The King is Sovereign
Esther • Sermon • Submitted
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Intro:
Esther is not a book about Esther. It is a book about God, and his faithful sovereignty.
The story really begins in Genesis 12:3 with a promise God made to Abram. Actually, it begins in Genesis 3 with a curse that made the covenant necessary. It's a covenant: "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse…" The promise went on to speaking of descendants more numerous of than the stars of the sky or the grains of sand on the sea shore.
God means what he says:
No matter how much time has lapsed.
No matter how big an empire or a king may think that they are.
AP: God had determined to bless his people whom he chose, and nothing or nobody was going to hinder that.
Esther never mentions the name of God, and never even mentions the Temple or Jerusalem, yet God is Faithfully Sovereign and in the story of Esther we are going to see his sovereignty silently on display.
Esther is written from the perspective of providence, the perspective of each one of us, who can't see God and don't hear direct revelation from God. But we’re able to look back on events in our lives and see where God is working. This is a story of sovereignty that is told by looking back on it.
Background Info:
Slavery in Egypt – Moses Redeems. The chosen people of God were not nearly as faithful to him as he was to them. They were consistently disobedient to him. They spent 400 years in slavery in Egypt, and then God sent Moses to deliver them and take them into the promised land. He recommitted his covenant promise to them, gave them a law and built a place for himself among them, the tabernacle, so that he could dwell with his people.
Yet, they still rebelled against him. Eventually, God raised up another nation to punish them, Babylon.
Babylonian Captivity. In 587 BC King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and carried the Jewish people, God's people, off into Babylonian captivity, where he would seek to reeducate them.
In 539 BC when King Cyrus of the Persian Empire conquered the Babylonians. Cyrus issued a decree that all people groups that the Babylonians had conquered could go back to their homelands. This included the Jewish people.
Sounds generous? It was a strategic political ploy to get loyal subjects in strategic locations thereby, actually expanding his empire.
520ish - Some Jews go back to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple, and we lead into the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Some Jews decide to stay in Babylon, now under Persian rule, and we get the story of Esther.
The King's Power is Displayed (1-8)
King Ahasuerus was indeed a mighty king.
Xerxes is his Greek name. Ahasuerus is the Hebrew name.
Son of Darius (Daniel 6), and his son would be Artaxerxes.
We're not sure who wrote Esther, but it was likely written sometime after the events it records had actually happened. Whoever the author is wants the reader to know of the great power that Ahasuerus had. The king himself wants those he entertains to know of his power.
Listen to the description of his reign, his power, his vast wealth:
Read 1-9
The meeting he holds is a 6 month war council against the Greeks, the only other worthy opponent. Ahasuerus wasn't just wasteful, but he saw the feast as an investment to ensure loyalty, to establish dominance, to impress.
He then held a 7 day party for the citizens of the capital city to ensure their loyalty as well.
His final show of power was his trophy wife, Vashti. He wanted to show her off for all his party guests.
The King's Power is Threatened (9-22)
Read 9-12
There are theories as to why Vashti refused:
A feminist? Perhaps she felt empowered to be able to stand against the sexualization of the kingdom. Feminists want to hold Vashti up as a model, but let's not forget that she too, like Esther soon will, earned her spot as Queen. Vashti is no hero for the women's right's movement.
Pregnant? Some suggest that Vashti was actually pregnant and physically unable to meet the King's demands.
Whatever the reason, the King is angered, and strangely enough, threatened.
Read 13-18
Not only is the King threatened, but his trusted confidants are threatened, and they fear that the entire empire is threatened. Remember, this is after a 6 month display of his power! Ironic, huh?
Though powerful, the King's sovereignty isn't actually omnipotent. He is not all powerful.
The King's comrades advise him to depose Vashti.
Again, we the see the powerful king really isn't so powerful. He can't even decide how to engage his Queen on his own.
Read 19-22
v19 – “She is better.” We're going to find out that Esther really isn't that much better than Vashti, but we're going to see the King who is far better than Ashasuerus.
Application:
There are two doctrines that will occur time and time again through out Esther. We will see them displayed in King Ahasuerus, though he is so limited. Think of Esther like a beautiful symphony played by an orchestra with various musical instruments.
1. Trust in Sovereignty
Man can put on a good show, but at the end of the day only God is truly sovereign.
Governments have power, but government is not God.
God has a plan. No power of man can stop it. Immoral regimes cannot stop God’s plan.
Man's power is only as powerful as mankind, which is limited and finite.
The Book of Esther is going show not only God's faithfulness, but it is going to contrast God's sovereignty against mankind's sovereignty.
A reoccuring verse will be:
Proverbs 16:9 - "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."
God is the grand composer, the one who writes the piece of music.
2. Trust in Providence
God works in mysterious ways. - Elwood Blues
Coincidence?
God is using the arrogance of Ahasuerus and the stubbornness of Vashti to keep his covenant with his people.
Romans 8:28
He uses sinful people and sinful behavior to bring about the redemption of mankind.
Esther will be a better Vashti, but Jesus will be a better Esther.
God is the grand conductor, the one who brings it all together.
Conclusion:
Though you can't see God at work, and though the empire seems to be in complete and total control, rest in the new covenant of Jesus' blood.
Jesus atoned for your sin, your rebellion - Trust him.
Jesus defeated your enemy - Trust him
Jesus now rules and reigns, and will one day rule and reign visibly as king. Trust him.
Matthew 28:20 - Jesus promised, "I will be with you always" and then he left. Trust that he is with you when it may not feel like he is.