By David J. Stewart
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Esther 4:12-14, “And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”
I remember being present in one of the annual
Youth Conferences in Hammond, Indiana decades ago. I believe it was the year
that they used the theme, “AMERICA NEEDS VOICES!” I never forgot that truth,
and we sure do need voices. That's all my website is... A VOICE IN CYBERSPACE
LEADING PEOPLE TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Dr. Hyles was preaching that night and had been presented an American flag by the U.S. Navy, which preacher then draped over the pulpit as he preached. (Brother Hyles was an active Paratrooper during World War II). The sermon at Youth Conference that night was memorable and beautiful. The American flag draped over the pulpit sent a powerful patriotic message throughout the auditorium. As best I remember, it was then that Dr. Hyles in his sermon invitation made an appeal for everyone present to surrender their lives to full-time service for Christ. (I've been to so many Youth Conferences that I have difficulty remembering specific details and dates). It's been over 20 years now.
Dr. Hyles said in his sermon, “But you say, wait a minute preacher, everybody can't work in full-time Christian service. Doesn't someone have to be the doctors, lawyers and teachers?” Dr. Hyles replied and said something like, “Yes, you're right, but everybody's not here, YOU ARE! You are here. The unsaved world isn't going to do the work of God. God is calling you into full-time Christian service. That's why the Lord led you here. There not here, but you are here! If we don't do the work of God, then who will? If not us, who? If not here, where? If not now, when? America needs voices!” God arranged so YOU could be here tonight. God is working in your heart.
Mordecai told Esther in Esther 4:that God would keep His promise to make of the Jews a mighty nation, but if Esther failed to convince the king to stop the massacre which Haman was planning against the Jews, then Esther's entire family would die in the process.
Esther 4:12-14, “And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”
Contrary to what many Bible students think, the book of Esther does not happen chronologically (in time) before the Psalms, Proverbs and Song Of Solomon. In fact, Esther wasn't alive yet during the times of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel . The book of Esther is dated for 483-473 BC. Here's a very helpful chronological chart of the Old Testament that I hand-drew decades ago as a young lad to help me understand the Bible better. Jerusalem fell captive to Babylon under the siege of king Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC, a century earlier. Daniel had been taken during the 1st invasion in 597 BC. This is standard undebated history. So Daniel was an old man after spending 70 years in Babylonian captivity. I'm sure being cast down into a pit of hungry lions knocked about 5 years off his heart's life (lol). God delivered Daniel. Amen! Daniel was now an elderly man, 85-90 years old likely.
The only Old Testament books which are dated AFTER Esther are Ezra, Nehemiah and Malachi. So we learn that Esther's ordeal happened after the Jews were released from captivity. Some Jews chose to stay in their new Babylonian homes, but most returned to Israel to rebuild. Daniel, who had faithfully for many years opened his window toward Jerusalem to pray three times daily to his God, now has become settled in Babylon and chose to remain with his new foreign home and friends.
After Babylon the Medo-Persians rose to world power. King Darius who had befriended Daniel after the lions didn't eat him, instead cast Daniel's enemies with all their wives and children into the lion's dens to be eaten. The Bible says that the lion's brake all their bones to complete the satisfying meal. King Darius was a wicked king for doing that, but he sincerely thought he was doing the right thing. It's amazing how things can quickly turn around on someone who tries to do evil and hurt others (or vise versa). Haman ended up hanging on his 75 foot gallows made for Mordecai (the Jew which he hated intensely).
Haman hated the Jews because everyone bowed to him in humility except the Jew, Mordecai. The Jews bowed only to their God, never to any mortal man or false god. When Meshach, Shadrach and Abed-nego refused to bow to king Nebuchadnezzar's 90 x 9 foot obelisk image, he ordered them burned to death. Thankfully, God delivered them from the furnace (which had been turned up 7 times hotter than normal by command of the angry king). The Devil will likewise become infuriated in the End Times with anyone who refuses to bow to the IMAGE and will kill them (Revelation 13:15).
The 2nd Temple has been built and the wall reconstructed in Jerusalem. Esther is in Babylon, which is called today Iraq. The story of Esther takes place during the kingdom of the Medes and the Persians, whose laws once made cannot be undone on penalty of death. I love the book of Esther. We clearly see God's hand at work, although the name of God is never mentioned once in Esther. The lesson that is important to remember is to trust the HEART of God when you cannot see the HAND of God.
I wrote this article primarily to share the truth found in Esther 4:12-14 that Esther was brought to a seemingly bad spot in her life for a very good reason. God had it all planned. Esther was forced to marry a heathen king and it all seemed wrong, but God used it all for good. Remember that it was Jesus Himself who chose Judas as one of His 12 apostles. There were many qualified men who could have been chosen rather than Judas, a known thief. The Bible says that Judas had a devil in him (John 6:70). The Lord knew what He was doing. The lesson is clear, in the case of both Esther and Judas, that is, trust God that He knows best. Our job is to pray and trust upon the Lord. Prayer works, one way or another, prayer works!
Mordecai told Esther that if she refused to speak to the king to save the Jews, that God would find another way. One way or another, God's will always gets accomplished; but wouldn't it be great if we allow God to accomplish his will through us. The greatest compliment that I have ever received for my online ministry was from a gentleman years ago who said, “Thank you for allowing God to do all this through you.” I had never thought of my labors in that way before. I was so greatly humbled and still am at that thought and truth. I am awed in humility to think that I have the power to say “yes” or “no” to God working through my life. Ten thousand times, “Yes, yes, yes, here am I Lord, send me, please!”
My pastor once taught me a beautiful truth about Samson. Samson was a crooked stick. Samson was a mess spiritually. The Bible says that Samson lived in sin, chasing women and shaming the Lord's name. Yet, Samson was yielded to the Lord and God used him because of it. The lesson is that God can use even a crooked stick, if that stick is yielded to Him.
Moses had speech difficulties. So God sent his brother Aaron to speak. Moses had no talents. So God asked him to use the stick in his hand. Moses kept making excuses to God, but the Lord wouldn't accept them. Moses was the man for the job! God said to Moses, “What is that in thine hand?” All Moses had was a shepherd's rod, a stick. God used that rod to perform all the plagues upon Egypt. God used that rod to part the Red Sea. God used that rod of Moses to bring forth water from the rock. God used all that Moses had, as little and seemingly insignificant as it was. God doesn't need your talents, education or abilities.
In fact, those things are hindrances to being used of God. When you have nothing, then God gets all the honor and glory. Your talents bring you glory, such as all the professional athletes these days. Your abilities get you all the praise, such as Hollywood and Rock music celebrities. But when a poor nobody takes a stand for God, like John the Baptist, who was so poor that he ate bugs and dressed in camel's hair, God receives all the glory. If you want to be a somebody in Heaven's view, then you must first become a nobody for God, a fool for Jesus. I'm no superhero Christian... far, far from it. I'm just a sinner with a laptop. But God can use a little person, in a little place, doing a little work, to receive a big reward one day in eternity. Amen! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
