Latest / Bible in a Year with Jack Graham / Esther Saves Her People - The Book of Esther

Transcript

Esther Saves Her People - The Book of Esther · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Let us pray. And the king Assyrius laid a tribute
• 0:05
  Speaker 1: upon the land and upon the isles of the sea.
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: Esther 10.1 Give me this day, Lord, the wisdom of
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: Esther and Mordecai. Allow me to gain strategic and insightful
• 0:20
  Speaker 1: strategies to protect her children against the plot of the enemy.
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: Like the story in Esther, equip me and those in
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: my circle with the right solutions needed to solve the
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: problems of your children, in business, education, finance, technology, and
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: every other industry you've led us to inherit. Thus, I
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: declare myself as a problem solver. I am a master
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: when it comes to solutions, because the wisdom of your
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: Holy Spirit rests on my mind and heart. The day
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: of salvation and breakthrough has come. The hand of the
• 1:02
  Speaker 1: oppressor has been lifted, and we are free to defend
• 1:06
  Speaker 1: our lands and our destinies through the decree of your
• 1:09
  Speaker 1: holy word. Thank you, my God, that we are free indeed.
• 1:17
  Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for making prayer a
• 1:24
  Speaker 1: priority in your day. To learn more about the Bible,
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: stay tuned for today's story. Brought to you by BibleInAYear.com.
• 1:42
  Speaker 2: Esther saves her people. In our last story, Esther was
• 1:47
  Speaker 2: taken to be groomed as the next queen of Persia.
• 1:50
  Speaker 2: She gained favor with the king, as did her uncle Mordecai. However,
• 1:54
  Speaker 2: a wicked noble had the king's power, Haman. Haman sent
• 1:59
  Speaker 2: out a decree for every Jew in the nation to
• 2:02
  Speaker 2: be killed. The time was drawing near and the Jews
• 2:05
  Speaker 2: were in great danger. Esther learned of Haman's plot and
• 2:09
  Speaker 2: now had to risk her life by approaching the king.
• 2:13
  Speaker 2: Now we learn of Esther's plan to expose Haman and
• 2:16
  Speaker 2: save her people, inspired by the book of Esther.
• 2:24
  Speaker 3: Hello, this is Pastor Jack Graham with another episode of
• 2:27
  Speaker 3: the Bible in a Year podcast. In our last episode,
• 2:31
  Speaker 3: we learned how Esther was made queen, one of the
• 2:34
  Speaker 3: wives of the unpredictable and cruel King Xerxes. God was
• 2:39
  Speaker 3: working through her, however, and her uncle Mordecai to pave
• 2:42
  Speaker 3: the way for a rescue of the Jews from the
• 2:44
  Speaker 3: hand of Haman, a hateful man, one of Xerxes' evil counselors.
• 2:50
  Speaker 3: And so when Haman convinced Xerxes to issue a decree
• 2:54
  Speaker 3: to kill all the Jews in the capital, Esther is
• 2:57
  Speaker 3: faced with a decision to remain silent and watch as
• 3:00
  Speaker 3: her Jewish kin are slaughtered or speak up and risk
• 3:03
  Speaker 3: angering Xerxes and endangering even ending her own life. For Esther,
• 3:09
  Speaker 3: the choice was clear. She had to act. And in
• 3:13
  Speaker 3: today's reading, we'll see how God works through the wisdom
• 3:16
  Speaker 3: of Mordecai and the courage of Esther to save his
• 3:19
  Speaker 3: people from certain annihilation. Here is the word of God
• 3:23
  Speaker 3: for today.
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: Esther dressed herself quietly in her room. She draped herself
• 3:29
  Speaker 2: with royal robes and held her head up high. This
• 3:33
  Speaker 2: was no time for groveling or flirting. She had to
• 3:36
  Speaker 2: walk into the presence of King Xerxes as a strong leader.
• 3:40
  Speaker 2: To enter into the king's courts uninvited meant certain death,
• 3:44
  Speaker 2: but she was prepared to die if it meant protecting
• 3:48
  Speaker 2: her people. She walked the halls. The sound of her
• 3:51
  Speaker 2: footsteps echoed as she walked with purpose. She stopped outside
• 3:56
  Speaker 2: the doors of the royal throne room, took a deep breath,
• 3:59
  Speaker 2: and stepped inside. The halls were laced in gold, and
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: ivory pillars held up the high ceiling. In the middle
• 4:07
  Speaker 2: of the throne room, the king sat with his commanders
• 4:09
  Speaker 2: facing him. The king looked surprised to see Esther, but
• 4:14
  Speaker 2: not angry. He raised his golden scepter towards her and smiled.
• 4:19
  Speaker 2: My queen, he said. Please come in. What can I
• 4:22
  Speaker 2: do for you? Esther was surprised at the favor the
• 4:26
  Speaker 2: king was displaying. He was joyful and sober. It was
• 4:30
  Speaker 2: almost as if his heart and mind had been softened
• 4:33
  Speaker 2: before she came in. Esther bowed and said, If it
• 4:37
  Speaker 2: pleases you, my king, I would love for you and
• 4:39
  Speaker 2: Haman to come tonight for a banquet. I have prepared
• 4:43
  Speaker 2: a fine array of food for you. The king was
• 4:46
  Speaker 2: elated at her request. and immediately sent for Haman. Later
• 4:51
  Speaker 2: that night, Esther was dining among Xerxes and the wicked
• 4:54
  Speaker 2: man Haman. While they were drinking and enjoying their meal,
• 4:58
  Speaker 2: the king asked, Is there anything you need of me,
• 5:01
  Speaker 2: my queen? I will give you anything up to half
• 5:04
  Speaker 2: my kingdom. Esther smiled at the gesture and simply asked
• 5:09
  Speaker 2: that he and Haman return the next day for another banquet.
• 5:13
  Speaker 2: Esther was careful to gain more favor from the king
• 5:15
  Speaker 2: before requesting something so large. Plus, she wanted Haman to
• 5:20
  Speaker 2: feel safe with her. Later that night, Haman was walking
• 5:24
  Speaker 2: back from the banquet. He saw Mordecai in the streets
• 5:27
  Speaker 2: and scoffed at him. Have you no respect, he spat.
• 5:31
  Speaker 2: Still you don't bow to me, Haman yelled. So Haman
• 5:35
  Speaker 2: gathered his servants to prepare a large wooden pike. Tomorrow
• 5:39
  Speaker 2: he would find Mordecai and impale him on the end.
• 5:43
  Speaker 2: That same night the king tossed and turned in his bed.
• 5:47
  Speaker 2: He was uneasy and his heart felt heavy. He called
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: for one of his servants to tell different stories and
• 5:53
  Speaker 2: recount good events. The servant read out loud tales of
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: military exploits, successful building projects, and good works the king
• 6:02
  Speaker 2: was a part of. Xerxes began to drift as the
• 6:05
  Speaker 2: servant sang his praises. Then the servant recounted noble acts
• 6:10
  Speaker 2: done for the king by others. He spoke of Mordecai
• 6:14
  Speaker 2: saving him from assassination. At these words, the king leapt
• 6:18
  Speaker 2: out of his bed. He had forgotten to reward Mordecai
• 6:21
  Speaker 2: for his loyalty. The next morning, Xerxes ordered Haman to
• 6:25
  Speaker 2: parade Mordecai around in the city streets and sing his praises.
• 6:30
  Speaker 2: Haman held the reins of the horse Mordecai sat on. Haman,
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: to his shame, was forced to praise the man he
• 6:37
  Speaker 2: planned to kill. He was forced to celebrate his sworn enemies.
• 6:43
  Speaker 2: Mordecai was the reason Haman wanted the Jews executed. He
• 6:47
  Speaker 2: would dance on Mordecai's corpse once the Jews were exterminated
• 6:51
  Speaker 2: for good. Later that night, Haman and Xerxes joined Esther
• 6:56
  Speaker 2: for another banquet. Haman stood in bitterness as he sipped
• 7:00
  Speaker 2: his wine. He had hated the events leading up to
• 7:03
  Speaker 2: the banquet. The king laughed with his queen and asked
• 7:06
  Speaker 2: once again, How can I bless you, my love? What
• 7:10
  Speaker 2: is it that you would ask of me? Esther looked
• 7:13
  Speaker 2: deeply into the king's eyes. Her seriousness caught him off guard.
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: She sighed and held his hand. Have I found favor
• 7:21
  Speaker 2: in your sight? she asked. Of course, what is it?
• 7:25
  Speaker 2: the king responded. I have been told that one of
• 7:27
  Speaker 2: your men has sent a decree for the Jews in
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: the land to be slaughtered, but they are my people.
• 7:33
  Speaker 2: I am a Jew. Her comments surprised the king, not
• 7:37
  Speaker 2: because Esther was a Jew, but because such a hideous
• 7:40
  Speaker 2: decree was made in his name. Who would do such
• 7:43
  Speaker 2: a thing, he demanded. Who would dare lay a hand
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: on my queen's people without my permission? The king's rage
• 7:50
  Speaker 2: boiled and Haman shrunk where he sat and then attempted
• 7:53
  Speaker 2: to slip out of the room silently. Esther saw Haman
• 7:57
  Speaker 2: making an escape and said, This man before you was
• 8:00
  Speaker 2: the one. He is a wicked man and your adversary.
• 8:05
  Speaker 2: The king turned to Haman. His eyes were red with rage.
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: The king stepped outside for a moment to yell at
• 8:11
  Speaker 2: the stars. While the king was outside, Haman fell onto
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: Esther's lap and begged for mercy. The king stepped back
• 8:19
  Speaker 2: inside and found Haman on top of Esther. You dare
• 8:22
  Speaker 2: touch my wife, he yelled. Haman's eyes widened.
• 8:26
  Speaker 1: He could not speak.
• 8:28
  Speaker 2: The king gestured for his guards to take Haman. Without
• 8:31
  Speaker 2: a word, he was taken and thrown onto the wooden
• 8:33
  Speaker 2: pike he set up for Mordecai. Yet the decree to
• 8:37
  Speaker 2: kill the Jews could not be reversed. The decree was final.
• 8:41
  Speaker 2: The day was fast approaching, and Xerxes had no idea
• 8:44
  Speaker 2: how to save the people from certain death. However, Mordecai
• 8:48
  Speaker 2: and Esther had a plan. If Xerxes would allow for
• 8:51
  Speaker 2: the Jews to defend themselves, then they could battle against
• 8:54
  Speaker 2: Haman's nobles. This would protect the Jews and get rid
• 8:58
  Speaker 2: of the men loyal to Haman. So the decree was
• 9:01
  Speaker 2: sent out, and the Jews were armed with swords and shields.
• 9:05
  Speaker 2: The day came when the nobles sent their men to
• 9:08
  Speaker 2: slaughter the Jews. for they were met with strong defenses. Together,
• 9:13
  Speaker 2: the Jews were able to defend themselves from the onslaught.
• 9:17
  Speaker 2: Victory was shouted in the streets of Susa. Families shouted
• 9:21
  Speaker 2: for joy. Not only were they spared, but they were
• 9:24
  Speaker 2: able to play a role in their own liberation. They
• 9:27
  Speaker 2: were afforded the opportunity to defend themselves. They felt empowered
• 9:32
  Speaker 2: for the first time since captivity. This was all thanks
• 9:36
  Speaker 2: to the noble character of Esther. She would remain in
• 9:40
  Speaker 2: the palace and watch over her people. She would create
• 9:43
  Speaker 2: a legacy of kindness and establish a kingdom that looked
• 9:47
  Speaker 2: towards Jerusalem with favor.
• 9:53
  Speaker 3: In today's scripture, Esther is preparing for the most important
• 9:57
  Speaker 3: meeting of her life. On her shoulders rests the fate
• 10:01
  Speaker 3: of the Jews in the capital region of Susa. At least,
• 10:05
  Speaker 3: that's what it surely must have felt like to this
• 10:07
  Speaker 3: young woman. But I imagine that Esther also understood that
• 10:11
  Speaker 3: this was much bigger than her. Much bigger. Her fate
• 10:16
  Speaker 3: and that of her people rested not on her shoulders
• 10:19
  Speaker 3: or in the hands of Xerxes or even hateful Haman.
• 10:23
  Speaker 3: but the Most High God, who'd placed her there by
• 10:25
  Speaker 3: his providences and in his plan. Esther made herself beautiful,
• 10:30
  Speaker 3: appealing to the desires of Xerxes. She was young but
• 10:34
  Speaker 3: not foolish. She was never to approach the king without
• 10:38
  Speaker 3: being summoned, but she dared for the sake of her
• 10:40
  Speaker 3: people to approach him. She boldly approaches the throne room
• 10:44
  Speaker 3: to his great surprise. It bears mentioning what a sharp
• 10:48
  Speaker 3: contrast this scene draws to our situation. Esther was the
• 10:52
  Speaker 3: wife of Xerxes, a human ruler in a kingdom that
• 10:55
  Speaker 3: in the timeline of humanity was just a blip on
• 10:57
  Speaker 3: the radar. And she had to approach him yet with
• 11:00
  Speaker 3: caution and fear. Any request could not only be denied,
• 11:05
  Speaker 3: but met with harsh punishment, even capital punishment. When you
• 11:10
  Speaker 3: think about this, we have an even greater promise when
• 11:14
  Speaker 3: we approach our King, Jesus. Through our Savior, the Lord
• 11:18
  Speaker 3: Jesus Christ, we come to the throne room of God,
• 11:21
  Speaker 3: He has made it available to us. We come to
• 11:23
  Speaker 3: his throne with boldness, as the scripture says, and we
• 11:27
  Speaker 3: have access to him because of what Christ has done
• 11:29
  Speaker 3: for us. We can go at any time and pray
• 11:33
  Speaker 3: and ask God for what we need. What a wonderful promise.
• 11:37
  Speaker 3: So Esther enters Xerxes' throne room and he expects her
• 11:41
  Speaker 3: to make a request. Rather than ask for something, she
• 11:45
  Speaker 3: tells the king she wants to throw a banquet for
• 11:48
  Speaker 3: him and Haman. No doubt this would appeal to both
• 11:51
  Speaker 3: men's pride and sense of superiority. They both gladly attended
• 11:56
  Speaker 3: the banquet, eating and drinking their fill. A pleasured king
• 11:59
  Speaker 3: then asked Esther what she wanted. No request would be
• 12:03
  Speaker 3: denied her, he promised. But she knew this trap needed
• 12:08
  Speaker 3: to be set with care. She proposed a second feast,
• 12:11
  Speaker 3: another night of honoring these men. Later that same night,
• 12:15
  Speaker 3: Haman saw Mordecai, who refused still to bow down before him.
• 12:19
  Speaker 3: So Haman ordered a gallows built on which he would
• 12:22
  Speaker 3: hang Mordecai. He had had enough, he thought, of this
• 12:25
  Speaker 3: Jew's disrespect. And as Xerxes slept that night, he was troubled.
• 12:32
  Speaker 3: So he called a servant in to tell him stories
• 12:34
  Speaker 3: and soothe him. One of the stories that was read
• 12:37
  Speaker 3: to him recounted how Mordecai saved him from assassination. At
• 12:41
  Speaker 3: that moment, the king remembered he had never rewarded Mordecai.
• 12:45
  Speaker 3: So he called Haman. and asked what should be done
• 12:48
  Speaker 3: to honor someone the king wished to honor. Haman, of course,
• 12:51
  Speaker 3: thought it was him the king wanted to honor. So
• 12:55
  Speaker 3: he proposed a lavish display, then watched as all he
• 13:00
  Speaker 3: had proposed was given to Mordecai. That next night, Esther
• 13:05
  Speaker 3: held another feast, and this time when she was asked
• 13:08
  Speaker 3: what she wanted, she spoke clearly and forthrightly. She told
• 13:12
  Speaker 3: the king that she had heard of the decree to
• 13:14
  Speaker 3: exterminate the Jews, then reveal that she was Jewish herself.
• 13:19
  Speaker 3: Xerxes was livid and wanted to know who wished harm
• 13:22
  Speaker 3: upon his wife. Esther pointed to Haman and told the
• 13:26
  Speaker 3: king it was all his idea. So we read in
• 13:30
  Speaker 3: Esther 7 and verse 10 a bit of biblical poetic justice,
• 13:35
  Speaker 3: powerful poetic justice. So they hanged Haman on the gallows
• 13:40
  Speaker 3: that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of
• 13:43
  Speaker 3: the king abated. Here you have the story of the
• 13:48
  Speaker 3: horrible hanging of hateful Haman. Haman was dealt with, but
• 13:53
  Speaker 3: the decree still stood and couldn't be retracted, but Xerxes
• 13:57
  Speaker 3: allowed the Jews to defend themselves and fight. To commemorate
• 14:01
  Speaker 3: their rescue from annihilation, Mordecai and all the Jews inaugurated
• 14:05
  Speaker 3: the festival known as Purim, still observed to this day.
• 14:10
  Speaker 3: Though it may seem at times that evil has its way,
• 14:14
  Speaker 3: God's justice will always be satisfied. He had worked through
• 14:19
  Speaker 3: Esther and Mordecai to bring rescue to his people, but
• 14:22
  Speaker 3: there was an even greater rescue coming, not just for
• 14:25
  Speaker 3: the Jews, but for all the world. Dear God, we
• 14:29
  Speaker 3: thank you for the faith and the witness of Esther
• 14:32
  Speaker 3: and Mordecai. What a tremendous story. Thank you for including
• 14:35
  Speaker 3: it in God's word. We see your providence. And even
• 14:40
  Speaker 3: though your name is never mentioned in the book of Esther,
• 14:44
  Speaker 3: Your hand is at work. Your providence is sure. And
• 14:47
  Speaker 3: your judgments are given. Lord, you are always present. Your
• 14:52
  Speaker 3: invisible hand is always working. Your invisible hand of providence
• 14:57
  Speaker 3: is always working. And for this, we praise you. In Jesus' name, amen.
• 15:03
  Speaker 3: Once again, thank you for listening to today's Bible in
• 15:06
  Speaker 3: a Year podcast. I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas.
• 15:10
  Speaker 3: Let me encourage you to download the Pray.com app and
• 15:14
  Speaker 3: make Bible study and prayer a real priority in your life.
• 15:19
  Speaker 3: And if you are enjoying this podcast, share it with
• 15:22
  Speaker 3: someone you know, someone you care about, because sharing God's
• 15:25
  Speaker 3: Word has a powerful impact upon people's lives. And if
• 15:30
  Speaker 3: you want more resources as to how you can find faith,
• 15:34
  Speaker 3: grow in your faith, develop as a disciple and follower
• 15:37
  Speaker 3: of Jesus, be sure to visit me at jackgram.org. We
• 15:42
  Speaker 3: have plenty of resources that will encourage you and equip
• 15:45
  Speaker 3: you for life. God bless you.