Bible Survey of Esther

Transcription

1 Journey through the Old Testament Bible Survey of Esther Theme: Providence God has a plan and is always at work. God is living and active and at work in our world preserving creation and guiding it according to his purposes. The truth of providence enables us to live life with peace, knowing that God is in control. The world does not believe in providence it believes in luck. The value of the book of Esther is that when I begin to think the world is spinning out of control the word of God in Esther says, No, God is active. Romans 8:28 is illustrated in the book of Esther. Key Text: Do not think that because you are in the king s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:13-14) Five Lessons from Esther about God in our World: 1. Our Will In Not Supreme (Esther 1) 2. Circumstances Are Not An Indication Of God s Activity (Esther 2-4:12) 3. We Are Instruments Through Which God Acts (Esther 4:13-14) 4. God Uses Seemingly Trivial Things To Bring About His Plans. (Esther 6:1) 5. God Can Be Trusted Winter 2011 Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church Page 1 of 5

2 1.0 Our Will Is Not Supreme. (Esther 1) The story begins with King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) reigning in Persia ( ) He throws a massive party, invites his queen to come and display her beauty (Esther 1:11). She refuses. Note that the most powerful man in the world at the time has his will thwarted. Over against this is the truth that God s will is never thwarted. Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings. (Daniel 2:20-21) 2.0 Circumstances Are Not an Indication of God s Activity (Esther 2-4:12) Between 1:22 and 2:1 there is a passage of three years. During this time King Xerxes tries to attack Greece again and again. Each time is a failure. Esther 2:1 begins in 479 BC A beauty pageant is held. Esther wins and becomes queen. Mordecai, Esther s uncle uncovers a plot to assassinate the king. Haman hates Mordecai and the Jews he convinces the king to have them killed. Winter 2011 Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church Page 2 of 5

3 In every province where the king s command and decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. (Esther 4:3) Even though times look bleak God is still at work. Footprints Also Known As "I Had a Dream" One night I dreamed a dream. I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord. When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand. There was only one set of footprints. I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life. This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma. "Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I'm aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don't understand why, when I need You most, You leave me." He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." Margaret Fishback Powers, 1964 Winter 2011 Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church Page 3 of 5

4 3.0 We Are Instruments through Which God Acts (Esther 4:13-14) It may not be easy. It wasn t easy for Esther. 11 All the king s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king. (Esther 4:11) Never-the-less God has chosen to carry out his plan through us, his people. 4.0 God Uses Seemingly Trivial Things To Bring About His Plans. (Esther 6:1) God uses Xerxes insomnia to further his plans. Note: Haman is hanged. So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. (Esther 7:10) 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:13-15) It is a time of celebration for the Jews. To this day this event is celebrated in the feast of Purim. 16 For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honour. 17 In every province and in every city, wherever the edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them. (Esther 8:16-17) Winter 2011 Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church Page 4 of 5

5 5.0 God Can Be Trusted 5.1 Because God can be trusted we can cooperate with God with courage and confidence. For Group Discussion: For Personal Reflection: Winter 2011 Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church Page 5 of 5