You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
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We're going to keep talking about the goodness of God.
this morning we're particularly going to talk about the story of Esther
and learn together some of what it looks like to live in exile.
In other words, how to live with God when God seems absent.
How to sustain hope when the promised land seems really far away.
How to live courageously when you're not the one in charge and those who are seem against you.
Last week we saw the prophet Daniel.
We saw his friends in a foreign kingdom of Babylon when God's people are first taken into exile.
This is now about a hundred years later. Yet another generation of exile still far from God's land.
Now we're into the early fifth century BC in the kingdom of Persia.
A new kingdom not set up according to God's laws. A new king who doesn't care about God's heart.
New threats to the very existence of God's people even in the moment that some of them are returning to Jerusalem.
How do you live in a world so unfriendly to your God and your priorities?
God's people then wrestled with that question and so do we.
I want to bring it a bit more into our story before we read part of Esther's story.
These are glimpses into the lives of Southwood members.
A college freshman who grew up in the church is sitting in world history class when the professor says,
Is there anyone in here who actually thinks the stories in the Bible's Old Testament really happened?
Out to build a new reputation around new friends.
Eager to start out on the right foot academically.
Not wanting to be singled out.
The student hesitates in the silence of the classroom.
Praying briefly.
But then he raises his hand.
A young couple sits in premarital counseling just weeks before their wedding day.
They're talking about finances and the importance of addressing this student loan debt that they have.
But they got really excited last week at a conference about a work God is doing overseas.
And they started talking about wanting to support it financially even though they have few resources and many needs.
They know it's going to put them behind many of their friends.
They wrestle with the down payment that they had planned to use this money on.
And then they pray and agree to give it away.
A long time employee has worked 15 years to move into middle management in her company.
She's responsible enough there now that she's been in some HR meetings recently where decisions are being made
that are going to hurt some of her fellow Christians in the office.
The decisions are unethical but probably legal.
After the last meeting she overheard her boss and some others laughing about how pretty soon there won't be any Bible thumpers around this office.
The safest way to keep her job and the paycheck that she desperately needs to support her kids is to stay quiet like usual.
She prays one more time and then knocks on her boss's door.
Esther is a young Jewish orphan adopted by her older cousin Mordecai.
They live in Susa.
It's the capital of the Persian Empire at the time.
And they wonder when they can get back to Jerusalem.
They wonder how long has it been since we heard anything from God.
And then through some remarkable events you can read about in the first chapters of Esther
that serve to highlight the decadence, the pride, the immorality of the Persian king and culture.
As well as through some, let's just say morally ambiguous decisions that Mordecai and Esther make that are just not the focus of the book.
Okay.
Esther becomes the new queen of Persia.
Married to a king, mind you, who is very unstable in his commitment to his wives, to say the least.
Very dishonorable in his treatment of women, period.
And a king who has no idea of her Jewish ethnicity or her God.
Confusing.
But a confusing and not particularly exciting situation gets worse.
The king's trusted advisor, Haman, convinces him to issue an edict that all the Jewish people be killed.
Mordecai alerts Esther to this dangerous development.
And he pleads with her to do something to rescue her people from the intended genocide that's coming against them.
And Esther sends a reply to him in chapter 4.
We're going to pick up the reading here at verse 11 as we read Esther's words in God's infallible word.
Esther 4 at verse 11.
All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called,
there is but one law to be put to death.
Except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live.
But as for me, Mordecai, listen, I've not been called to come into the king these 30 days.
They told Mordecai what Esther had said and Mordecai told them to reply to Esther.
Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.
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.
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.
Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
If you've never heard the end of the story, it's actually quite enthralling.
There's lots of tension and irony and nuance to it.
But for sake of time this morning, the key developments are Esther does go to the king.
And he does extend the golden scepter and offer her whatever she wants.
And she is able to convince him to issue another edict, rescuing the people of God from destruction at the hands of the Persians.
Moving Mordecai into great prominence in the king's court in place of Haman.
Again, God rescues his people.
Yet again, it's story after story we've seen that.
And this time, the young orphan girl become queen of Persia, whether she likes it or not,
is at the center of God's amazing rescue.
Let's ask God to show us who he is in this and what he wants for us to learn today.
Let's pray together.
Father, it's a remarkable story.
You are indeed a remarkable God.
And so as we look to understand, would you show us yourself, show us who you are,
that those of us in whom you live may be faithful in our day.
That those of us struggling to see you in our day might see you afresh,
might know your love, might be able to trust you even when we're unsure.
Help us, we ask in Jesus' name.
Amen.
There are only two books in the whole Old Testament out of 39,
this is trivia, okay, where God is not mentioned at all.
One of them is the Song of Solomon.
It's an extended poem celebrating marital love.
Can you guess what the other one is?
That's right, Zephaniah.
Yeah, exactly.
So, no, of course, it's Esther, the one we're reading this morning.
It seems to be a really intentional choice by the narrator of Esther
to help us learn about God's silent sovereignty.
We talk about him being sovereign, in charge, but this is how he's in control,
how he's behind the wheel, how he's at work, even when we don't see him or hear him,
which for most of us is most of the time.
I mean, isn't that often the case for us?
Imagine, for just a minute if you can, try to imagine a season of life,
maybe a month or two, where you don't go to church at all,
where you don't attend your grace group or any Bible study,
where you don't even read the Bible on your own, okay?
Nothing explicitly spiritual that you're involved in.
I think if you imagine, most of us could go to work and watch the news
and socialize and have a great couple of months and go a long time,
perhaps even longer than a couple of months, without hearing about God.
Right? Without considering his role in our world or our life,
we are not living surrounded every day by the smells of sacrifices from the temple.
Right?
We're not living with Red Sea-like miracles in every moment.
Neither is Esther.
Where is God?
Have you asked that question?
Perhaps when tragedy struck?
Perhaps when faced with a difficult situation that you don't know how to handle?
Perhaps when everyone around you is living as though he doesn't exist
and you think, maybe I should just move on without him too.
Maybe that would be more effective, more efficient,
more helpful in my life if I just stopped thinking about him.
Where is God anyway?
Well, once again,
in a new situation,
yet another of these Old Testament stories we've been tracking through,
God is at work.
Generation after generation rescuing his people,
showing them that they can trust him,
reminding them and reminding us
how much he values our relationship with him.
So even when we can't see him or understand what God is doing,
he is always sovereign,
always in charge.
And among other things,
in Esther's story,
what's he doing?
He's always keeping his promises.
Notice verse 14
as Mordecai and Esther send these messages
back and forth to one another.
If you keep silent, Esther,
at this time,
relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews
from another place.
How does Mordecai know that?
Well, Mordecai remembers God's covenant promises.
We've seen them repeated through these stories, right?
Remember, God has said
he's going to make Israel into a great nation.
He will bring from them
the promised seed of the woman
who will crush the head of the serpent.
Even more recently,
that he will place a king forever
on David's throne.
Now, God's people have gone through
all sorts of terrible suffering.
Suffering that I suspect
they didn't expect,
that we reading these stories
may not have expected.
Most of them right now are being disciplined,
exiled, far from home.
Not where they imagined the promises leading.
This is not the way it was supposed to go.
But God is still faithful.
Mordecai understands relief and deliverance will come.
I don't know what it'll look like,
but this God always works
to bring his people out of disaster
into relationship with himself.
Whatever else seems to be going on,
you can count on it.
God is keeping his promises.
And specifically,
Mordecai trusts God is rescuing his people.
Mordecai here is really preaching the gospel to Esther
even before Jesus comes.
Rescue will arise from somewhere.
It doesn't mean it will go the way we expect.
It doesn't mean that it won't cost us.
It doesn't mean that it won't hurt.
Some may well perish.
But Mordecai believes this rescuing God
is present and at work.
Working all things,
Romans 8, 28,
we say all things together
for the good of those he has called.
Even when we can't see it,
even when we don't know what he's doing,
that's not required, is it?
For him to be working for good.
And this is actually the focus
of Esther's story.
It's not primarily a morality lesson
in the ways we sometimes think.
The author ignores a lot of those questions
that we think,
wow, hold on, what's going on?
Why is she not,
why is he not saying,
why are they not doing?
What Esther is trying to do
is give us another glimpse
of the rescuing God
who always fights for his beloved people.
Aren't we grateful for that?
Don't you need to know that?
Because one day,
God himself is going to invade,
to rescue us from certain death
at the hands of our greatest enemies,
and he is going to fight
to bring us safely home.
That's where this story's headed.
He's a God who rescues people like that.
One last thing you can always count
on God being up to,
positioning his people.
Notice the end of verse 14.
Who knows, Mordecai says,
who knows, Esther,
whether you have not come to the kingdom
for such a time as this.
Whether you have not come.
It's a passive verb that,
in other words,
could well be translated.
Who knows whether or not
you have been brought.
What?
Implication by God.
Brought by God
to this place in the kingdom
for this specific time.
Is it possible, Esther,
that God has put you
in this unique place
because he knows
what's best for you
and because he intends
to use you
for kingdom purposes
that are beyond
what you imagine?
Is it possible, Esther,
that you feel abandoned
and forgotten
but that in God's eyes
you are remembered
and significant?
Is it possible
that even when you're
in the heart
of a pagan government
surrounded by people
and values
that war against your God,
that God intends you
to see his strong arm
fight for you,
to deliver you,
to provide for you
so that you know him
and that you love him more?
Is it possible
that's what he's doing?
Maybe, just maybe,
young, neglected,
orphan queen, Esther,
is not so alone
as it appears
from her situation.
It's really hard
for her to see God
but Mordecai reminds her
that doesn't mean
that she should stop
trusting him to show up
or stop considering
where he has placed her
for his ultimate glory,
for her ultimate good.
I bet there are a bunch
of us here this morning
that God is reminding
that he's sovereign,
that he's at work
in your world,
in your life,
that he's really,
really good
at keeping promises.
He's been faithfully
keeping promises.
He's been faithfully
rescuing his people
for generations
and for millennia,
longer than you've been around.
So when you ask,
where is God?
What is going on?
Where are you, God?
In some way or other,
that's what he's up to
for you, too.
If you can't figure it out
right now,
you can still trust him.
You can't trace his hand,
you can trust his heart,
right?
We've seen this
over and over.
God's people keep
learning that.
And then,
if you're willing
to lean into that
about him,
as you see who he is,
as you start trusting him
afresh,
then because you trust him,
look where you are.
And as you look again
at your situation,
assume that he has
not sinfully, of course,
but silently
and sovereignly
put you right there.
Now, that'll give you hope.
That will change
your perspective
on where you are
if God has put you
exactly there.
See, because of who God is,
because he's the hero,
because he is sovereign,
even when he's silent,
we can be different
where God has placed us.
We're not without resources
to know how to engage
where he has called us
in this world.
We can actually live
like Esther and Mordecai
do here
with what is remarkably
bold faithfulness.
If you've not yet
stopped to think
long and hard
about what they do,
it's beyond
what most of us
have thought faithfulness
would look like
or potentially cost us.
because of who God
always is,
we see here
that we, his people,
must always be
first expectant.
Who knows
whether you have not
come to the kingdom
for such a time
as this?
That famous phrase, right?
You might not have even known
that was from Esther,
but you've heard
for such a time
as this.
God is always using
his people
in his time.
Just think about
who he's using
at this particular time
in their history.
They're languishing
in exile.
And some of them
start to return
to Jerusalem,
the new kings
allowing it.
And who does God
raise up?
God raises up
Ezra,
an old preacher
to give me some hope.
This preacher
is going to remind them
of his heart
and their calling.
God raises up
Nehemiah,
a veteran city planner
and builder
who humbly uses
leadership gifts
to rebuild
the wall of the city.
And he raises up
Esther,
a young woman
in the palace
who uses her
political connections
to work for justice,
to the protection
of God's people.
faithful.
You see,
all of us
are needed.
All of us
are called
to be faithful
wherever God
has placed us.
Paul says
in Ephesians
that God
has prepared
good works
for all of us
to do
as we walk
in the places,
in the relationships
that he has placed us
in.
There are works
for you
and me
to walk in.
because God
is always
at work,
young Esther
should expect
that God
has her where
she is
for a reason.
That she will
get to be a part
of his work
in the world.
I want to talk
to young people
for just a second.
I didn't bring you
up on the stairs
because I'm going
to cry when I try
to say this anyway
so you might as well
be further away.
It will feel
less awkward
for you.
Young people,
the world
in which you live
is increasingly
hostile
to the heart
of your God
and the things
that you've
grown up
being taught
even to God's
people sometimes.
You may be
challenged
at school
maybe by friends
even by a
social media
influencer
who doesn't
even know you
will challenge
you
to compromise
what you believe.
To give up
on following
God
because it's
just not
worth it.
To think
perhaps
that you
can't do
anything
significant.
Maybe you
think like
Esther
can you imagine
being this
young girl
who becomes
the queen
and all of a
sudden all this
pressure being put
on you to stand
up for God
and maybe you
think you don't
have any
special skills
any track record
of success
living for God
and maybe you
think and I
remember feeling
this way
if God's going
to do something
amazing he's
going to use
someone older
than me.
There's got to
be somebody
smarter
than me.
There's got to
be somebody
who's more
connected
more popular
you know.
But what if
God put you
not me
but you
in your
classroom
on your
team
on your
dance squad
in your
friend group
in your
video game
community
what if he
put you
in that
conversation
specifically
to be a
light for him
to tell the
people around
you what he's
like to show
his love to
them even
when they
don't love
you that
way.
God loves
you so much
that he will
go with you
and use you
there for
his kingdom
purposes so
be expectant
of that.
If he wanted
me to do it
if he wanted
your parents
to do it
he would have
put them
there.
But I don't
get to go to
third grade
anymore.
You do.
I know you're
thankful for
that.
You get to
go right where
God's put you
and watch him
work and he's
doing it in
your life
right now.
Look for
that.
Look for him
to show up
with you.
Let me tell
you something
there is nothing
more exciting
in all your
lives than
to be a
part of
God rescuing
and restoring
people to
relationship with
him.
The special
relationship that
he made them
for and helping
them know that
and feel that
from you.
There's nothing
better that
you'll ever be
a part of.
So when Esther
expects God to
use her, when we
all get a glimpse
that he's going to
use us, we just
go for it,
right?
We stubbornly
just put our
head down and
plow ahead,
right?
No.
No, this is for
all of us, young
and old.
She remains
intentionally
dependent upon
him.
Look at verse
16.
Go gather all
the Jews to be
found in Susa
and hold a
fast on my
behalf.
Do not eat or
drink for three
days, night or
day.
I and my young
women will also
fast as you
do.
It's not a
rush.
I don't have to
feel the pressure
and the urgency,
but I'm going to
hold a fast and I
need everybody to
be fasting with
me.
That would have
meant a time of
refraining from
eating in order
to pray, in order
to cry out to
God, along with
others of God's
people, in order
to remember that
her hope was not
in herself, but in
her God.
Man, we need
help remembering
that.
So often we rush
quickly into doing
what we can in our
own strength, with
our own strategies.
We want to be the
one who does things
for God, but the
fact that God is at
work for us, it
frees us from the
pressure of
performance to
dependence on the
divine.
He's there.
We can trust him.
It's a bold move,
isn't it?
What might happen
in those three
days?
Maybe they start
carrying out the
edict faster than
anticipated.
No.
It's a move
requiring faith to
believe that a
plea to God would
make any difference
in her plea to a
king who doesn't
care about this
God.
How big must this
God be?
That talking to
him is going to
help her talk to
someone who doesn't
even believe he
exists.
Christ.
I was with a
group of pastors
this week, and we
needed to spend
time together
praying that we
would be dependent.
We needed to do
that repeatedly
before and while we
were being
strategic.
Are you like me,
like us, sometimes
a little slow to
slow down?
A bit too eager to
assume that courage
or boldness means
self-reliance?
Not with the
sovereign God at
work on your
behalf.
It's not all up to
you.
He puts you there
in that position.
He knows what he's
doing.
You can trust him to
empower you there
too if he's put you
there.
Finally, the hardest
part of all this
bold faithfulness to
which we're called, I
think you've seen
this coming.
At the end of the
verse, what is
she say?
And if I perish, I
perish.
Sound familiar?
Sound like the
exiles from a
hundred years ago
facing the king's
fiery furnace?
Our God is able to
deliver us, O king,
but if he doesn't,
if we perish, we
perish.
He's still faithful.
There is a self-forgetfulness
that I can't even
imagine having
unless you are
deeply certain
that God is keeping
his promises
and rescuing you
no matter what happens
to you here and now.
The question of self-forgetfulness
may not always be a
life-and-death
decision,
but it's still a
tough one.
Are you willing to
use where God has
put you for
his kingdom and
people rather than
just for yourself?
To be more specific,
are you willing to
say your job,
your family,
your home,
your time,
your connections,
your gifts
are at
his disposal
to do with what
he wants to
for the sake of
his kingdom
even if it
costs you?
I don't want to
lose my job,
my friend,
my money.
Where did it all
come from,
y'all?
He gave you
the job.
He gave you
the talents
to get in the
position,
the relationships
to be included,
the resources
to be where
you are.
So Esther
realizes because
of that truth,
because this is
all from him,
she can hold it
all in an open
hand,
even what?
Even her
very life.
It's a gift
from him.
She's not in
charge of it.
She can trust
him with that.
If I perish,
I perish.
He's still
worthy of
my trust.
He's given
me this gift
to use it
for his glory
according to
his will.
With open
hands as I
receive his
gifts,
I can instead
of clinging
to the things,
I can cling
to him,
the one who's
faithful,
and say,
do whatever
you will
with me.
That's bold
faithfulness.
It is life
saving,
world
changing,
eternity
impacting
faithfulness.
Human actions
here by Esther
and Mordecai
that God
commends
right alongside
divine
sovereignty.
He's clearly
at work.
He's clearly
in control.
And Esther
lives
and acts.
And God
uses her
powerfully
right where
he placed her
to rescue
thousands of
his people.
It doesn't
always work
out like
that in the
short term.
God doesn't
promise,
does he,
that the king
will always
extend the
golden scepter?
Did Esther
get that
promise ahead
of time?
No.
He does
promise
that we can
trust him
regardless
as we
boldly
remember his
goodness
and sing
about it
over and
over.
And so we
realize
that because
of that we
can forget
ourselves.
Seek first
his kingdom
and let him
take care of
us.
The college
freshman who
raised his
hand found
himself in
the professor's
office later
that day with
a professor who
was genuinely
seeking truth,
who had
questions about
the Bible that
he wanted to
ask someone who
believed it and
who wanted to
know where he
went to church
and if he
could go with
him.
Not what the
freshman saw
coming.
The young
couple is
married now.
They're not
the wealthiest
family that I
know but
they're out of
debt and
faithfully,
joyfully serving
Christ's church.
The employee
was eventually
let go from
her company
but has found
in a new
season of life
a renewed
joy in
where God
has her.
each of them
was willing
to lose
to see
kingdom
gain.
A lost
grade, a
lost nest
egg, a
lost job.
Worth it
somehow
in the service
of the
sovereign
rescuing
faithful
God.
would God
make this
a church
family and
community
full of
Esther-like
bold
faithfulness?
For such
a time
as this
in an
age of
confusion,
in the
midst of a
government
shutdown,
in grief
and uncertainty,
would we
boldly and
faithfully
trust him
and live
like that?
See, the
encouragement is
you can live
like her
too.
Wherever God
has placed
you, whatever
difficult decision
he asks you
to make,
whatever costly
sacrifice you
may have to
make, you
can live with
expectancy and
dependence and
even self-forgetfulness.
Why?
How?
Because God is a
father to us.
Because he
delights to
give us good
gifts that
meet our
deepest needs
so that we
can forget
ourselves and
still not be
forgotten.
Amazing.
You can live
this way only
because as a
good father to
us, God sent
Jesus as
more than an
example.
Okay?
Esther can be
an example,
even an
inspiration.
I hope she is
to some of you.
But we need
more than that.
Jesus was
willing to
forget himself
and stand as
a representative
for God's
people facing
certain death
to say not
if I perish
but when I
perish.
And your
great mediator
stood with
bold faithfulness
all the way to
the cross in
your place to
ensure your
protection, your
eternal safety
for even the
moments when your
faith fails,
even when you
don't come
through like
Esther.
He has come
through once
and for all
for you.
Praise the
Lord.
He has
rescued you.
But don't
miss it.
This is
beautiful.
He didn't
rescue you so
you could sit
complacently,
fearfully,
in a church
pew,
and hear
about someone
else's life.
No.
He also
sent his
spirit into
you so
that you're
empowered to
live with
your father
like he
does,
expectantly,
dependently,
self-forgetfully,
just like him,
boldly walking
in all the
good works he
prepared specifically
for you to
walk in.
it may look
and feel
right now.
From all
you can tell,
you are in a
God-forsaken
situation
or world.
You're not.
In the worst,
most dangerous,
most overwhelming
situation,
God is at work.
A father
to you
who sent
his son
for you,
who sent
his spirit
to be with
you so
that you
can walk
boldly to
the throne
of grace
this morning
and boldly
to the throne
of any king
this week
with faith
that he is
in control,
that he is
at work,
that he is
with you
where he
puts you.
We can be
confident
of this
because as
Paul reminds
us,
if God
did not
spare his
own son
but gave
him up
for us,
he's not
through with
us.
How will
he not
also with
him
graciously
give us
all things,
graciously
continue to
work for
his own
glory,
graciously
keep us
in his
eternal
good,
he will.
At this
table,
he meets
with you
to assure
you that
he's worthy
of your
trust,
to strengthen
your faith
in him
that leads
to your
faithfulness
for him.
Come meet
with him.
It was the
night that
Jesus was
betrayed,
sent to
his death
on a
cross,
that he
sat with
his disciples
who were
about to
feel like
they were
in a
really
God
forsaken
place,
yes?
And here's
what Jesus
did,
he took
bread,
and he
broke it,
and he
gave it
to them
as I
ministering
in his
name,
give this
bread to
you.
He said,
take and
eat,
this is
my body
given
for you,
do this
in remembrance
of me,
and then he
took the
cup after
supper and
said,
this cup
is the
new covenant
in my
blood,
which is
shed for
many for
the forgiveness
of sins,
drink from
it all of
you,
for as
often as
you eat
this bread
and drink
this cup,
you proclaim
the Lord's
death until
he comes.
You say to
a world that
feels God
forsaken,
my God has
entered in
to this
world.
He's given
his life
for me,
he's not
left me
here alone,
he's with
me,
and Jesus
says keep
doing this.
Even after
I leave,
I'm going
to send
my spirit
to meet
with you
at the
invitation
of King
Jesus,
Southwood
welcomes
all of
you who
are brothers
and sisters
in Christ,
members of
any of
his churches,
to come
this morning
and eat
with us
and with
him at
this table.
If you
don't trust
Jesus
personally,
or haven't
yet professed
that publicly,
we're so
glad that you
are here
to,
and we
invite you,
if you
would like
to come
and observe,
we'd love
to be able
to talk
with you
up close,
even pray
with you.
If you
prefer,
please feel
free,
you're welcome
to stay
seated and
just consider
what King
Jesus is
offering.
A king
who would
give his
life to
protect his
people and
invites us
then into a
life of
purpose and
rest and
joy with
him.
hear that
invitation,
consider
Jesus'
love and
life and
death and
resurrection for
you as we
come to this
table.
Let me pray
and then we'll
partake.
Jesus,
what an
amazing
gift you
gave us,
not just
one time to
give your
life once
for all,
but also to
give us a
gift of
your presence
in this
meal,
of your
spirit sitting
with us,
whispering in
our ear,
in our lips,
feeling that
you've given
your life for
us, how
will you not
also keep
caring for
us into
eternity?
And so
would you
take very
normal bread
and wine
and use it
in a very
special way
in our
hearts?
In Jesus'
name,
amen.
For more
information,
visit us
online at
southwood.org.
to