For Such a Time as This

1. Read: Esther 4:13-14

2. About the Text:

1) A time of crisis was upon the Jewish people.

2) A man named Haman had convinced King Ahasuerus to slaughter the Jews.

3) Ahasuerus’ Queen, Esther, was a position to do something about it.

4) What would she do? How did she get into a place to do something about it?

5) What did Mordecai mean by his question, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (4:14).

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Esther demonstrated humility in her life.

1) She came from humble beginnings (2:7).

a. Mordecai was Esther’s older cousin.

b. Her parents were dead and she was orphaned.

2) She followed Mordecai’s advice not to reveal her nationality (2:10).

3) She followed the Eunuch’s advice on her interview with the king (2:15-17).

2. To be God’s servant we must have humility.

1) “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).

2) Luke 22:24-27.

3) Philippians 2:5-11.

1. Esther was willing to go to the king about this matter (4:15-16).

1) The law proclaimed death to whoever entered the king’s chamber without permission.

2) Only the king himself could extend his scepter to grant life.

3) Esther asked Mordecai and the Jews in Shushan to fast for her for three days.

4) She also committed that she and her maids would fast.

5) “And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”

2. Esther went to the king about this matter (5:1-2).

1) After three days, she put on her royal robes and went into the inner court of the king.

2) He extended her scepter to her and granted her desire up to half his kingdom.

3) She was willing to do the Lord’s will for her people.

3. To be God’s servant, we must be willing to do God’s will in our lives.

1) Luke 11:28 “Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

2) John 13:17 “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

3) Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

1. Esther used some wisdom to approach the king with her request.

1) She did not state her request immediately to the king.

2) She asked that the king and Haman come to a banquet (5:4).

3) Again she didn’t reveal her thoughts, but invited them to a second banquet (5:8).

4) During the night, the king couldn’t sleep, and reviewed the royal records.

5) He found that Mordecai had saved his life and he wished to honor him.

6) After Mordecai was honored, the three convened at the banquet again.

7) This time, Esther revealed Haman’s plot to destroy her and her people (7:3-6).

8) The king was furious with Haman had ordered him to be executed.

2. To be servants of God, we must have wisdom as well.

1) “A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back” (Proverbs 29:11).

2) “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

3) James 3:13-18.

1. When is “such a time as this?”

1) It is now. Paul wrote, “For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

2) Let’s get busy doing the Lord’s will in our lives.

2. Invitation