The Book of Esther
Ray of Hope Christian Church
April 17, 2012
Esther 4:1-17
Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
The story of Esther took place during
the reign of King Ahasuerus, who
was known as Xerxes. He reigned
over the Persian Empire from
485 B.C. to 465 B.C.
Zerubbabel – 536 B. C. with 50,000
Ezra 2:64-65
Ezra – 456 B.C. with 2,000
(counting men only)
Ezra 8:20
COMPROMISE
Pro – before
Video – to see or I see
God sees everything:
Psalms 139:16
Jeremiah 32:19
God knows everything:
Psalms 139:1-4
God cares – we are never
beyond his reach and care
Luke 12:27
1 Peter 5:7
God has a plan in place for
your good, no matter what
happens to you.
What does knowing this
mean to you right now?
Providence is God providing,
directing, leading people who
do not want to be led.
Vashti stands as a model to help
men and women both understand
that anytime the fulfillment of your
wishes and desires comes at the detriment
of someone else, they are not worthy of
being fulfilled.
Vashti’s move was a
providential one.
FIRST MOVE
Vashti is moved out
Esther is moved in
Providence
SECOND MOVE
Mordecai uncovers a Conspiracy
THIRD MOVE
Haman’s Plot to Destroy the Jews
Haman prefigured the man of sin in his :
• Name – 7:6
• Power – 3:1-3
• Pride- - 5:11
• Hatred – 3:10, 8:1,9:10-24
• Doom – 7:9-10
THIRD MOVE
In 3:7, they cast the pur (that is, the lot)
in the presence of Haman to select a
day and month. And the lot fell on the
twelfth month, the month of Adar.
When Esther’s words were reported
to Mordecai, he sent back
this answer:
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 such a time as this,
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.”
You do have a choice.
We have to come
together and pray.
We need a plan!
We need to be clear
about our positions and
operate in them.
The King’s heart is in the hand of the
Lord who directs it like a
watercourse wherever he pleases.
Proverbs 21:1
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,
brawling and slander, along with
every form of malice. Be kind and
compassionate to one another, forgiving
each other, just as in Christ God
forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31
He listened to the advice of his
wife and friends and built
gallows on which to hang Mordecai
He who digs a hole and scoops it
out falls into the pit he has made.
The trouble he causes recoils on
himself; his violence comes
down on his own head.
Psalms 7:15
“Stand your ground” law
Purim, from Pur, or
casting the lots was established
The lot is cast into the lap, but its
every decision is from the Lord!
Proverbs 16:33