Sermons

Esther

The mighty and rich empire of Persia had one speck on its glory: The inability to conquer Greece. Darius failed, so did his son Xerxes I (Ahasuerus). The book of Esther depicts what happened around the adventure of Xerxes. It involves a Battle of the Ages that could have changed all history ever since. And it is also a Battle of the Brothers (between Esau and Jacob) that lasted for millennia. .

Esther: The King’s Feast (Chap 1)

Xerxes prepared for the second invasion of Greece by having a feast for all the officials in the empire for 180 days. He succeeded in getting national support for his personal vendetta. But in his drunken stupor, his lost his queen Vashti.

Esther: Esther’s Opportunity (Chap 2)

When Xerxes came back from Greece, humiliated by the defeat, and sank into wine and women for comfort, he missed his former queen. A beauty pageant was done to select a new one. This was the opportunity in a lifetime for Esther, a Jewish orphan raised up by her cousin Mordecai. She found favor from the Eunuch in charge, and the king, and became the queen of Persia. At the same time, Mordecai found out a plot to assassinate the king, and reported it, so it was spoiled.

Esther: Haman’s Hatred (Chap 3)

Haman, the new prime minister for Persia, was a descendant of Agag, former king of Amalek at the time of Saul. Saul was commissioned by God to destroy Amalek, to complete the only God-sanctioned holy war (against the Canaanites), but failed to complete it. Now Haman hated the Jews in his guts. He would do anything to annihilate them. After bribing the king to gain permission, Haman used pur (dice) to determine the date of the genocide.

Esther: Mordecai’s Challenge (Chap 4)

Mordecai, as the king’s tax collector, sat at the gate of Susa, and heard first the announcement of the edict. He wore sackcloth at the king’s gate, but could not enter. Esther tried to “cover up” Mordecai, but instead, he gave her a challenge: (1) As Jews, no individual can survive without the collective. (2) If she does not participate, it will only result in personal demise, and God will save the collective. (3) Her current position could well be God’s provision to solve the crisis for the collective.

Esther: Zeresh’s Suggestion (Chap 5)

Esther risked her life to see the king without being summoned. It was divine grace that the king raised his golden staff to her. She did not request anything other than holding a feast for the king and Haman, and it repeated. Feeling honored, Haman related to his family that he hated Mordecai the Jew. His wife Zeresh suggested the he build a gallows to hang Mordecai.

The King’s Insomnia (Chap 6)

The king somehow could not fall asleep at night, and he happened to read the court records, which indicated Mordecai’s work in spoiling the assassination. He ordered to honor Mordecai, and Haman happened to be outside, trying to request the hanging of Mordecai. Instead, Haman had to honor the person he hated most. When his wife Zeresh heard that Mordecai was Jewish, she predicted the demise of Haman’s house.

Haman’s Gallows (Chap 7)

In the second feast hosted by Esther for the king and Haman, she revealed that she and her race are under threat of annihilation, and the instigator was Haman. The king was enraged and had to think about what to do, for his edicts were irrevocable. Haman’s begging from Esther was viewed as sexual molestation, and he was hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai.

Mordecai’s Glory (Chap 8)

The king gave the estate of Haman to Esther, and Haman’s authority to Mordecai. Another edict was issued, contrary to the first, that the Jews are granted the right for killing their enemies, on the same day they were supposed to be annihilated. The Jews rejoiced, honored Mordecai, and many people joined the Jews because of fear.

The Origin of Purim (Chap 9-10)

On two days (Adar 13-14), the Jews killed the 10 sons of Haman, 500+300 men in Susa, and 75,000 men in the provinces. They did not take properties, for they were killing only for the protection of their own lives. Mordecai and Esther wrote to the Jews to remember the Feast of Purim on Adar 13-14 each year. It became one of the two “minor feasts” of the Bible (Pur and Hanukkah). Both are prophecies for the birth of Christ (birth on the first day of Hanukkah, and was almost killed but preserved on the Purim).