Tag Archives: Esther

Study Notes for Esther 4:13-17

Pastor Rick's Study Notes, Study Notes - Old Testament

Esther’s response is Seek God, Count the Cost, Act.

  • Pray and Fast – brokenness, longing for God’s Kingdom to come, tenacious in prayer. 2 Chronicles 7:14 parallel.
  • Know that we may die Illustration: Wimber and call for martyrs.
  • Step into the moment

God, the Lord, Israel’s land, the Temple the Exile – none are mentioned in the whole of Esther.

Haman represented the enemy’s persistent attempt to end Israel’s existence. His heritage was Amalekite. And this tribe of Canaanites was consistently at war with the Jews. That’s why Mordecai wouldn’t bow to Haman. That’s why Haman wanted to kill every Jew.

Judges 2 reminds us that, if a people of faith are not careful, the next generation will grow up “who knew neither the Lord God nor what He has done for his people.”

Mordecai grieved, not for himself, but for His people. We grieve when the people of God suffer.

vv. 5-7 Mordecai was sent clothing to change into and pause the mourning – by Esther the queen. And he refused. She then sent a trusted counselor to find out what troubled him. The Hebrew says, “what this, and why this.” That’s the drive of those who look to the needs of the world. What is going on? What is happening?

Mordecai turns it back around to Esther – this is what, this is why, and how can you make a difference!

The king didn’t allow mourning or sadness in his presence; the Father welcomes the hurting. Juxtapose the Persian monarch with the Father in heaven.

Missional status and calling.

The understanding is Perhaps your position in the Kingdom, what God has provided, is just for this time and this need; and – the wording assumes – and what will you do with it.

If Mordecai represents the heart of sensitivity to the world’s dangers, needs, future, etc., Esther represents the heart of the intercessor to stand in the gap, to plea for deliverance.

Mordecai’s position is: God will raise up one who will sustain the Jewish people, for God’s people will persist. But will this be the time you step up? God’s people will continue. The Church will stand; but will it stand and bring God’s kingdom because we stand up, pray, count the cost and act.

Has our day heard a call for the end of Christianity? Is our culture so opposed to the Kingdom of God that they would forego reason and compassion to see it end?

Love for the Kingdom, love for God’s people, love for those yet to come to the King motivates the Mordecai’s. Trust in God’s favor while counting the cost undergirds the Esther’s.

The greater the gifts, the higher the expectation. The more accessible the position, the more relevant the need to parlay this into action. Those who have wealth are blessed by God with this gift. Those who have speaking skills are given them by the Father. Etc.

Illustration: When we are given gifts and opportunities, we can often choose other than action:

  1. We coast – we get by with only a little.
  2. We move into the middle – so we don’t stand out.
  3. Best to own the mission, make our lives count, and leverage our position and relationship for the Kingdom.

Getting Past the Obstacles

Points Along The Journey - Living A Missional Life, , , ,

We all face them and most of us eventually get past them: obstacles can stop us if we let them, or if we overcome them, obstacles can make us stronger. Some people seem to face more obstacles than others. One woman, for instance, found herself facing a life-or-death decision. Life didn’t start out well for this young girl, either.

Her mom and dad dropped out of her memory when she was barely aware of her life, and she was forced to move to a strange land with different customs and values than her own. She was brought up in a minority class, the color of her skin was different than most around her, and even her faith was looked on with scorn by many around her.

She was an orphan in a strange land and now she faced a decision that could prove fatal to herself and those she loved. Her choice to live beyond the obstacles along with the encouragement of her uncle gave her the courage to do the right thing. And, because of Esther’s choices, the Jewish people in exile found safety, “for such a time as this” that she faced.

Maybe I’ll see you this Sunday. Let’s see what this young girl, who faced her past and chose boldly for the future, can teach us in our own “for such a time as this.”