Esther: Feasting, luck, and the providence of God
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Two-Face
Two-Face
In 1942, Detective Comics (later to be known as DC comics) introduced a new character in their Batman comic books - Harvey Dent. Harvey began as an upstanding District Attorney for the town of Gotham. A tragic accident left him permanently scarred on half of his face. Not only did it affect his physical appearance, it seems to have scarred his personality. He released his given name and began to be called “Two-Face.”
In the last 70 years since his first release, Two-Face has made an appearance in several movie versions of the Batman stories.
One interesting character flaw that began to dominate Two-Face’s interactions was his dependence on luck. He had a special coin that was scarred on one side and normal on the other. For many major decisions, Two-Face would toss the coin and leave the solution to luck or chance. His life became dictated by the flip of a coin.
What role does luck play in your life? When you look at the events and circumstances of your life, does it seem like happenstance or mere chance - or is it something more?
Today, as we continue our look at God’s Story in Scripture, we’re going to look at the book of Esther. From one stand point - you could look at the book as a book of luck - in fact the role of the dice plays a significant part in some of the dates and outcomes and even a festival that finds its origin in the book of Esther.
The story of Esther is a dramatic narrative that stars an orphan girl and her aged uncle/guardian, a debaucherous king, and a proud official.
The story of Esther is set in Persia during the reign of Xerxes, or Ahasuerus as he is known in the book, between the years of 483 and 473BC (ESVSB, 855). If we were to compare it with the book of Ezra - it would land between and 7.
Today, as we consider the book and it’s message, we’re going to look at it in light of three sets of feasts - The King’s Feasts, Esther’s Feasts, and The Feasts of Purim.
So let’s begin where the book begins, with...
The King’s Feasts - pomp and pleasure ()
The King’s Feasts - pomp and pleasure ()
Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.
So the King and Queen give a first set of feasts to show off his splendor. The first is a lengthy feast for the officials of the court followed by a seven-day extension for the people of Susa - the capital city of Persia. Some historians suspect that this feast was given during a time when the King was raising support for his campaign against Greece.
This is an extravagant feast - the king is showing off his wealth in huge ways. From the decorations, to the length of the feast, to the free flow of the wine.
Not to be outdone, the queen hosts her own feast for some of the women.
Now, as you can imagine, with the free flow of alcohol and the pompous nature of this festival, events like this can lead to some very poor decision making. Not only does the king want to show off his wealth, but he wants to show off his queen.
Queen summoned to show off her beauty
She refuses
Her refusal to come infuriates the King.
He reacts with a decree based on the recommendation of his advisors:
“According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. For the queen’s behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will say the same to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.” This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.
So the queen is deposed and the King’s drunken response results in the men of the kingdom being elevated in their authority at home.
So the king is without a queen for a few years. Eventually he gets to a place where he remembers his former queen and recognizes that he needs another queen.
Beauty contest
So some of his advisors recommend a sort of beauty contest.
This is where we get to meet the books namesake - Esther.
Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away. He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
Esther 2:
Now, let me just give us a little context here. The author of the book, who is unknown, gives us some interesting clues.
Mordecai is introduced as a Benjamite and a son of Kish. Do those names sound familiar - Kish and Benjamin? Israel’s first king was Saul - son of Kish of the tribe of Benjamin. Now just store that up in the back of your mind for a moment.
We also get to meet his niece, a beautiful orphan girl named Hadassah (which means “myrtle”) or Esther - which means “star”.
So Esther as a young woman gets called in to be a part of this beauty pageant and she wins. The victory prize is that she becomes Queen!
In recognition of this, the King gives a second feast - this time in Esther’s honor (). Again he shows off his splendor and gives gifts to people.
So the first group of feasts sets up the introduction to the story. The impetuous King deposes one queen and brings on a new queen - who just happens to be Jewish - unbeknownst to him.
The middle section of the book contains the great conflict and drama of the story as we get to see...
Esther’s Feasts - tragedy and courage ()
Esther’s Feasts - tragedy and courage ()
Before we can get to the feasts we need to set up some more of the story.
Mordecai saves the king:
In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.
Esther 2:2
Haman’s Plot:
In the very next part of the book, we get introduced to the villain of the story - Haman.
After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him.
Now - once again, let me pause for just a moment. The author gives us a little insight into Haman. We don’t know why he was elevated, but we know that he was. We do get to know a bit about his heritage. It says that he is an Agagite - a descendant of Agag. Agag was an Amalekite. The Amalekites opposed the people of Israel during the Exodus (). Agag himself was King of the Amalekites when Saul was the King of Israel. Saul had defeated the Amalekites but had disobeyed the command given by Samuel by allowing Agag to live (). So now, many years later - we get back to a descendant of Agag and a descendent of Kish (Saul’s dad) - the conflict is rekindled.
We also get to learn later on that people are ordered to bow down and pay homage to Haman.
Everyone seems to do that, except for Mordecai.
This act infuriates Haman. So much so that when he finds out Mordecai is a Jew, he plots to destroy all of them.
But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
Esther 3:
Here is there “luck” comes into to play. It seems like Haman knew that if he was to make this happen, he would need the King’s blessing and would need some time - so he had some people throw the dice or “cast pur” or “cast lots.” It seems like these dice or pur were thrown multiple times to determine the twelfth month.
So Haman goes to the king...
Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king’s laws, so that it is not to the king’s profit to tolerate them. If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.”
Esther 3:
The result is an irrevocable edict in the name of the king that all of the Jews should be destroyed on the 13th day of the 12th month.
Remember - the king still does not know that Esther is a Jew.
Esther agrees to help
So there is a great fear among the Jews. Esther - who doesn’t seem to know about the decree, learns that her uncle is in sackcloth and ashes outside of the gate - mourning over the looming fate of the Jews.
Mordecai explains the situation and calls Esther to act - and yet she is afraid. In Persia at the time, no one could go to the king unless they were summoned. She had not been summoned in a month and would risk her life if he refused.
Mordecai replied:
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,
In response - Esther calls for a three day fast and agrees to help, stating...
“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.”
Esther 4:
Three days later, Esther works up her courage and goes before the King. The King welcomes her (much to her relief). So she makes a request to the king, inviting him and Haman to a feast.
After the Feast - the King asks her what her request might be - since no one treats the King like this without a request.
In what seems like an act of fear, she says
Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”
Esther 5:
Did Esther chicken out? Did she buckle? What about the fate of the Jews?
So the King and Haman agree.
The plot thickens
So Haman heads to his house with a joyful heart because of how he is being treated by the queen and king. If he was in elementary school - he probably would have been skipping all the way home. Since he is an official of the kingdom, and a proud one at that, he probably went back with as much pride as he could muster. Shoulders back. Head held high, people bowing before him.
On his way, he sees Mordecai - who refuses to bow. This infuriates him even more. Now Haman can’t wait to be rid of this Jew, but he restrains himself.
When he gets home, he boasts to his wife and others about the feast with the king and queen and then fumes about Mordecai and then he constructs a gallows 75 feet high on which to hang Mordecai. He plans to go to the king in the morning to get this done.
Later that evening, the King can’t sleep so he calls for a servant to read the chronicles of his reign back to him. I guess this was such dry material that it would be sure to put him to sleep.
In the reading, he is reminded of what Mordecai did to save him and inquires about whether or not he had been honored. When he learned he had not, he seeks out an advisor.
And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him. And the king’s young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set. And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’ ”
Esther 6:4-
Now we get to the plot twist.
Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”
Esther 6:
So imagine if you are Haman. The very man that you want to kill, now you have to honor.
(Karate Kid - smile - while working)
When Haman tells this to his wife, she can see the tides are turning and that he will not be able to overcome.
Esther’s second feast
So Haman makes his way back to Esther’s house for the next feast. After dinner, the King asks her what she wants, and she replies...
Esther 7
Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?” And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
So in one swift move, Esther reveals her family identity as a Jew and uncovers Haman’s plot.
In a drunken rage, the King exits the house and returns with some guards to who take Haman and immediately have him hung on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.
So the villain is destroyed, but the villainy is still at hand. You see, the King’s edict cannot be overturned. Think about it a bit like our national constitution. We cannot go back and re-write the laws and guidelines of the constitution but we can pass amendments to counteract a prior law.
The tables turn
The king had given a signet ring to Haman in order to pass the original law to destroy the Jews. He gave that same ring to Mordecai and commissioned he and Esther to make a new law.
So on the day that Haman’s law was to be enacted, the new law allowed the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies. So the law was distributed across the kingdom and great fear fell on many of the citizens - some even called themselves Jews.
This brings us to the last set of feasts that we see in the book of Esther...
The Feast of Purim - vengeance and celebration ()
The Feast of Purim - vengeance and celebration ()
Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them. The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples.
Esther 9:1-
So on this day, the Jews destroyed thousands of their enemies, the very people who had tried to destroy them. The following day was to be a day of feasting, a day of celebration. The work, however was not finished. All over the land, the 13th became the day of vengeance, but in Susa, the capital, there was a follow up day, the 14th. So there was one feast in the land on the 14th, and another feast in Susa on the 15th.
As a result, Mordecai and Esther enact a new festival called Purim, which happens on the 14th and 15th days of Adar - the twelfth month.
Let’s look at the last portion of chapter 9 in order to get a feel for this celebration:
And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.
Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim. Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to their fasts and their lamenting. The command of Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.
Esther 9:20-
This two-day feast still happens today. The month of Adar usually lands in our month of March (this year it’s March 9-10). When Jews celebrate, they often read the story of Esther and make a sort of pageant. As the story is read, Haman’s name is drowned out by the congregation as the children shake rattles or noisemakers.
So, here we have the book of Esther. It’s a dramatic book. It’s a book of plot twists and feasting.
But there is one final thing that I need to point out.
The Hidden Character
The Hidden Character
Several years ago, one pastor was reading and discussing the book with his daughter. He asked her what she said....
“It’s amazing the way the Lord works!”
to which the pastor replied:
“But it never mentions the Lord” (Dever , 456).
You see, the hidden character in this story is God.
God’s name is never mentioned, but His presence is felt everywhere. His providence is overseeing every aspect of the story.
His providence over coincidences
We could look at this and say, wow, they were lucky. Look at all of these things that happened in just the right way at just the right time. Mark Dever delineates it this way:
“Esther just happens to be Jewish, and she just happens to be beautiful.
Esther just happens to be favored by the king.
Mordecai just happens to overhear the plot against the king’s life.
A report of this just happens to be reported in the king’s chronicles
Haman just happens to notice that Mordecai does not kneel down before him and he just happens to find out that Mordecai is a Jew.
When Haman plots his revenge, the dice just happen to indicate that the date for exacting revenge is put off for almost a year!” After all, says...
We may throw the dice,
but the Lord determines how they fall.
But that’s not the end. Dever continues...
“Esther happens to get the kings’s approval to speak, but the she happens to put off her request for another day.
Her deferral just happens to send Haman out by Mordecai one more time, which just happens to cause him to recount it to his friends.
They in turn just happen to encourage him to build the scaffold immediately!
So Haman just happens to be excited to approach the king early the next morning.”
It just so happens that the previous night, the king could not sleep and “he just happened to have had a book brought to him that recounted Mordecai’s deed”
He then happened to ask whether Mordecai had been rewarded, to which his attendant happened to know the answer.”
(How unusual is it that Mordecai would not have been rewarded?
“Haman happens to approach the king just when the king is wondering how Mordecai should be honored.
The gallows Haman built for Mordecai just happens to be ready when the King wants to hang Haman.”
Dever (455-456)
We could look at so much more. What I hope you’ll see is that there are too many coincidences to be mere luck. God is behind it. God is the hidden character who worked behind the scenes in their lives.
He is the character that works in our lives as well, the question is - do we notice His hand? Do we try to pay attention to how he is working.
God’s Judgment
In addition to recognizing God as the hidden character in the story, I think we need to see that it is ultimately God who is exacting judgment on His enemies.
Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
and their doom comes swiftly.’
The writer of Hebrews references this when he talks about the judgment of God.
For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Part of what sometimes makes the Old Testament difficult to read is the way the judgment was handed out. It seemed brutal. But we have to remember that God is a holy God, He is THE holy God. He is the standard and He sets the expectations. So what does that mean for us?
Hebrews 1);30-31
Believers - remain faithful in all that you do, but leave the vengeance to the Lord. I don’t think we need to be doormats, but I do think that we need to not try to fight our battles the way that the world does - belittling, gossiping, suing.... We may not get full justification for actions here on earth. God will get the last say.
Non-believers - If you are not yet a Christian, recognize that you are God’s enemy in your sin and rebellion. I was too. I was an enemy of God. My heart was rebellious toward him - until I was confronted with my sin and I responded - repenting of my sin, trusting in what Jesus did on the cross, and moving forward in faith. I pray that today will be the day of your salvation. It seems like there were many Persians in the time of Esther who converted in order to save their lives. They did not want to be mistaken as enemies of the Jews. Friend, I pray that you won’t be mistaken as an enemy of God when the final judgment happens.
There is one final feast that I want us to consider. It’s not here in the book of Esther.
The Wedding Feast of the Lamb ()
The Wedding Feast of the Lamb ()
Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder:
“Praise the Lord!
For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Let us be glad and rejoice,
and let us give honor to him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,
and his bride has prepared herself.
She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”
For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”
Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”
Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder:
“Praise the Lord!
For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Let us be glad and rejoice,
and let us give honor to him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,
and his bride has prepared herself.
She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”
For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”
At this feast, the people of God, His church, will attend as the bride of Christ. The groom - is Jesus Himself. This feast will be different than the feasts that we’ve considered today.
Xerxes showed off his excess - God shows his mercy
Esther showed her courage - God shows his love
Purim demonstrates vengeance - God shows grace
Oh what a feast that will be. We don’t know when that will be. God wrote the invitations to this feast nearly 2000 years ago when Jesus died on the cross. He sent out his disciples as his ambassadors to share the Good News, to invite people into the Kingdom of God, ultimately inviting them to this feast. I accepted that invitation as a young boy in the spring of 1979 - Danielle did a few years later. Our older kids Zack and Melody each around the age of 6 and 7. Zoe accepted her invitation on March 1, 2013 - 7 years ago today as she and Danielle were in the car together!
Have you accepted your invitation?
Let’s pray.
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper
Today is a day of feasting. Today, we get to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. This is a small feast that focuses on the sacrifice of Jesus.
Benediction
Benediction
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
When have you seen God work in mysterious ways in your life? How did you notice that it was God who was orchestrating things versus mere coincidence?
God’s name is not mentioned in the book of Esther, but His fingerprints are throughout the story. How do your conversations reflect God’s work? Do you talk about Him by name?
Have you secured your invitation to the “marriage supper of the Lamb”? The only entrance is through a relationship with Jesus Christ. What do you imagine that feast will be like?