(Chapter 10) “King Ahasuerus laid tribute on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia? For Mordecai the Jew was next in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brethren, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.”

Reading this passage is sort of like coming into a theatre near the end of a movie. We kind of know how it all turns out but are really fuzzy on what’s been going on.

This morning we are focusing on Esther, a Godly women who was powerfully used by God. And the passage we read gives us the outcome - the results - of what transpired in her life. Like giving away the secret of “who done it” in a murder mystery - our reason for reading these verses is to see clearly that God used Esther and through her saved the Jewish nation living in the Persian Empire.

What we want to look at this morning is how all of this happened - to give some background on Esther’s circumstances and how she was able to be used by God. How she lived in the circumstances of her life - her Godly character - is really the example that we need to apply to our lives in the circumstances that we live in.

In 600 B.C., Esther’s family was captured and along with a large number of her nation, carried away, and exiled into the Persian Empire. They were a subjugated people, living in a foreign land and culture - a Jewish diaspora. Given the opportunity, many of the Jews had later returned to Jerusalem. But many families, like Esther’s had elected to stay, even though "odars," they preferred the prosperity and luxury of Persia. This is like the Armenians today. We could all repatriate to Armenia - but we don't - why? Our lives are here - our family - friends - livelihood.

Esther is an orphan, raised by her uncle Mordecai, who is an official at the king’s palace. Esther is young and very beautiful. She is patriotic. And, a Godly woman of clear judgment, magnificent self-control, and capable of the noblest sacrifice.

The timing of the events of the Book of Esther take place between 484 and 473 B.C.. Ahasuerus is King of Persia. one of the greatest empires of all time. His kingdom includes 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. And King Ahasuerus, whose name means victorious, had even knocked on the door of Greece, and was barely rebuffed from conquering there. Ahasuerus is a tyrant, a cruel man of uncertain judgment, great tempers, wild passions, and extremes. He was a man who obeyed the baser instincts of his nature - he was a slave of alcohol, food, passion, and pride. It is in Ahasuerus’ capital city of Susa that Esther lived.

In the royal palace there is great turmoil. Queen Vashti, a women of excellent modesty, dignity, and strong determination, has been dethroned for failing to appear naked before the king’s drunken party guests. All over the empire, beauty pageants are being held, to find virgins to replace Queen Vashti.

At court there is intrigue. Plots are being formulated to kill the King - who, by the way, was later murdered by one of his chamberlains and a captain of his guard. Haman, an ancient version of Hitler, is the second in command of the empire. Because of a dispute with Mordecai, Haman is formulating a plan to massacre the Jews, and blame the king.

We know, because we read the end of the story, that Esther won the beauty contest and became the queen. And, we know, God placed her in the position of being the one person who could save her people from genocide, and despite overwhelmingly impossible circumstances, she was successful - The Jews were saved, Haman got hung, and Mordecai became the number one person in Persia.

Difficult circumstances - some would even say impossible - yet God brought victory. God used Esther - How?? What did she do that can be an example to us? In the circumstances of our lives, overwhelming as they may seem, how can God use us? There are three lessons, from Esther’s life, that I would like to highlight for us.

1. The Lesson of Humility (2:19-23)

One of the subplots in the book of Esther involves two of the kings eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh. It seems that they had had a falling out with the king and were plotting to kill him. Mordecai overhears their plan and tells Queen Esther. In chapter 2 (2:22,23) we read that, “Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows....” Later, in chapter 6 we read that Mordecai was richly rewarded by the king.

In Esther’s actions there is a tremendous lesson in humility for us.

Esther could have taken for herself all the credit for exposing the plot. But, she never forgot her roots. Esther remembered her guardian parent Mordecai. She obeyed him. She respected him. She gave him the credit which was due him. And, as we read through the book of Esther there are numerous occasions where Esther sought out Mordecai - his wisdom, counsel, and advice.

Often, when a person has moved up in the world and has achieved a position of power and eminence too often they become forgetful, ashamed, of anything which would remind them of where they have come from. When they should be humble, because of God’s graciousness, they become proud.

In the midst of difficult circumstances we should never be too proud to ask for help - from God or others. Too often we put on a mask - and act like everything is okay - we can handle it. We hear people say, "Meeshd lav eh. Parc Deroch." And yet we go on suffering in silence. Well, "Mesh lav cheh."

How is God going to bring real victory in our lives if we are too proud to ask Him for help? How can we as a church, minister to anyone - demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ - which we are called and commanded to do - if we are all too proud to admit that we need help?

We miss so much of what God has for us because we simply won’t humble ourselves before him. In the midst of difficult circumstances, regardless of our position or whatever image we think we need to maintain, we need to be vulnerable, transparent, and open to God’s solutions and victories.

2. The Lesson of Prayer (4:15-17)

Esther is about to approach the king to petition for the life of her people. This is the one defining moment in her life. Like an Olympic athlete competing for the gold medal - she has been in training her whole life for this one moment. Her life, and the life of her nation, hang upon the results of this moment in time. Before she goes to the throne room, she sends word to Mordecai, (4:16), “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids 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.” In other words, “Put everything else aside, get the people together before God, and pray!”

It is amazing how our lives often are changed by singular events - defined by one moment in time. And, often we feel as though these events just sort of happen to us - that they’re random, chance, happenings that somehow we must continue through trusting that somehow we are suppose to make the right choices and be able to triumph.

Whatever the circumstances of our lives, these are already known to God - even before we were born. - even, the Bible says, even, before the creation of the earth. The circumstances of our lives no matter how difficult are already known to God.

In prayer, we are never alone in the defining moments of our lives. Prayer places us humbly before God’s throne - seeking His guidance - His solutions - His strength - following His plan for our lives. In prayer, the forces of our adversary Satan are kept at bay. In prayer, we can ask for God to act with the power of Heaven on our behalf. In prayer, we can join with our brothers and sisters in Jesus to seek God’s victory.

3. The Lesson of Trust (5:1-8)

Imagine the scene, as Esther comes before King Ahasuerus. She stands, adorned in her royal robes, there in the inner court of the king’s palace, opposite the king’s hall. And, the king, this cruel, debase, tyrant is sitting on his royal throne opposite the entrance. As Esther stands there, the crowd becomes silent - hushed. 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; all alike are to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out his golden scepter. So, the silence is deafening and the pause is awkward - what will king Ahasuerus do? Finally, king Ahasuerus extends his scepter. Esther has found favor in his sight.

And, as Esther pleads, in the events which follow, as she pleads for the existence of her people, the king grants her request - her people are spared from genocide, Haman is hanged, and her uncle Mordecai, a Jew, becomes the number one man in Persia.

Esther dared to risk death for her people and so escaped dying with them. Her trust was in God. Before coming to the king there was preparation - in humility, she admitted her need and sought Godly counsel, - in prayer, she committed her actions to God’s will and keeping, - in boldness she stood before the mightiest man on earth, knowing that the strength of the almighty God of creation was on her side.

By her trust in God - God used her as an instrument of His providence for the working out of a glorious victory and a great deliverance for her nation.

Often we are tempted to say, “Who am I?” and in reality, “My circumstances are not like Esther’s.” But in reality, who was Esther, until God in His providence placed her in a position to save a nation? - History tells us of Martin Luther, a miner’s son, who shook the world; Zwingle, the shepherd’s son, who led the reformation in Europe, Moody, the shoe-salesman, who rocked two continents with his powerful preaching; David with his sling and stones against Goliath - and we could go on giving examples.

Who are we in the Armenian nation? Armenia, a nation always on the brink of extinction - a nation needing deliverance - a nation needing spiritual revival - maybe our nation needs to see the example of Esther lived out in our lives today.

Whatever the circumstances of our lives, whatever the difficulty, God can bring victory. Let us not seek to stand in our own pride. But, instead, let us humbly seek Him in prayer and move forward boldly at His leading.