Esther: An Ordinary Person for Extraordinary Significance Some would think that this 2nd edict would have kept people A COVENANT FOR THE AGES throughout the empire from trying to kill the Jews, but it did Derek Westmoreland 9-10 HBC 12-4-16 not. Chapter 9 records what happened on the 13th day of the 12 month. Turn to: Title: Read: vv. 1-2 Pray: In we find Esther as a beautiful teenager. She is taken from her home and entered into the beauty pageant to see if she I. THE JEWS ARE FAVORED BY GOD VV. 1-4 would be the next queen of Persia. She becomes queen but The appointed day for the destruction of the Jews arrived; but keeps her Jewish faith to herself for over 4 years. Then she is instead of being a day of destruction; it was a day of made aware of an edict that had been sent out giving the people deliverance. The Jews gained mastery over all the people that permission to exterminate the Jews. hated them. :12-13 records the situation and the edict. It reads, Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of God’s favor was with His people. Don’t think that God is the first month, and it (the edict) was written just as neutral when it comes to battle. Oftentimes He takes a side. In commanded to the king’s satraps, to the governors who were this case, He sided with the Jews and they were victorious. over each province and to the princes of each people, each No one could stand before them. Fear of the Jews had fallen on province according to its script, each people according to its all the people. language, being written in the name of King and , the one who had saved the king’s life was now the sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 Letters were sent by prime minister of the empire and his influence was growing couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill and to day by day. Notice chapter 9 verse 3. annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and Verses 3-4- Even all the princes of the provinces, the satraps, children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the governors and those who were doing the king’s business which is the month , and to seize their possessions as assisted the Jews, because the dread of Mordecai had fallen on plunder. them. 4 Indeed, Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and Esther, after some urging from Mordecai, recognizes that she his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for the man must intercede on behalf of her people. When she does the king Mordecai became greater and greater. grants her favor. She exposes the deceitfulness of Haman and Mordecai had been a servant at the king’s gate for years. Now in chapter 8 (vv. 10-12), after the king has been made aware of he is famous and his authority is spreading. This demonstrates the deceitfulness of Haman and the harm of the first edict, he that God blesses and God exalts the humble and faithful and He permits the second decree to be sent out saying the Jews could does so in His way and in His time. defend themselves against anyone that would attack them. He had Mordecai draft the edict and seal it with the king’s signet God used the crises in Mordecai’s life to bring him recognition. ring. This edict went out during the third month of the year. It was the reading of the Chronicles that reminded the king that In verses 5-11, the victory by the Jews is recorded. There 500 Mordecai had risked his life in exposing the assassination plot men perished; some are specifically named. against the king. It was the edict that led Mordecai to call upon Esther to A difference between the reaction of the Jews and those that intercede for the Jews. aimed to kill them was that the Jews did not take the plunder It was the fact that Haman wanted to end Mordecai’s life that let of those they defeated. The Jews were not fighting to conquer the king see that Mordecai was a faithful man to the empire. others. They were fighting to survive. They desired that no one God providentially orchestrated the events that led Mordecai to would attack them; but they would and did defend themselves become the prime minister of the empire which in turn led to when attacked. Mordecai writing the edict that permitted the Jews to defend This seems to be the same scenario that the nation of Israel themselves. finds herself in today. The nation of Israel is surrounded by God orchestrated these events and God is orchestrating the those who hate her. She does not desire to fight but she will events in your life. You be faithful to do what you are defend herself if need be. responsible to do and do it with your joy in your heart; while Verses 12-14- The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have knowing that God sees. Live to bring delight to Him. killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Through those years, did Mordecai realize what God was doing Haman at the citadel in . What then have they done in the behind the scenes? No; certainly not in the fullest sense. rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your petition? It shall Mordecai did not know he would be promoted. even be granted you. And what is your further request? It shall Mordecai did not know he would one day write the edict that also be done.” 13 Then said Esther, “If it pleases the king, let would save the Jews; but he did. He did, because God granted tomorrow also be granted to the Jews who are in Susa to do favor to Mordecai who was faithful. according to the edict of today; and let Haman’s ten sons be We reap what we sow! hanged on the gallows.” 14 So the king commanded that it Sow seeds of righteousness. Humble yourself and obey because should be done so; and an edict was issued in Susa, and it pleases the Lord. Don’t do it for what you may get in return; Haman’s ten sons were hanged. Mordecai didn’t. Do right because it is right. Do right to please Why would Esther call for their public hanging? the Lord. That is its own reward. The sight of Haman’s sons hanging from the gallows would certainly deter other Persians from attacking the Jews. In turn it II. THE JEWS ARE VICTORIOUS BECAUSE OF GOD would result in the saving of lives. VV. 5-17 Verses 5-15 record what happened on the 13th day of the 12th It is somewhat remarkable that others would attack the Jews in month in the capital city of Susa, which is also referred to as the capital city where a Jew was queen and where a Jew was Sushan. prime minister. In addition, Haman has now been dead for 8 months. Why were so many determined to kill the Jews after so many days had passed? We can only speculate, but it seems plausible that Haman’s sons had led the people in the city to In verses 17-19 we find that the Jews in the rural areas and the continue their hatred for the Jews and to thus attack the Jews. Jews in the capital celebrated on different days. Unfortunately for them, their attack led to their deaths. Verses 17-19- This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day they (the Jews in the rural And since the greatest opposition came from Haman’s family areas) rested and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing. 18 But and those that were around the family on a normal basis, Esther the Jews who were in Susa assembled on the thirteenth and the knew that a public display, by the king, of their dead bodies fourteenth of the same month, and they rested on the fifteenth would not only be a deterrent to those who oppose the Jews, but day and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing. 19 Therefore would also do great things for the promotion of the Jewish the Jews of the rural areas, who live in the rural towns, make people. the fourteenth day of the month Adar a holiday for rejoicing and Verses 16-17 reveals what took place in the provinces outside of feasting and sending portions of food to one another. the capital. Those in the capital had to fight a second day; therefore they Verse 16- Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s celebrate the victory one day later than those in the rural areas. provinces assembled, to defend their lives and rid themselves of The Jews were victorious because of God! They owed their their enemies, and kill 75,000 of those who hated them; but they lives to God. You and I are victorious today due to Christ’s did not lay their hands on the plunder. death on the cross which provided victory over sin. In addition Thousands had to die because they were influenced by the Christ Jesus defeated death for us when He rose from the dead, wicked Haman. A deceiver can have impact long after he is therefore we owe our lives to God. dead! Everyone leaves a legacy. Haman’s was one of hatred toward the Jews. Haman’s was one of arrogance and III. THE JEWS INSTITUTE THE FEAST OF deceitfulness. Verses 20-22- Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he Mordecai’s was one of honor, faith, and courage. sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Esther’s was one of faith, intercession, and justice. Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to celebrate the What will your legacy be? fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the Will people go to their grave believing lies because you same month, annually, 22 because on those days the Jews rid deceived them? themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was Will people seek the Lord because you sought the Lord? turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning What will your legacy be? into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and Haman is remembered; but he is not remembered favorably. rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts Joseph, Daniel, Mordecai, and Esther are remembered favorably to the poor. due to their faith. It’s sad when a nation (or a church) forgets its heroes and How will you be remembered? forgets the providential events that have kept her alive. How easy it is for a new generation to come along and take for granted the blessings that previous generations struggled and whenever the name of Haman is mentioned, they cry out, “May sacrificed to attain! The Jews didn’t make that mistake; instead he be accursed!” or “May his name perish!” Children bring a they established the Feast of Purim to remind their children year special Purim rattle called a “gregar” and use it to make noise after year that God had saved Israel from extermination. every time they hear Haman’s name read. On the morning of the fourteenth day of the month, the Jews There is nothing wrong with traditions that remind us of our again go to the synagogue, where the Esther story is read again history. What is wrong is traditionalism; whereby we do and the congregation engages in prayer. The story about Moses something because we always have; without understanding of and the Amalekites (Ex. 17:8–16) is also read. Then the why we do it. celebrants go home to a festive holiday meal with gifts and The Feast of Purim should still be celebrated today by the Jews special foods, and the celebrating continues on the next day. for it is a reminder of God’s deliverance. They also send gifts and food to the poor and needy so that July 4th should be celebrated in our nation because it is reminder everybody can rejoice together.1 th of our independence; but when we can celebrate July 4 without The Jews have not forgotten what happened around 473 BC. our people being taught the truth behind the celebration then we are in trouble. July 4th is not simply a day to be off work and Warren Wiersbe wrote, While Purim is not a Christian festival, grill out; a day to shoot fireworks. It has a meaning behind it. It Christians certainly ought to rejoice with their Jewish friends is a day to celebrate our freedom. because every spiritual blessing we have has come through the Good Friday is not simply a day school is cancelled. It has a Jews. The Jews gave to the world the knowledge of the true and meaning behind it. It is a reminder of the death of Christ. living God, the Scriptures, and the Savior. The first Christians were Jewish believers, and so were the first missionaries. … In verses 23-28, the writer communicates the importance of “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). If there had been no observing this annual celebration called Purim. Jews, there would be no church.2 Verse 28- So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province and In verses 29-32, Queen Esther joins Mordecai in sending the every city; and these days of Purim were not to fail from among second letter about Purim. They sent the letters to all the the Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants. provinces of the empire so that every Jew would be aware of the new feast and the time in which it was to be observed. These Today, the Jews begin their celebration of Purim with a fast on instructions were also placed in the official Jewish records. the thirteenth day of the month (v. 31), commemorating the date on which Haman’s evil decree was issued (3:12). They go to the At this point in the story, all Jews are safe. They have been synagogue and hear the publicly read; and vindicated by the Lord God. They are in a covenant with the

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Be Committed. “Be” Commentary Series (160–161). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

2 Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Be Committed. “Be” Commentary Series (159). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. Lord. Esther and Mordecai have been rewarded due to their work the entire time; both when they realized it and when they faithfulness and due to the graciousness of God. God is great didn’t. and He has shown Himself to be in the book of Esther. The story of Esther and the Jews is a story of deliverance. IV. THE JEWISH MORDECAI IS EXALTED VV. 10:1-3 Haman represented sin in this story. Haman represents the Listen to what the Word of God says regarding a man that sinful, self-promoting nature that is in all of us; the nature that Haman intended to have hanged from the gallows. we must deny daily. Listen to what the Word of God says regarding a man that Esther and Mordecai represent faith; being others-focused, and would not bow the knee to Haman, the Agagite. God-fearing. As a result of their faith, many others came to Verses 1-3- Now King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land and faith in the one true God. May you have the same legacy! on the coastlands of the sea. 2 And all the accomplishments of his authority and strength, and the full account of the greatness The exciting drama of Esther is over, but the blessings go right of Mordecai to which the king advanced him, are they not on. God preserved the Jewish nation so that we today can have a written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and and a Savior. From a human standpoint, things were Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King dicey; but God preserved His people. He kept His covenant Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his with them. Now it’s our job to tell the whole world about this many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one Savior and seek to win as many as we can to the Lord. We are who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation. the King’s couriers. We have a message that is urgent. We must Now that is a legacy! Mordecai was known for his faith and for distribute the message before it’s too late. his care for all the Jews. Mordecai put the welfare of others Like those others who came to faith, you, as well, can come to before himself. faith in the Lord God right now. You can acknowledge that He Church, God is nowhere named in this book, but He is all is not like you and I. He is perfectly holy. He is almighty and through it. all-knowing and He invites you into an eternal covenant It was God that placed Mordecai in position to become aware of relationship with Him. You can repent of your sin against Him. the plot to assassinate the king. You can surrender your life to Him and receive His forgiveness. It was God that led Esther to become Queen of Persia in order Will you receive Jesus today? to save the Jewish people from extermination. It was God that did not allow the king to sleep but to instead have a servant read the chronicles that recorded Mordecai’s act to save the king. As a result, the king publicly honored Mordecai and after Haman’s death, Mordecai was promoted to second in command of all of Persia. God providentially was at