Introduction

King Xerxes of Persia was intent on invading and conquering all of Greece, but King Leonidas of Sparta met him at the narrow coastal pass known as the Hot Gates, where Persia’s superior numbers counted for nothing. The size of the Persian army is disputed. However, Herodotus claimed there were over two million but it was more likely to be between 100,000 and 300,000, so the Greeks were still against overwhelming odds. If you like to know more about this historic battle get your hands on “The legend of the 300 Spartans” that held off the Persian attack. Xerxes’ invasion ended in failure as the Greeks won decisive victories at the Battles of Salamis and Plataea. He barely made it back home and then King Xerexes indulged himself in elaborate building projects and in sensual desires selecting a new harem.

I. Esther conceals her Jewish identity. 2:10-11; 19-20

1. Esther had not revealed her people because her cousin Mordeai had instructed her not to reveal her heritage. Every day Mordecai we see in verse 11 paced in front of the court of the women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her. Normally, there is never a good reason for hiding the fact that we are Christians. We can’t live a life of denial and expect God to recognize us.

2. However, we do recognize that there are situations where God may have us be discreet about our Christian identity not for the purposes of permanently concealing it, but waiting for the opportune moment to reveal it. We ask the question were they complicit? If so, God used even their disobedience to fulfil His plan.

3. Esther doesn’t employ the name of God yet the book shows how God works behind the scenes; We find assurance in the truth that no other person, no matter how evil they are, can defeat God’s plan for our life, no matter what they have done to you or will do to you.

4. Verse 19 tells us that Mordecai sat in the king’s gate; that was the pinnacle of his advancement: he was one of the porters or door-keepers of the court. Whether he had this place before, or whether Esther obtained it for him, we are not told; but there he sat contentedly. Esther was mindful of Him even having advanced to the throne. This was an evidence of a humble and grateful disposition, that she had a sense of kinship and affection.

We see again in verse 20 that she does not reveal her true identity. She respects her cousin wisdom. Esther was born in Shushan her parents had died and so they all took her to be of Persian descent, and she was not bound to clarify this to them.

II. Esther is selected as queen. (Est 2:15-18)

1. Now when Esther turn came who was the daughter of Abihail (ab-ba- hyle) the uncle of Mordecai to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch the custodian of the women, advised her to wear. So she wore that apparel only and left it up to him. We read this in verse 15 and it gives you a sense that God gave her wisdom to trust him.

2. Esther attained favor of all who saw her because of both Esther’s godliness and beauty. So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. Esther was selected to be the queen to king Ahasuerus. The king announced with great fanfare his new queen with a great feast in her honor. He also granted public notice to the provinces, declaring the day a holiday for gift giving and tax relief. God was working His plan and he is sovereign over all others.

3. As for the 399 who lost, they were banished to the harem where they stayed the wife or the concubine of the king, but rarely if ever saw him afterwards. And they were never free to marry another man, essentially living as a perpetual widow. In a sense they were captives with never a real life of their own. They were force to serve the King at his desire if he even ever desired to even see them. They lost their innocent and were now nothing more than object of this Persian King. This was nothing more than wickedness at its core in human sex trafficking.

January was human trafficking awareness month and on Friday, President Donald Trump
signed an executive order expanding his domestic policy office with a new position solely focused on combating human trafficking and trafficking sex.
— Gospel…we belong to the King He has a great inheritance for us. I Peter 1:3-5 — II Peter 1:3-5

4. Esther’s life so far has been extraordinary. She was the child of Jewish exiles, who both died; she was raised by her cousin in a foreign and often hostile land; she was taken by compulsion into the king’s harem; she found favor with all whom she met; and she was finally selected to be the queen of the Persian Empire.

Application:
These courses of events were not a coincidence; God had a plan, and Esther is part of it. Proverbs 16:4 can give us a bit of insight. The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. A disaster is forthcoming and God is working His plan using both the evil and the good. He did not create evil nor does he solicit any to do evil but evil cannot stop him. In exactly the same way, we have a place in God’s plan.

Wherever you are right now, God has a purpose for it and God has a reason. To this point, the story of Esther also shows us that in the outworking of His plan, God can use the evil and disobedient of man. We find assurance in the truth that no other person, no matter how evil they are, can defeat God’s plan for our life, no matter what they have done to you or will do.

Conclusion:

God turn these events to bringing Esther to a place where she could save the Jewish remnant. God’s providential care usurped the plans of men to save a race of people. God still works that way today. Whatever our circumstances today, we can rely on God’s presence and care because “the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him” I believe that nothing happens in our lives as a result of coincidence. God has a master plan that He is working out in the world and in our lives, and every single situation that occurs happens for a reason. The people we meet and run into, the things we experience, etc., all are working according to God’s plans. Even when men are wicked and refuse His will in their lives, God is still working His plans out in the world in spite of them.

Communion:

The first Sunday of most months we gather together and we receive communion. The Lord’s Supper became the normal celebration of the early church. Remember it began with Jesus at the Passover.

All offense should be dealt with before communion or you should not participate. Once you decide to place that offense under the blood and come to the altar for communion you are saying in essences the matter is settled. I will forgive … Jesus taught us to seek forgiveness without delay. This is especially true when dealing with an offense. God’s forgiveness should lead us to fear Him, worship and adore God, for his grace and forgiveness.