Esther 9-10

Below is a sermon manuscript from December 8, 2024. Watch the sermon here.

Introduction

Do you have any continuing celebrations in your home that are unique to you? Maybe it is an anniversary or a particular milestone that was hit in your life or career. I remember hearing about people who would mark off big achievements, and every year, they would celebrate them. Maybe it is the completion of a PhD or passing a certain test or qualifications. Often, the difficulty in getting there made the first celebration so sweet. There was finally a time you could relax a bit, and now you celebrate the end of your circumstantial chaos on a regular basis. These kinds of celebrations have Biblical warrant. But there are some differences as well. As we look at Esther 9-10, we are going to see celebration that leads to continued and more celebration, and in doing so, it will equip us with our own celebrations and fix our hearts on the best thing worth celebrating. If you have our Bibles, we will read all of Esther 9 and 10.

God Uses Present Obedience to Reverse Past Disobedience

Do you see what it says in verse 1? This could be the theme verse for the entire narrative of Esther. What is expected to happen doesn’t happen – in fact, its reversal takes place. Once again, we have to examine the entire narrative to pay attention to all that has happened, and we can’t help but say, “There is certainly more going on here; this is beyond mere coincidence.” God is at work. He is at work through Esther and Mordecai, even through Haman’s pride and the king’s sleeplessness. And here we see a continued thread from last week. Last week, we saw the disconnect and, yet, similarities between the rest of the Old Testament on Holy War. We don’t have explicit instructions, and we don’t have a prophet talking with God, but we do have a people – the Agagites – mentioned. We have similar terminology, and now the similarities continue. God instructed Saul not to take loot, but he did and faced the consequences for it. But here, the people – even though an edict says they can – don’t take loot. Given the concept of reversal and how many times not taking loot is mentioned in the passage, I believe this is intentional. Further, we have Haman’s sons – his lineage – being killed. Where Saul took loot and didn’t kill Agag, we have the Jewish people not taking loot and bringing an end to Agag. 

God can use the faithfulness of his people to reverse past disobedience

What are we to make of this? Well, once again, what is not said is brought to light. God can use the faithfulness of his people to reverse past disobedience. In this passage, we see how hatred seemed to spread against the Jews. There is a mounting attack because of the hatred. But, in a similar way, faithfulness can also be contagious and spread. The book of Hebrews tells us that we shouldn’t stop meeting together as God’s people, and this comes right after they are told to stir one another up in love and good works. In other words, gather together so that their faithfulness and obedience are contagious. Here, Esther’s courage and identification with her Jewish identity lead to others doing the same. To be sure, this isn’t a necessary outcome, but it was something that God used that way. We are called to be faithful, and we trust God can use that for His glory and the good of others. God can use a contagious encouragement to reverse a spreading bitterness. God can use godly desire to know God’s truth well to reverse carelessness toward doctrine. God can use a desire to reach out to others to reverse an unhealthy inward focus. What are ways that you are contributing to a culture of faithfulness? In your life, in your home, here at Blue Course Community Church? Is there anything you need to repent because you are stirring in the wrong direction? Respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and start the reversal right now.

Past disobedience makes future obedience more difficult

One of the complicated aspects of pressing into the reversal has come up in the past couple of chapters. Past disobedience does not make future obedience impossible, but it can make it more difficult. This might be seen in Esther’s call for another day. It’s hard to tell if this is because there will be further attacks within Susa or if it is motivated by vengeance. We might give the benefit of the doubt because we see not taking loot over and over. But maybe Mordecai’s not bowing was unrighteous hatred, and that is resurfacing here. We don’t know. But we do know that our past disobedience can make future obedience more difficult. It can also take a while to reverse the consequences of our unfaithfulness. Think of a person who does not steward their finances well. It might take years of faithful use of money and budgeting to get back on track.

While I want to be careful not to strain the application too far, I think we can also see applications beyond us as Christians or the church to how nations operate. We saw the evils of the slave trade, and it was a generational effort to reverse the effects and teachings that led to its flourishing. We also see how life can be devalued today if it is seen as inconvenient or standing in the way of our goals and what we see as happiness. Similar lines of thinking that gave way to abortion on demand are seen in assisted death – a recent case in the UK. When we see these things, we should take a posture like we have seen here. While prayer is not mentioned, it’s implied, and it’s what accompanies faithfulness. We should pray. Pray for leaders. Pray for citizens. We should also seek to be faithful in the various roles we have to help reverse the direction. This will not happen fully in this life.

Have you been driven by love of money?

We see a reversal here once again. Haman spent time boasting in 5:11, “And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king^[1].” All that he had been proud of went to the Jews. Think of the concept of his riches. There is a sense in which they belong to Mordecai, who now runs his estate. But there is another sense where the Jews don’t take the plunder. In other words, what you find to have the most value and worthy of boasting is not worth us taking. If this is in obedience to God it should cause us to slow down and think of our own life. 

Why can Christians live lives of freedom and joy while enemies seemingly prosper? Because we have a different definition of success. We have a higher calling than accumulation. Notice what Haman was proud of, accomplishments. He was known for what he did instead of who he was. Now, are these things inherently bad? No. But they are pathetic grounds for worth and hope. For the Christian, it’s not what we have but who has us that matters most. Because we are safe in the arms of the God who loves us in Christ, we can use what we have been given for His glory and the good of others. When money and titles are all we have, we hold them with a tight hand. But if our security is in being held tightly by the King of Kings then we can have an open hand with what he has given us. It doesn’t take character to have titles and money, but it does take character to use it well.

Reversals Should Be Celebrated

Here, we see a celebration for deliverance. A keyword throughout chapter 9 is relief. They received relief. What a needed thing that was. Just imagine having the decree of death over you for months. Families are aware of this, and maybe some kids are getting wind of it. So much unknown. And now there is relief. They can breathe. They can rest. There is a cause to celebrate. 

What causes you to mourn? What causes you to celebrate?

Think about the trajectory of the narrative. We have fasting and celebration. We have portions where Haman mourns and portions where Mordecai and Esther mourn. We have portions where each celebrates as well. This is part of life, isn’t it?

Perhaps even this past week, you have had periods of fasting and periods of celebration. What causes delight? What causes devastation? Our feelings are not determinative of what is good, true, and beautiful. But they certainly can reveal our hearts and what we cling to most dearly. What does this reveal about what is most dear to us? 

Tim Keller once said,

Whatever controls us is our Lord. The person who seeks power is controlled by power. The person who seeks acceptance is controlled by the people he or she wants to please. We do not control ourselves; we are controlled by the lord of our lives.

How do we know that something else is in control? Often, it is revealed by our celebrations and mournings. Take a spiritual inventory. Think over your day, your week, your month. What were the moments of the most elation, the most celebration of your soul? Why? What was happening? What about the moments that were the darkest and hardest for you? What does this reveal? 

Celebration includes service

As we think about Celebrations within this passage, we see a few characteristics. One is that we shouldn’t confuse God’s people celebrating with entertainment. There is a feast that is enacted. But we also see part of their response is to send gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor (9:22). As Christians in the New Covenant, our gathering together for worship is an act of celebration. We gather, just like Christians did from the very beginning, on the first day of the week – the Day Jesus rose from the dead. We do this to celebrate, remember, and worship. But this is not a merely passive act. We are called to participate in the worship service. We are called to greet one another and bear one another’s burdens. In the structure of the church, there are many things to be involved in. As we are each involved in various ministries on a Sunday morning, we remind each other of God’s provision of the church family. 

Celebration is a corporate and generational act

Do we notice something else within the passage? They are called to do this together. Sending gifts to one another. Feasting. They are also called to pass this on from generation to generation. Think about these two aspects – the togetherness of God’s people and the need to instruct their children and grandchildren about these things. These are two important aspects of the Christian community and our call to celebrate the greatest reversal of all time. This call to instruct the generations was given to the corporate body. While there is a definite need for individual families to pass this on, it is also a corporate act of passing the celebration. 

We can get caught up in celebration and forget the reason

Think about some of this celebration that is taking place. They are giving gifts, eating delicious food. There is joy and laughter in the air. But perhaps this could be done by going through the motions without recognizing that the unseen God was at work in this whole narrative. Maybe the celebration could become an end in itself, caught up in the rituals. Does this remind you of anything? Think about our calendars and the celebrations that mark them. We have Christmas coming up. 

Christmas is not something that Christians must celebrate. The Puritans refused to participate in Christmas or Easter. Not because they were against celebrations. But because they saw it as redundant to what we celebrate each week when we gather to worship. There were other reasons for their refusal, being extra sensitive to any extra-biblical requirements and their imposition by the church. I don’t bring this up to say it’s wrong to celebrate Christmas. Our family does, and there has been a yearly calendar that Christians have used for generations to remember particular acts of God. It’s not Scripture, but it can be a helpful tool that has precedent here in the Old Testament rhythms and celebrations. But in celebrating, be careful not to get caught up in the celebrations and miss the benefit of meditation. Also, be careful not to relegate your celebrations to particular days in the year. Christians have reason to celebrate continually. Listen to what Athanasius said of this celebration all the way back in the middle of the fourth century.

When the whole nation of Israel was about to perish, blessed Esther defeated the tyrant’s anger simply by fasting and praying to God. By faith she changed the ruin of her people into safety. Those days are feast days for Israel; they used to call a feast when an enemy was slain or a conspiracy against the people was broken up and Israel was delivered. That is why Moses established the Feast of the Passover: because Pharaoh was killed and the people were delivered from bondage. So then, especially when tyrants were slain, temporal feasts and holidays were established in Judea. Now, however, the devil, that tyrant against the whole world, is slain. Therefore, our feast does not relate only to time but to eternity. It is a heavenly feast! We do not announce it as a shadow or a picture or a type but as the real thing.^[2]

Jesus’ Obedience Brought The Greatest Reversal

We can see in Mordecai and Esther a kind of better Saul. There is faithfulness where Saul failed. But each of them points forward to Jesus who brings the greatest reversal of all time.

Jesus is co-equal with the Father

In Chapter 10, we see Mordecai promoted to the place of second rank. Again, a reversal for someone who was overlooked, who was in sackcloth, now he is now in a place of honor. As we think about Jesus’ reversal, we see one who was in full honor voluntarily humbled himself by taking on flesh and is now risen in victory as the God-man. Jesus is not second in rank, but as the second person of the God-head is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father. 

Jesus doesn’t only seek our welfare, he guarantees it.

It is one thing to have the motivation and certain opportunity to seek the welfare of others; it’s another to be sovereign over all things. Jesus speaks, and the waves listen. The sick touched the garments of Jesus and were healed. Regardless of what we experience in this life, we can be assured that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. We know that one day, he will return, and all things will be made right. 

It’s this truth that once again frees us. If it is dependent upon us to be the primary conduits for the general welfare of all people, we will fail every time. It’s a pressure we aren’t meant to bear. We are limited people with limited resources. But thankfully, we serve an infinite God. That means even our meager efforts matter. It means we can help because he can do more than we imagine. But it also means that we don’t need to save the world. That burden has been carried by another. Because of that, we can live for him in joy and freedom.

Jesus doesn’t only speak peace; he is our eternal peace

Mordecai spoke peace to the people. God often brings news of peace through people. Prophets and others can speak of peace in a superficial way. They can appeal to create peace, or that peace will come. But Jesus didn’t only speak of peace but He is our peace. Jesus walking this earth was peace on earth. His death secured our peace with God. False prophets say, “peace, peace, when there is no peace.” But not so with Jesus. Listen to the words of Ephesians 2

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷ And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.^[3]

Jesus calls us to identify with Him

Those who celebrated Mordecai were those who identified as Jews. He was popular among his people. While Jesus will be honored by all, only those who trust in Him by faith will enjoy the everlasting kingdom that is breaking in even now. To identify with Christ is not merely something we do, it’s who we are. A Christian is someone who turns from their own way of living and who renounces the empire they are an active participant in. Right now, if you are apart from Christ, you are against him. Scripture says that while we were yet his enemies, Christ died for us. Here we have the enemies of the Jews hung on beams, a call to all that victory is imminent for the Jews. In the Cross of Christ, Jesus was hung with a sign that said “King of the Jews.” What looked like defeat was a victory. He was paying the wages of sinful man so that all who trust in him will be saved. Holy War shows us God’s vengeance on sin. He cannot let it continue. His holiness will not allow it. And Christ’s work on the Cross shows us that we do not need to experience the true consequences of our sin because another has taken our place. Is this true of you? Right now, you have a choice: do you wage war against the King of Kings, or do you accept the peace that is offered through Jesus’ sacrifice for you? 

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^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Es 5:11.

^[2] Marco Conti and Gianluca Pilara, eds., 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008), 397.

^[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 2:13–18.