This is a part of a sermon series in the book of Esther. You can watch more here.
We are covering a lot of Scripture over a short period so let me give you quick
recap. In our first week we learned about this wealthy Persian king holding a
beauty contest for a wife like the original “Love Island.”
This is how we meet Esther. Esther is a young Israelite girl just trying to
survive in a foreign land, catapulted to queen in the Persian Empire, so that
the first two chapters sounds like a scene out of Disney movie until the details
get really dark.
Last Sunday, James walked us through this emotional passage. There is a guy
named Haman who makes it his life mission to kill all the Israelites in the
Persian Empire, and in chapter 4, we see this powerful moment where Queen
Esther is faced with a decision.
As an Israelite, is she going to hide behind her title as a queen or is she going
to speak up for her uncle and for the Israelite people? It’s this powerful
moment where she says, “Perhaps I have been placed in this position for such
a time as this!” If I perish, I perish! A powerful moment!
Here’s the thing; if we’re not careful we could read the book of Esther like the
good guys vs. the bad guys, so that Esther is the one we are cheering for and
Haman is the one we boo, but when we do that we are reducing God’s Word to
a moral lesson.
Listen to me, this is going to be hard, because as an American we love to cheer
for the underdog! You are going to forget about that beauty contest in chapter
2.
You are going to overlook the awkwardness of how Esther found herself in
this position as queen, and especially in our American culture we have a
longing to cheer for the good guy, boo the bad guy, but this isn’t the purpose of
God’s Word.
This is one of my biggest goals on a Sunday morning, because Jesus didn’t die
on the cross and resurrect from the dead so that we would leave here this
morning trying to be like Esther. The book of Esther wasn’t divinely inspired
by God so that we could find the “Top 3 Ways To Be Brave in 2025!
Genesis to Revelation is about Jesus, His life, death, resurrection, rule and
return! Amen? All of Scripture is about His glory, His rule and His Kingdom;
even in the book of Esther in the Old Testament. Amen? Let’s look at Esther
5:1:
Esther 5:1, “1 Now it came about on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court
of the king’s palace in front of the king’s rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room,
opposite the entrance to the palace.”
In verse 1 we see Esther go before the king, and we might fly over these words
but the idea of power and authority is jumping off the page. Notice the
repetition of “king’s palace, king’s room, king sitting, royal throne, throne
room at the opposite end of the room.”
This is like walking into someone’s house with giant doors or going to
someone’s office with a giant desk on the other side of the room and you sit in
a little rickety chair to talk to them. The whole point of verse 1 is to display
the glory of the Persian King!
This is what makes it so easy to elevate Esther as a courageous leader,
because she is going before the king to make a request for her people! It’s a
huge risk!
We know historically this Persian King is bonkers. It is said that this king was
on a ship and the captain told the king, “The ship is too heavy. We need to
lighten the load or the ship will sink.”
So, the king turned to his soldiers on the ship and said, “It is on you that my
safety depends. Now let some of you show your regard for your king” and a
number of soldiers bowed down and threw themselves overboard and died
for the king!
As a result, the ship and her king made it safely home and immediately the
king calls the captain of the ship into his presence to give him a golden crown
for preserving the king’s life – then ordered the man beheaded for causing the
loss of so many Persian soldiers!
Esther is about to approach that king! She knows this decision could end her
life. It is a tense moment! Look at verses 2-3:
Esther 5:2-3, “2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight;
and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the
top of the scepter. 3 Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your
request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.”
Look at verse 2…”Esther obtains favor in his sight.” Pause! Where does that
favor come from? It isn’t because Esther is so amazing. It isn’t because the
king is so benevolent.
The favor comes from the Lord! We touched on this a two weeks ago, we
don’t see the name of the Lord all throughout the book of Esther, but we
absolutely see the finger prints of the Lord all over the book of Esther.
When you see the word “favor” in the original language it means “grace.” The
word grace means “unmerited favor.” It is the same word used in Genesis 6
when it says, “Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”
We might be seeing a Persian king sitting on the throne in a giant room, but it
is the hand of the Lord that is involved in the life of Esther, so that the focus of
our passage isn’t meant to leave us in awe of Esther, but in awe of the Lord!
Look at verses 4-8:
Esther 5:4-8, “4 Esther said, “If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I
have prepared for him. 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly that we may do as Esther desires.” So the king
and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared. 6 As they drank their wine at the banquet, the king
said to Esther, “What is your petition, for it shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the
kingdom it shall be done.” 7 So Esther replied, “My petition and my request is: 8 if I have found favor in the sight
of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and do what I request, may the king and Haman come
to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king says.”
Now, at this point, you can see how people elevate Esther. It is easy to pull out
all these points of application at how Esther make wise decisions to get what
she wants.
She doesn’t rush the king. She gives him time. She butters him up. She gets
Haman, the guy trying to kill Israelites, involved in the party. And, yes, these
might all be great strategies to get people to do things, but this can’t be the
purpose of God’s Word. Look at verses 9-14:
Esther 5:9-14, “9 Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in
the king’s gate and that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against
Mordecai. 10 Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house and sent for his friends and his
wife Zeresh. 11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the number of his sons, and
every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him above the princes and servants
of the king. 12 Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet
which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king. 13 Yet all of this does not satisfy
me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to
him, “Have a gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then
go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.”
This is the same Haman that wants to kill all the Israelites in the Persian
Empire, and in verse 9 we see that Mordecai, an Israelite, isn’t showing Haman
the respect Haman thinks he deserves.
In verse 11 he runs home and tells his wife. In verse 14 he tells his friends.
Even in verse 13 he says, “I have the favor (God’s grace on Haman’s life) of the
king, I have the favor (God’s grace on Haman’s life) of Esther, yet all of this
does not satisfy me every time I see, who…Mordecai.”
Again, at this point, it would be easy to look down on Haman. Haman is trying
to kill people. Boo! It would be really easy to preach a sermon this morning
called, “Don’t Be Like Haman and Mass Murder People.”
Instead, “Be like Esther, Be Courageous, Use Your Position In Life.” Blah, blah,
blah! Those aren’t horrible. It’s just not the purpose of God’s Word.
Instead we want to go back to our questions that we discussed two-weeks
ago; what does the passage teach about the character of God? What does the
passage teach about humanity? How does the passage point me to Jesus?
Let’s take the first one:
What does the passage teach us about the character of God? Even though
there’s no miracle in our passage, no fire from heaven, God’s fingerprints are
all over the passage.
The favor of the king, the timing of Esther, the position of Esther as queen, the
very courage in Esther to make the request is from the Lord, so that God’s
fingerprints are all over the pages.
In our life today, we need to remember, the hand of the Lord on our life isn’t
always about the miracles. Listen to me, I love the miracles, but the hand of
the Lord is also working in the ordinary moments of life.
The sustaining of creation is the hand of the Lord. The oxygen in the
atmosphere is the hand of the Lord. The fact we got in our cars and drove
70MPH down Mo-Pac and arrived safely is the hand of the Lord on our life.
His fingerprints are everywhere!
Second, what does the passage teach us about humanity? Do you see how
Esther and Haman are two human beings working on two very different goals,
but both of them are seeking after favor and approval from others? Does that
make sense?
Esther needs approval from the king. She needs the king’s favor so he doesn’t
chop off her head. She needs the king to agree to her request. Esther needs
the approval of the king.
And Haman is longing for the approval of Mordecai, so that even though
Haman has the approval of the king and the queen, the titles, the wealth, the
power, but Haman can’t stop thinking about the approval of this nobody
named Mordecai. Does that make sense?
In the same way, all of humanity is chasing after approval from someone or
something in our life. We might want the approval from those group of
friends. We might want the approval of a romantic relationship. We might
want the approval of our peers at work. It is a constant theme throughout all
of humanity, “we long for the approval from someone or something.”
It’s possible there might be some of us this morning who are thinking to
themselves, “I don’t care about the approval of others.” I do what I want!
Really?
The very fact we say things like, “I don’t care what people think” is an
indicator that we care what people think. It’s okay. It’s a pattern in all of
humanity! Does that make sense? There is a longing in our soul to seek the
approval of someone or something.
The last question, how does our passage point us to Jesus? In the context
of our passage, we see humanity chasing after the approval of someone or
something.
We see Esther needing the approval from the king, Haman needing the
approval of Mordecai but those are areas of life that are always fluctuating.
Today the king might show Esther favor. Verse 2 says, “When the king saw
Esther she obtained favor.” It’s speaking to her beauty, but what about
tomorrow?
What happens when Esther gets older? What happens when Esther gets some
wrinkles? What happens if the king gets a little grumpy and wants to move on
to another queen? It is a source of approval that is unstable and unreliable.
And, in our passage Haman is losing sleep by the lack of respect from
Mordecai, but there will always be another Mordecai. Does that make sense?
Haman has been brought into the circle of the king and queen and Haman is
worried about this random Israelite not showing him respect. That’s never-
ending!
The gospel is that Jesus, God in the flesh, comes to place His never-ending
favor on you and call you His! Jesus comes to remind us that He created us,
knows us and loves us.
His love for us isn’t because we won a beauty contest. His love for us isn’t
because we are popular and most liked by our friends. It isn’t because we’re
so smart. But the gospel is that Jesus pours out His love on us because He
pours out His love on us!
In our culture today, our culture will say, “That’s right. You can’t expect
someone or something to give you value” so our culture will say, “You have to
value yourself. You have to love yourself?” Doesn’t that sound so wise!
I want to be careful here, but in the movie the Greatest Showman we rally
around the song “This Is Me!” The lines, “I won't let them break me down to
dust, I know that there's a place for us, for we are glorious” is a great anthem,
great song, but if the only evidence that “we’re glorious” is saying to ourselves
“I am so glorious” sounds like a problem. It sounds like a lot of pressure!
But the gospel is that Jesus comes and calls you glorious, because He created
you, loves you, takes our sin, gives us His glory, and seals it for eternity!
That’s glorious!
You see when we read Esther chapter 5, a story that is 2500 years old, we see
humanity navigating the ups and downs of life, longing for favor, and Gods
Word is lifting our eyes to a day that will bring lasting favor. Amen?
This morning we would do well to ask ourselves, “Where am I looking for
favor, acceptance and approval?” Is it reliable? Is it eternal? Is it better than
Jesus?
Imagine Esther standing outside the throne room, trembling in fear. She
knows if the king doesn’t raise the golden scepter she’s dead. She’s dressed in
royal clothes but she doesn’t know if she can approach the king. Imagine how
relieved Esther must have been when she heard the king say, “What is your
request?”
Then, fast forward to Matthew 7 when Jesus, King of Kings, stands before the
disciples and says, “Ask, and it will be given, seek, you will find, knock and it
will be opened.” That doesn’t mean we get whatever we want, but I want you
to hear the difference.
We don’t knock wondering if the King is in a good mood. We aren’t wondering
if the golden scepter will appear. In Christ, access has already been granted.
It isn’t just half the kingdom – He offers Himself and His glory for eternity, so
that Hebrews says, “Let us draw near to the throne of His grace with
confidence, because we will find mercy and favor.”
I know it might not always feel like, but when we are in Christ, His scepter is
always for us, His face is always toward us, His hand is always working for our
good.
Jesus says, “I will never leave you. I will never forsake you.” We are given the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We are given the body of Christ in the church.
We are given His Word to speak into our life, and we are given His purpose to
guide us through the day! Isn’t that good?
Therefore, we would do well to examine our hearts a little this morning and
ask ourselves, “What favor in this world is greater than Jesus!”
I am not saying that because I am a pastor. I am saying that because I am
genuinely asking! Is there some title at work greater than Jesus? Is there
some collection of friends that are greater than Jesus?
I know the applause and approval of others is intoxicating. Some of you know
I have been dabbling in stand-up comedy, and standing up in front of people
and making them laugh is a lot of fun, but is that not the most fluctuating
environment you can imagine?
I can’t anchor my soul in my ability to make people laugh! It would be
exhausting! I can’t anchor my soul in your approval of a sermon on a Sunday
morning. It would be exhausting!
But when Jesus calls me His by grace through faith, through no works of my
own, then I can hold the applause of others with an open hand. Sure, it’s fun
to make people laugh, it’s great to deliver an effective sermon, but, the
unending favor from Jesus is just better, so I am constantly guiding my heart
to turn from the fleeting applause of others and turn to the eternal and
approval given freely in Jesus.
I imagine some of us have heard that truth this morning, but still there is a
part of us that says, “Yes, Jesus is good, but right now I don’t feel close to Jesus,
I don’t feel confident about Jesus, I don’t feel like I hear from Jesus.” Do you
know those feelings?
But, if that’s where we are landing this morning, I think it’s possible we might
be more like Esther than we realize because, if we find ourselves in that place,
then like Esther we are trying to dress ourselves up as we go before the king
on his throne to “win the approval of Jesus.”
Don’t you think that could happen? We compare ourselves to others. We get
discouraged. We tell ourselves, “I am not good enough.” But that’s not the
gospel!
The gospel is while we were yet sinners, while we are stubborn, while we are
hard hearted, while we are full of doubts, full of questions, chasing after the
approval of others, He reaches into the miry pits and calls us His!
This happened in my life when I was 18-years old when I met Jesus for the
first time, and it happens in my life over and over and over as I turn to Jesus
and ask for His help to trust in Him and His favor that is never-ending.
North Village Church
This sermon is brought to you by North Village Church, a non-denominational church in Austin. established in 2009 and built around Jesus and Bible teaching.
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