“God is at work even when we don’t see it.”
Sermon Title: FROM CAPTIVE TO QUEEN
Scripture Text: ESTHER 1 – 2
Sermon Series: ESTHER: GOD BEHIND THE SEEN
Sermon Notes:
ESTHER 2:5-10 NIV
5 Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish,
6 who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah.
7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This girl, who was also known as Esther, was lovely in form and features, and Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.
8 When the king's order and edict had been proclaimed, many girls were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king's palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem.
9 The girl pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven maids selected from the king's palace and moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.
10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.
ESTHER 2:16-20 NIV
16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18 And the king gave a great banquet, Esther's banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate.
20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai's instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN READING ESTHER
I. The book was put together after events of the story.
II. Refrain from making moral or ethical evaluations when none are given.
III. Remember the historical context.
ESTHER 1:10-11 NIV
10 On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him--Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas--
11 to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at.
ESTHER 2:1 NIV
1 Later when the anger of King Xerxes had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her.
ESTHER 2:3 NIV
3 Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful girls into the harem at the citadel of Susa.
ESTHER 2:8 NIV
8 When the king's order and edict had been proclaimed, many girls were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king's palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem.
ESTHER 2:17 NIV
17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
I. GOD IS AT WORK EVEN WHEN WE DON’T SEE IT
“When God works in amazing ways, we see it. But when God works in the mundane, we think he isn’t there. But he is.”
II. GOD DOESN’T CARE ABOUT EXTERNALS
ESTHER 1:6-8 NIV
6 The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones.
7 Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king's liberality.
8 By the king's command each guest was allowed to drink in his own way, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.
“The ambiguity of Esther’s thoughts about her situation raises questions about her observance of God’s law and her practices as a Jew. She was taken into the harem, gained favor with Hegai, the eunuch in charge, and received beauty treatments, special food, and seven servants. Unlike Daniel and his friends, Esther does not protest. Because she could so successfully hide her identity as a Jew, she apparently had adopted Persian dress and customs at least to the extent that she was indistinguishable as a Jewish woman.”
Karen Jobes, NIV Application Commentary
“No matter how bad you failed at the beginning of your life, no matter what wrong moves you have made, God does not give up on you.”
“God consistently and continuously gives his grace to people who don’t deserve it, don’t ask for it and don’t even fully appreciate it after they get it.”
“You are not who the world says you are. You are who God says you are.”