Series: “For Such A Time As This”
“Now Is The Time”
Esther 1
I was reading in Craig Groeschel’s Daily Devotional, Daily Power, the other day. The scripture on which the reading is based is Psalm 63:1. It reads, “You God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” I was taken by this section in Craig’s reflection,
They call them the “dog days” of summer those weeks when the temperatures soar and make it impossible to enjoy being outside for long. The air scorches our nostrils, the heat burns our skin, and the pavement sizzles beneath our feet. You know cooler weather will come eventually, but in the meantime, you’re sweating buckets.
To be honest, I’m often stuck in the “dog days” of the news cycle about our world, country, state, and city. Something needs to break this cycle. And I know the antidote.
Now is the time to increase our critical thinking skills to address the issues of power, justice, democracy, and leadership. How are Christians to respond in such a time as this? It’s simple, but not really. Love God. Love others.
Can anything be more critical than for Christians to get back to the gospel, and act on being self-giving not self-serving? The good news of the gospel leads us to stand against hate and discrimination. The good news of the gospel leads us to stand with the LGBTQ community and immigrants. The good news of the gospel calls us to love all regardless of ethnicity, economic status, and yes, even different political parties than our own.
Some circumstances in life make it hard to believe that God is with us. Esther was an orphan in exile. Esther married a cruel despot. It’s true that wherever you are, is where God can use you. God used Esther’s marriage to save God’s people in exile in Persia. Listen carefully to John Piper’s words,
Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback. And the point of biblical stories like Joseph and Job and Esther and Ruth is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns. God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ.[1]
And so, we must come to terms with God being involved in all aspects of life and specifically one’s life. This is where critical thinking is essential.
Purpose. The purpose of the Book of Esther is to help us understand that God is active in all aspects of life. The Book of Esther helps us see that God positions each one of us to accomplish God’s will.
Date. In 586 BCE, the southern kingdom of Judah was defeated by the Babylonians (modern day Iraq). The Jews were exiled to Babylon. Almost fifty years later, in 539 BCE, the Babylonians were defeated by the Persians, and that proved to be beneficial for the Jewish people living in exile. The Persians allowed the Jews to return home, rebuild the Temple, and fortify the walls surrounding Jerusalem.
Authorship. The Book of Esther was written sometime after 539 BCE perhaps even as late as the 3rd Century BCE. It appears that the Book of Esther is the work of the community of faith. It recounts, in a reflective and personal way, on a specific period of time for the people of God. The Book of Esther was written under the inspiration of God. It was not accepted into the Canon, the books of the Bible, until the 4th Century CE.
Sociological Significance. Esther was part of the diaspora. She was a Jew, living in Persia. The story line in Esther continues the history of the Jews experiencing persecution.
Religious Significance. The religion of the Jews is barely mentioned in the Book of Esther. In fact, the name of God is not mentioned. The book of Esther is an anomaly among the books in the Old Testament.
Application. The book of Esther has many avenues for application. It encourages readers and listeners to trust that God is at work in their lives. Know and experience that wherever you are is exactly where you are to be. God is with you and will use you. God used Esther in her role as a wife and queen. In the daily routine, in a mediocre job, in a pit-stop along the way, that’s exactly where God can use you for God’s purposes.
It is safe to say that most humans aren’t kings and queens, but many have experienced challenging relationships. They’ve been placed in positions where they didn’t feel qualified. Or they’ve taken on roles outside their comfort zone, out of necessity. Some might describe their current situation as a “dead-end.” Can one still be used by God for God’s good purposes? Absolutely.
The Book of Esther shows us that God is for us, not against us, and will use us. I think that’s helpful to any person in any situation. It’s applicable to the person who cares for their aging parents. It applies to the person who is underemployed or unemployed. It matters to the single mom or dad who never dreamed this would be their story.
I remember when I was voting in a national election in Erie, Pennsylvania. I went to my polling place and stood in line. I checked in. I went into my booth, closed the curtain, and then my critical thinking process in each of the races kicked in. In approximately two minutes, a knock occurred on the wood frame. A poll worker asked me what was taking me so long? I told her I was thinking. To which she replied, “Thinking? Just pull the red or blue lever. You don’t need to think!” Needless to say, I kept thinking. When I left the booth, I received a glare from the poll worker.
Are you stuck in the “dog days” of the news cycle about our world, country, state, and city? Exercise critical thinking. Engage justice issues. Confront the abuse of power. Support those who are experiencing relationship troubles. Esther did.
You too can exercise influence for the common good. It was the way of Esther. It is the way of Jesus. Power and position come from God. Critical thinking is necessary. Now is the time, my friends. Amen.
This sermon was preached the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost on Sunday, 18 August 2024
by the Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh in the Great Room and Sanctuary
at Grace Presbyterian Church in Wichita, Kansas
Copyright Ó 2024
Steven M. Marsh
All rights reserved.
[1]John Piper, A Sweet and Bitter Providence (Crossway Books & Bibles, 2010), 101-102.
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