour of the need without a rebuke from Mordecai, (Esther 4:13). Esther is a book that only appears once in the lectionary, and so this was a fun adventure: trying to tell the whole story, capture the attitude of the book, and address how we might approach its narrative today. It is unknown if Mordecai had a family of his own, but he did adopt Esther, his cousin, as his own daughter when her parents died and left her an orphan. The king Xerxes was absolutely a wicked king. The beauty of God’s discipline is he does not administer discipline out of hatred for his children. But he rebukes disobedience. The difference between Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and Mordecai is in the Bible's perspective. . A. Thankfully, the king held out his scepter. It can happen to you. In God’s perfect planning, Esther was not just attractive – but incredibly beautiful. When Haman finds out about Mordecai's refusal to give him obeisance, he becomes incensed and plots vengeance against all the Jews living within Ahasuerus' domain. In the life of the three friends, we see a specific incident that points to a faith that had been firmly developed and displayed in one tremendous event. A woman and a man both equally needed to fulfil God’s purposes. Hello, Jewish guilt. When the king announced the search for a potential queen Mordecai considered it an … Even when she finally agreed to intercede with the king on behalf of the Jews it was because she had no other option, (Esther 4:16d). 6. For instance, there may be some of you here today who say “I have been praying for years. Sign up for The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. Haman has the king decree that all must bow to him, but Mordecai refuses because his loyalty is to God first. By Tom Moore. God is capable of using anyone for his purposes. Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen. 3. He heard her case and granted her requests. When Mordecai learns of the decree (Esther 4), he leaves the king's court, putting on sackcloth and ashes as a sign of great mourning. It was in such a time as this that Esther and Mordecai lived. God’s fatherly attribute is the reason why he silently worked behind the scenes to deliver his people. This show both his keen sense of responsibility and his compassion. Esther and Mordecai were about to discover the God of great reversals. It will not be forgotten that Daniel was a captive in Babylon under the last kings, and probably died there after the city was taken by Cyrus. We may relate easier to Mordecai than to the others because in him we see ourselves striving to do what is right on a daily basis and in the seemingly little things. (He did not leave his people behind to die at the hands of a heathen king.) The sooner we repent sooner he restores us. (While the other fathers hid their daughters. Esther said, "A foe and enemy, this wicked Haman!" Highlighting the importance of examining our lives and patterns we find, Pastor Dave takes us through the story of Esther & Mordecai. This book is the story of how godly Queen Esther came to the throne in Persia and preserved her people from extinction through her wise trust in God. She, in turn, tells the king of the plot and the name of the man who uncovered it, but Mordecai is not rewarded for his diligence and loyalty (verses 21-23). Through the course of the book, we see that Mordecai had instilled great wisdom, tact, humility and grace in her character. Because of his act of loyalty, Mordecai's name was written in the book of records of the chronicles of the king (Esther 6:1-2), and his faithfulness to King Ahasuerus did not go unrewarded. He had a normal, mundane job that he apparently held diligently. Every Esther needs a Mordecai for an opportunity to be brought up, discipled and trained. It was Mordecai’s lack of faith in God that put her in this situation, not God. At this point, the situation having been completely entrusted to God, He too moves to resolve the situation swiftly and equitably. They had been preparing an army of 2.6 million men and a navy that allowed him to cross the Hellespont by a bridge of boats a mile in length. "They shall be mine," says the Lord of hosts, "on the day that I make them My jewels. C. Another biblical theme in the book of Esther is divine providence follows people God that use to serve his purposes, (Jonah 1:17). For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. I imagine Esther as a drop-dead gorgeous woman with flawless olive skin and a tantalizing personality. THE GOD OF GREAT REVERSALS The situation is not favorable, their enemies seems prospering, they were condemned to die and the time is running out as the clock is ticking to their end. . “To establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them” Esther 9:31a. Esther 2:7,11,20. Unarguably Satan exploited the flaws in the king’s character to devise a plan to rid the earth of Jews because it’s through them the Messiah will be born. (Esther 4:13 –14). He is not far from the palace or in the suburbs of Susa. In an unbelieving culture, he held an integrity that was used by God to deliver the Jewish people. He was actually working in the background quietly and unknown to his people. He foresaw that the very existence of Israel will be threatened (even before he laid the foundations of the earth. We see parallels between Jesus' story and the story in Esther. Read Esther 2:1-23. We may see events and circumstances as unfair and begin to wallow in self-pity. His name is Mordecai, and we read the essential part of his life in the book of Esther. He had been faithful in his service to the king, though probably only in a mundane day-to-day job. If anyone could have seen his life this way, it would have been Mordecai, but if he did, God did not choose to record it as part of his character. The end would have been much different If it is not for the Lord who gave Esther grace and favor in the eyes of the king when she walked into his inner court without being summoned, (Esther 5:2). Their faith and courage are truly remarkable and to be imitated by us all, but we need to look at another among the children of Judah who worked in the king's palace to serve just as Daniel and his friends did. He commands respect and obedience from her (verse 20)—even after she becomes queen! We noted in the last lesson that Mordecai has some influence because of where he is. The highly questionable moral and ethical practices of Mordecai and Esther makes the book sound like something that should not be in the Bible. When Esther leaves for the palace to be prepared and presented as a candidate to be Ahasuerus' queen, Mordecai warns her to use wisdom and not reveal that she was a Jew. Then Esther went before the king. In Mordecai's life, we see him living day by day in faithful patience even when things do not seem to go fairly—a lifetime of living God's way and not growing weary in well doing! He will not bow before someone God had said He would war against from generation to generation (Exodus 17:13-16). God uses different methods to rebuke people into obedience. (His rejection of Haman’s silver was only an example of Oriental politeness that did not actually mean he rejected the payment). Home › Sermons › Spirit Filled and Spirit Sealed – Esther, Mordecai, Haman. Our names will be written there if we follow Mordecai's example of faithful and patient endurance in living God's way! (Esther 10:2-3). Verses {When Mordecai learned about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on burlap and ashes, and went out into the city, crying with a loud and bitter wail. Unlike Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego she totally compromised her walk with God, (Esther 2:8). Sermons Esther & Mordecai. The new testament also confirms this conclusion, (Hebrews 12:6). without an answer from God.” God is never too early or too late. His name probably is not as readily recognized as these others', but his whole life's work may have factored more in preserving the nation of Judah than any other of God's servants during their captivity. Esther had the privilege of playing the key role in the greatest rescue mission the world had ever seen. All Rights Reserved. The Bible's Book of Esther records the story of how Queen Esther and her uncle Mordecai stood up for their Jewish heritage against a conniving, arrogant, anti-Semitic ruling-class "noble" named Haman. God used both Mordecai and Esther in a powerful way to deliver the Jewish people from obliteration. C. Xerxes was a heathen: He was not a worshiper of our God. This beautiful Jewish girl of the long ago, though she herself may not have known it, yet played her part in paving the way for the coming of the world's Saviour. Esther also acted reluctantly, and in large measure, in self-interest, (Esther 4:11). Which is why a search had to be carried out.). After her parents died, she was adopted a family member, Mordecai, who raised her as his own daughter. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her. C. His invisible hand is well evident behind Queen Vashti’s dethronement and the search for a new queen. Mordecai knew this (Esther 4:14). The writer of the book implies that. When Mordecai learns of the decree (Esther 4), he leaves the king's court, putting on sackcloth and ashes as a sign of great mourning. Likewise, Satan also has used different people at different times, (Judas – Luke 22:3). Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. I wonder what happens when he cools off. And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah (that is, Esther), the daughter of his uncle, because she did not have a father or mother. So Esther, Mordecai, and the Jewish people fasted and prayed. In Esther 2:21 we see that Mordecai is sitting at the king’s gate. hebrew captives; or, mordecai and esther. This silence doesn’t mean that God was inactive though. The way God dealt with others who refused to obey his call supports this conclusion, (Moses – Exodus 4:14, Jonah – Jonah 1:4-5). Mordecai was a human being just like us. The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website. Even before Esther was formed in her mother’s womb God planned to use her to carry out his rescue mission right under the king’s nose.). She found favor in the eyes of everyone that saw her. He was an average man who led an above-average life because God was in all his thoughts. Welcome to another in depth exploration and missionary written by voyage Kent edited for audio and produced by the ambassadors group exploration six Esther and Mordecai four if you remain silent at this time relief and deliverance for … In the book of Jonah, he used a storm to convince the fleeing prophet, (Jonah 1:4-7). When Esther finds out about Mordecai's mourning, she sends emissaries to him to learn why he grieves.