WEBVTT 00:00:29.533 --> 00:00:31.932 Good morning, Valley View. 00:00:31.932 --> 00:00:36.765 Great to be with you today as we complete our study in the book of Esther today. 00:00:36.765 --> 00:00:38.133 We've been working through the Book of Esther. 00:00:38.133 --> 00:00:39.665 We're going to wrap it up today. 00:00:39.665 --> 00:00:44.432 First, I want to welcome back our students, our campers who were gone last Sunday. 00:00:44.432 --> 00:00:48.466 If you went to camp last week, student or adult, would you stand? 00:00:48.466 --> 00:00:49.533 Go ahead. 00:00:49.533 --> 00:00:52.000 If you are a counselor as well. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:54.100 Thank you guys for coming. 00:00:54.100 --> 00:00:56.533 Thanks for going to camp. 00:00:56.533 --> 00:00:59.432 Thank you to the adults who went too, by the way. 00:00:59.432 --> 00:01:01.133 Pray for them to be able to get some sleep. 00:01:01.133 --> 00:01:02.133 You can sit back down now. 00:01:02.133 --> 00:01:02.799 Thank you guys. 00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:04.566 It's great to have you back. 00:01:04.566 --> 00:01:07.365 I loved, loved, loved camp. 00:01:07.365 --> 00:01:08.599 Lived for camp. 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:10.200 Planned my whole year around camp. 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:13.599 It can be such a powerful moment for our students. 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:15.465 Always be praying for them. 00:01:15.465 --> 00:01:17.200 They are the future of this church. 00:01:18.433 --> 00:01:24.233 So we've been working through the Book of Esther and coming into this week. 00:01:24.233 --> 00:01:31.933 Have you ever had one of these moments where you realize there's more going on behind the scenes than is obvious on the surface? 00:01:31.933 --> 00:01:36.433 I was watching an interview and it was centered around C.S. 00:01:36.433 --> 00:01:37.033 Lewis. 00:01:37.033 --> 00:01:39.233 It was a history program talking about his life. 00:01:39.233 --> 00:01:40.766 I'm a big fan of his writings. 00:01:40.766 --> 00:01:43.500 He's had a big influence on my spiritual growth. 00:01:43.500 --> 00:01:44.132 He was an author. 00:01:44.132 --> 00:01:49.933 If you've read The Chronicles of Narnia, he was a British author in the 40s and 50s, died in the 60s. 00:01:51.132 --> 00:01:55.700 And I was watching this interview and I was looking at the interviewer and I was thinking, something is not right about that lady. 00:01:55.700 --> 00:01:58.033 Something's off. 00:01:58.033 --> 00:02:00.933 And the more I stared at her, studied her, I realized, oh, I know what it is. 00:02:00.933 --> 00:02:05.299 She has had a ton of plastic surgery, a ton. 00:02:05.299 --> 00:02:06.700 And you've seen these folks, right? 00:02:06.700 --> 00:02:09.900 Where you're like, whoa, you went too far with that. Okay. 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:14.332 And and my immediate reaction to that as I watched her was, I thought, why? 00:02:15.300 --> 00:02:17.165 Why would you do that to yourself? 00:02:17.165 --> 00:02:22.599 You've gone overboard in your lust for affection and your appearance. 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:25.599 You've put too much emphasis on that. 00:02:25.765 --> 00:02:29.233 And I thought that just seems weird, that this person in particular would do that. 00:02:29.233 --> 00:02:30.165 In a news reporter. 00:02:30.165 --> 00:02:32.265 You can see other settings. 00:02:32.265 --> 00:02:35.900 And so I thought, let me learn a little more about the whole story here. 00:02:35.900 --> 00:02:38.366 Well, come to find out. 00:02:38.366 --> 00:02:45.866 Yes, she had had a ton of plastic surgery because an angry ex-boyfriend threw acid in her face. 00:02:47.265 --> 00:02:54.800 Yeah, and I felt like the biggest, most judgmental, loser jerk on earth to have been judging her for that. 00:02:54.800 --> 00:03:02.832 She didn't know it, obviously, but I realized in that moment, a whole lot more going on behind the scenes than seems obvious at first. 00:03:02.832 --> 00:03:10.500 I took it one way and you realize, oh no, no, there's something else much more significant going on. 00:03:10.866 --> 00:03:29.133 As we've studied the Book of Esther, the obvious storyline has been God raised up a Jewish orphan, likely a peasant woman, made her queen of Persia, put her in a place where now she could play a key role in rescuing the Jews from termination from persecution. 00:03:29.699 --> 00:03:42.932 And that seems to be the main obvious storyline of the Book of Esther, and what we're going to see today as we wrap up the book, is that there's something else going on behind the scenes. 00:03:42.932 --> 00:03:45.932 Maybe I would call it a backstory. 00:03:46.233 --> 00:03:47.500 There's a backstory. 00:03:47.500 --> 00:03:55.332 There's a sublayer that really is the driving emphasis of the whole book that we've not drawn out yet, but it's what's at play in the book of Esther. 00:03:55.332 --> 00:03:57.699 So if you have a Bible, turn with me to the book of Esther. 00:03:57.699 --> 00:04:01.966 We're going to wrap up chapter nine and then also cover chapter ten. 00:04:01.966 --> 00:04:05.733 And if you have one of our church Bibles, normally we have extra copies to hand out. 00:04:05.733 --> 00:04:12.633 If you don't have a Bible because we read directly from the Bible mostly, rather than from on screen, we're out of those right now. 00:04:12.633 --> 00:04:14.066 We're waiting for a shipment to come in. 00:04:14.066 --> 00:04:19.865 But if you have a church Bible that'll be on page 387, that page number should be on the screen. 00:04:19.865 --> 00:04:29.600 And what we're going to see here, I think we'll observe four layers to the back story of the book of Esther, four layers to the back story of the book of Esther. 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:37.600 So let's start by looking at verse 20 and reading the first couple of verses here as we look at this first layer of the backstory, Esther chapter nine, verse 20. 00:04:39.432 --> 00:05:20.165 And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king, Ahaseurus, both near and far, obliging them to keep the 14th day of the month, Adar, and also the 15th day of the same year by year as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness, and from mourning into a holiday, that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another, and gifts to the poor. 00:05:20.233 --> 00:05:22.132 I remember going to see here first in this section. 00:05:22.132 --> 00:05:27.333 The first layer of the backstory is a feast established. 00:05:27.333 --> 00:05:34.932 There is a feast established, commemorating all that God had done to rescue the Jews from persecution up to this point. 00:05:34.932 --> 00:05:40.699 And if you're just coming in to this message and you've not captured the whole book of Esther, I'd encourage you to go back and read it. 00:05:40.699 --> 00:05:47.733 It's a short book to get the backstory leading up to this point, but what happens is they commemorate. 00:05:47.733 --> 00:05:53.766 We need to establish a festival to remember what happened moving forward. 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:58.165 Now we know that festivals are an important part of Jewish culture. 00:05:58.165 --> 00:06:02.733 We know that as we saw in the book of John, there was the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. 00:06:02.733 --> 00:06:05.365 There was the Day of Atonement, there is Passover. 00:06:05.365 --> 00:06:15.632 There are key festivals in the Jewish calendar that remind them of key things God did along the way to rescue them, to care for them, to protect them, to be there with them. 00:06:15.632 --> 00:06:18.033 But here we’re establishing a new festival. 00:06:18.033 --> 00:06:25.300 This doesn't show up prior to this, and the Old Testament and the way they are to celebrate it moving forward. 00:06:25.300 --> 00:06:33.733 It says here, if you look back in verse 22, we will make them days of feasting and gladness and days for sending gifts. 00:06:34.865 --> 00:06:44.333 Now it seems appropriate to have this feast, to celebrate this feast, to celebrate this festival, to incorporate a feast. 00:06:44.333 --> 00:06:47.432 Because the whole book of Esther has been about feasts. 00:06:47.432 --> 00:06:49.699 The book begins with a feast. 00:06:49.699 --> 00:06:50.733 It ends with the feast. 00:06:50.733 --> 00:07:00.966 All the key moments of the plot hinge around feasts that occur, sometimes between the queen and the king, sometimes broader cultural feast. 00:07:00.966 --> 00:07:06.466 In fact, the word feast shows up as many times in the Book of Esther as in all the rest of the Old Testament. 00:07:06.466 --> 00:07:10.733 A major, major theme of the Book of Esther. 00:07:10.733 --> 00:07:12.733 And we've experienced this as well, by the way. 00:07:12.733 --> 00:07:19.733 When we celebrate Thanksgiving, we celebrate it with a feast, much like they did on Thanksgiving Day. 00:07:19.733 --> 00:07:25.833 It's a reminder that when we were in lean times, God provided. 00:07:25.833 --> 00:07:29.833 In fact, that's probably the key idea to take away from this festival. 00:07:29.833 --> 00:07:32.365 It's not about the feasting. 00:07:32.365 --> 00:07:35.365 It's about remembering the fasting. 00:07:36.466 --> 00:07:38.432 It's so critical to make that connection. 00:07:38.432 --> 00:07:50.199 When we have Thanksgiving Day, we should also remember there was a time when we did not have. We feast now because of abundance, but there was a season. 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:57.065 The reason the whole festival came about is because God provided, in the midst of their fasting, in the midst of their hunger. 00:07:57.065 --> 00:08:01.333 And for Esther, the feast is because of the fast. 00:08:01.500 --> 00:08:05.399 I mean, they spent all this time pleading, begging, God, would you move? 00:08:05.399 --> 00:08:06.632 Would you show up? 00:08:06.632 --> 00:08:07.500 We're coming before you. 00:08:07.500 --> 00:08:09.065 We're putting aside food and water. 00:08:09.065 --> 00:08:10.432 We're wearing our worst clothes. 00:08:10.432 --> 00:08:11.600 We're covering ourselves in ashes. 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:13.033 We need you to show up. 00:08:15.333 --> 00:08:20.899 Part of the problem is the temptation is in the midst of the feasting is to forget the fasting. 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:25.033 In the midst of the really good times, we forget the hard times. 00:08:25.033 --> 00:08:26.432 It's it's natural. 00:08:26.432 --> 00:08:28.833 We all do it. It's easy to do. 00:08:28.833 --> 00:08:34.566 We get so used to how good things are that we forget how hard things were. 00:08:34.633 --> 00:08:37.633 We forget how God showed up. 00:08:38.365 --> 00:08:46.832 I've shared this before, but my grandma always included in my Christmas stocking an orange, and it was always down in the very bottom of the stocking. 00:08:46.832 --> 00:08:47.732 Like the worst place. 00:08:47.732 --> 00:08:49.299 It was so hard to get out. 00:08:49.299 --> 00:08:50.332 It was kind of frustrating. 00:08:50.332 --> 00:08:51.365 Why are you giving me an orange? 00:08:51.365 --> 00:08:53.066 You give us a whole box of oranges too. 00:08:53.066 --> 00:08:55.232 What's the point? 00:08:55.232 --> 00:08:56.166 I one day I just asked her. 00:08:56.166 --> 00:08:56.899 What? 00:08:56.899 --> 00:08:57.966 What's with the orange here? 00:08:57.966 --> 00:09:00.265 Yeah, I asked her politely, I hope. 00:09:00.265 --> 00:09:01.832 Thank you for the orange. 00:09:01.832 --> 00:09:03.700 What is the significance, grandmother? 00:09:03.700 --> 00:09:04.732 Something like that. I'm sure. 00:09:07.700 --> 00:09:09.166 And she said. 00:09:09.166 --> 00:09:13.100 Because when I was a kid, that's all I got for Christmas. 00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:17.500 Depression era people had nothing. 00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:22.399 And that serves as just a reminder of how good we have it. 00:09:22.966 --> 00:09:24.566 Why do we? 00:09:24.566 --> 00:09:26.566 It's so easy to forget. 00:09:26.566 --> 00:09:28.765 It's so natural to just forget. 00:09:28.765 --> 00:09:33.432 There was a season where this church wondered, Will we have to close the doors? 00:09:33.432 --> 00:09:43.232 I mean, we had no staff at all and not many people coming and a huge debt. 00:09:43.932 --> 00:09:46.666 And we've had high seasons, we've had low seasons. 00:09:46.666 --> 00:09:58.700 And the goal, the hope is to remember God's provision in the midst of it all, in the midst of the feasting, we remember the fasting, and that's part of the purpose of them establishing the feast. 00:09:58.700 --> 00:10:00.100 Don't forget how God showed up. 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:05.566 Don't forget how he provided even in the midst of the good times. 00:10:05.566 --> 00:10:07.332 So we see this feast established. 00:10:07.332 --> 00:10:11.100 And it's one thing that's interesting about this feast is it's still celebrated today. 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:13.232 In fact, I'm going to show a picture on the screen. 00:10:13.232 --> 00:10:15.133 This is Mike and Shannon Hampshire. 00:10:15.133 --> 00:10:21.000 Mike's the chairman of our deacons, and this is them in Israel. 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:26.832 He has an aunt who's a missionary there, and they're celebrating this particular festival all together. 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:30.600 I'm not sure what all the hats and suits are about, he says. 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:39.832 The way they celebrate it there, it kind of ends up seeming a lot like their version of Halloween, where they, as it says here, sending gifts of food to one another, gifts to the poor. 00:10:39.832 --> 00:10:44.865 They share gifts and portions of food with one another to celebrate this festival. 00:10:44.865 --> 00:10:55.432 Now, there's one particular thing they did that they've done in the history of Jewish history, have often done to celebrate this, and it's a way to involve the kids in the festival. 00:10:55.432 --> 00:10:57.533 And I know we didn't have Kidzone today. 00:10:57.533 --> 00:10:58.432 Elementary age kids don't. 00:10:58.432 --> 00:10:59.832 So there's probably more kids in here than normal. 00:10:59.832 --> 00:11:01.500 So I'm going to involve you in this today. 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:03.166 We're going to do it as well. 00:11:03.166 --> 00:11:14.500 One of the things they do is that whenever Haman's name is read, not just mentioned, but read from Scripture, all the kids try to drown out the sound of it. 00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:15.799 So they have little rattles. 00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:21.332 They shake and boo and hiss when Haman's evil, Haman's name is mentioned. 00:11:21.332 --> 00:11:23.033 So we're going to try that today. 00:11:23.033 --> 00:11:23.666 Not yet. 00:11:23.666 --> 00:11:24.932 Whenever I say his name. 00:11:24.932 --> 00:11:27.232 I didn't say it yet. 00:11:27.232 --> 00:11:31.832 Let's say whenever I read his name, because I may say it a fair amount. 00:11:31.832 --> 00:11:32.732 Let's test it. 00:11:32.732 --> 00:11:41.865 I'm going to say the name in just a second, and I want you kids to boo and hiss when I say his name and stomp, clap, whatever to try to drown it out. 00:11:41.865 --> 00:11:43.466 Are you ready? 00:11:43.466 --> 00:11:45.200 Okay, here we go. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:48.200 The wicked Haman. 00:11:48.899 --> 00:11:49.566 Very good. 00:11:49.566 --> 00:11:51.399 Okay, good. 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:54.332 So when I read it, you're free to do that. 00:11:54.332 --> 00:11:56.200 Just this Sunday, by the way. 00:11:56.200 --> 00:11:57.033 Just Sunday. 00:11:58.899 --> 00:12:00.033 yeah. 00:12:00.033 --> 00:12:00.299 All right. 00:12:00.299 --> 00:12:05.899 So feast established, but every feast needs a good name. 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:10.232 We don't just call it New Feast for our generation. 00:12:10.232 --> 00:12:12.166 Every feast needs a good name. 00:12:12.166 --> 00:12:14.166 And we're going to see here the name that is given. 00:12:14.166 --> 00:12:17.633 Look at this next set of verses, verse 23. 00:12:18.365 --> 00:12:23.432 So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 00:12:23.432 --> 00:12:40.033 For Haman, the Agagite, the son of Hammadatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, cast lots to crush and destroy them. 00:12:40.832 --> 00:12:51.633 But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he. 00:12:51.633 --> 00:13:00.332 And of course, we know that he there is Haman, and his and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 00:13:00.633 --> 00:13:06.365 Therefore, they called these days Purim after the term Pur. 00:13:07.166 --> 00:13:10.865 Every good festival, every good holiday needs a good name. 00:13:10.865 --> 00:13:14.700 And what they've done here is that they have named the festival. 00:13:14.700 --> 00:13:23.399 They have named the holiday after the Persian word for lot or we might say dice. 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:27.799 This was the very instrument Haman used earlier in the book. 00:13:28.066 --> 00:13:31.066 I said when I read it. 00:13:32.033 --> 00:13:35.966 When the wicked guy earlier in the book, I may have created a monster here. 00:13:35.966 --> 00:13:38.332 I'm sorry. 00:13:38.332 --> 00:13:40.799 We'll get through it together. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:46.932 He used the dice to determine what day they would destroy the Jews. 00:13:46.932 --> 00:13:56.500 So it's kind of interesting that you would name the whole holiday after an instrument of chance, after almost an instrument of gambling. 00:13:56.966 --> 00:14:01.700 It's almost like we set up a holiday and called it the slot machine holiday. 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:02.633 What are you talking about? 00:14:02.633 --> 00:14:04.066 Why would you call it that? 00:14:04.066 --> 00:14:05.566 What's the purpose? 00:14:05.566 --> 00:14:08.566 I think there's two reasons why that occurred. 00:14:08.566 --> 00:14:10.066 Two reasons why that was done. 00:14:10.066 --> 00:14:12.732 It's pointing to the sovereignty of God and the faith of Esther. 00:14:14.066 --> 00:14:22.033 And by the way, here in the naming, this is, I think, the second way we see God at work behind the scenes. 00:14:22.033 --> 00:14:29.533 This is the second way we see the backstory to the Book of Esther is the naming of the holiday, the choosing of the name. 00:14:29.533 --> 00:14:31.832 But why would they call it Pur? 00:14:31.832 --> 00:14:32.799 So think about this. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:37.932 And in particular, this is a constant reminder of God's sovereignty throughout the book. 00:14:37.932 --> 00:14:38.666 So we know what. 00:14:38.666 --> 00:14:44.100 We've pointed this out multiple times, that God's name does not show up in the book of Esther at all. 00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:47.500 And the temptation is when you see that to think, well, then he doesn't exist. 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.700 He's not there. 00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:51.232 But of course, we've seen every step of the way. 00:14:51.232 --> 00:15:00.033 That seeming chance after seeming chance after possibility on top of another, it's clear there's been a divine hand at work behind the scenes the entire time. 00:15:00.033 --> 00:15:05.500 We can't say it was just the roll of the dice that somehow happened to pick this certain day. 00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:08.200 In fact, I think there's a powerful verse that will be on screen. 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:13.332 33 is a reminder of the whole point of the name of this festival. 00:15:13.332 --> 00:15:18.666 It says the lot is cast into the lap, but it's every decision is from the Lord. 00:15:20.365 --> 00:15:25.399 God is at work behind the scenes, even in the way the dice roll. 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:37.232 And so every time you even say the name of the holiday, Purim, you're reminded, even when it doesn't seem like he's working, he's there. 00:15:37.232 --> 00:15:40.232 He's sovereign, he is in control. 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:43.399 He's not distant. 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:58.166 In fact, this became so significant if you go back to World War II and one of the most intense persecution of Jews in our era, the Nazis would not even allow the book to be read out loud or the holiday to be celebrated. 00:15:58.166 --> 00:16:06.000 They understood the significance of this, in particular the holiday, in giving hope to the Jews that God is still at work behind the scenes. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:16.500 In fact, Hitler himself, he said that if we do not succeed, meaning the Nazis, the Jews will call this their second Purim. 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.732 He saw the significance. 00:16:17.732 --> 00:16:23.932 He saw the connection between this book in particular and giving hope to the Jews. 00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:25.832 And I don't know if it's irony. 00:16:25.832 --> 00:16:40.500 I don't know if it's coincidence, but it was significant that at Nuremberg, the trials after World War two, there were ten Nazis hanged, ten sons of Haman. 00:16:41.133 --> 00:16:48.966 And even one of the guys being hanged saw the connection as he was being led onto the gallows, he said, Purim 1946. 00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:51.566 He saw the connection. 00:16:51.566 --> 00:16:53.932 He saw that God was still at work behind the scenes. 00:16:53.932 --> 00:16:54.966 They thought they were in charge. 00:16:54.966 --> 00:16:57.600 They thought they were in control. 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:02.000 Even the name of the holiday reminds us God is still there. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:02.899 He is still sovereign. 00:17:03.932 --> 00:17:06.766 So that's one way, one significance of that name. 00:17:06.766 --> 00:17:10.566 Another, though, reminds us of the faith of Esther. 00:17:12.465 --> 00:17:17.566 So that word Pur, that word for lot or die. 00:17:17.865 --> 00:17:20.732 That word is a loan word from Persian. 00:17:20.732 --> 00:17:26.232 So much like we have loan words from other languages, we use the word taco, we use the word kindergarten. 00:17:26.232 --> 00:17:27.732 That's a German word. 00:17:27.732 --> 00:17:29.566 Karaoke is a Japanese word. 00:17:29.566 --> 00:17:32.266 Those are loan words that we use in English. 00:17:32.266 --> 00:17:37.200 To sum up an idea that we don't have a word for, and that word works from another language. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:39.532 Pur is a word from Persian. 00:17:39.532 --> 00:17:40.700 It's a loan word into Hebrew. 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:42.365 But here's one thing that's different. 00:17:42.365 --> 00:17:46.633 It's also a Hebrew word and the Hebrew word. 00:17:46.633 --> 00:17:52.532 The Hebrew meaning is to crush or destroy or to break. 00:17:52.532 --> 00:17:55.900 It's often used in describing the crushing of grapes in a wine press. 00:17:57.865 --> 00:18:10.232 Now you see the connection, that word with the double meaning every lot is cast, but its end result, the crushing of our enemies, is from the Lord. 00:18:10.232 --> 00:18:11.900 And Esther had a choice. 00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:14.200 She could have tried to play it safe. 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:19.532 Mordecai said to her, look, don't think that you'll escape, though, if you try to play it safe. 00:18:19.532 --> 00:18:20.333 She could have done that. 00:18:20.333 --> 00:18:21.432 I'm going to take care of me. 00:18:21.432 --> 00:18:22.900 Maybe my family it. 00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:25.900 And maybe this won't really turn bad. 00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:30.432 No, but Esther took a step of faith to say. 00:18:30.432 --> 00:18:32.799 God is calling me to take a step of faith. 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:36.799 God is calling me to stand up for my people. 00:18:36.833 --> 00:18:40.799 And so whenever the holiday comes, we're reminded of God's sovereignty. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:44.400 And they are reminded that we too are called to live a life of sacrifice. 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:50.165 Yes, he's in control, but yes, he calls us to move, to sacrifice, to take steps of faith. 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.232 It's both and. 00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:54.465 So it's a powerful name. 00:18:54.465 --> 00:19:00.732 It's a powerful way to name a holiday, to name a festival. 00:19:01.532 --> 00:19:11.333 Now there's another layer to this back story, part of this naming here, what we see when it comes to the back story of the whole book of Esther. 00:19:11.333 --> 00:19:13.665 Everything has been leading up to this point. 00:19:13.665 --> 00:19:19.099 In fact, it seems this chapter in particular is trying to say the whole point of the book of Esther. 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:21.400 Yeah, that's a great story, but it's all meant to teach us. 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:24.599 Here's why we have this holiday. 00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:26.633 And why would you need to do that? 00:19:26.633 --> 00:19:29.633 Because future generations will forget. 00:19:29.965 --> 00:19:32.365 They'll forget why anything was established. 00:19:32.365 --> 00:19:33.965 It'll get lost. 00:19:33.965 --> 00:19:37.633 But if you want to know why we celebrate Purim and future generations. 00:19:37.633 --> 00:19:42.900 If you're a Jewish kid growing up, here's why -- read the Book of Esther. 00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:45.799 The whole point has been to establish God is sovereign. 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:48.066 God is faithful. He's in control. 00:19:49.465 --> 00:19:55.599 That's part of the backstory of the book, is just to tell us, here's why we have this feast, here's why we have this festival. 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:57.932 And when you give it a backstory, it has more meaning. 00:19:57.932 --> 00:20:02.266 Like the orange in the stocking, had no idea. 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:05.400 Now there's another layer to this backstory, though. 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:09.333 There's another layer of significance driving at the root issue. 00:20:09.333 --> 00:20:20.700 The undergirding issue behind why this would need to be brought up in the first place, and the way that's done is in this next layer where an an argument is settled. 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.665 And this is what we're going to see here. 00:20:22.665 --> 00:20:24.232 An argument is settled. 00:20:24.232 --> 00:20:26.432 Look at these next few verses. 00:20:26.432 --> 00:20:29.432 Look at verse 27. 00:20:29.965 --> 00:21:00.432 The Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written, and at the time appointed every year, that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants. 00:21:00.432 --> 00:21:08.400 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail and Mordecai the Jew, gave full written authority confirming this second letter about Purim. 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:16.633 Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the Kingdom of Ahaseurus In words of peace and truth. 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:31.032 Here we're going to see part of the underlying issue all along is that the book of Esther is meant to settle an argument, and the argument is about what day should we celebrate? 00:21:31.032 --> 00:21:33.500 Celebrate Purim on? 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:41.232 If you look back at the beginning of what we read today, it says in verse 21, they were obliged to keep it on the 14th day of the month, and also the 15th day last week. 00:21:41.232 --> 00:21:49.532 The whole section we studied went through great pains to explain why some people celebrate Purim on one day and some people celebrate it on another. 00:21:51.333 --> 00:21:55.700 Why would you need to spend so much time explaining that? 00:21:56.566 --> 00:22:19.833 More than likely, and most times in Scripture, when you see great attention given to something like this, it's because there was a lot of arguing going on behind the scenes about it, and that may seem silly that a whole book of the Bible is dedicated to trying to solve an argument about what day to celebrate something, let me tell you, people have been driven apart by things that are a lot smaller than that. 00:22:19.833 --> 00:22:25.766 Churches have been driven apart by things that are a lot less significant than that. 00:22:25.766 --> 00:22:30.432 I remember a friend of mine said his particular denomination, and I've shared this before as well. 00:22:30.432 --> 00:22:40.566 His particular denomination was a spin off from another denomination that made the point as part of their doctrine, that if you were to wear buttons on your clothing, that would be too showy, right? 00:22:40.566 --> 00:22:42.365 That would be too fancy. 00:22:42.365 --> 00:22:46.432 If you were to use buttons and you're showing off, you're full of pride. 00:22:46.432 --> 00:22:48.833 And so we're going to ban buttons. 00:22:48.833 --> 00:22:51.333 And they said, no, we think buttons are okay. 00:22:51.333 --> 00:22:57.400 So we're going to break off here and we can laugh about that. 00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:01.566 But you've seen it probably in other churches maybe here. 00:23:01.566 --> 00:23:02.032 Who knows. 00:23:02.032 --> 00:23:05.799 You've seen people divide over things as silly as that. 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:09.333 What's the back story of Esther? 00:23:09.333 --> 00:23:14.133 What's she driving at or the author's driving at in writing this? 00:23:14.133 --> 00:23:20.365 Don't let these little things divide us. 00:23:21.165 --> 00:23:25.633 Drive around Louisville, look at the crumbling churches in whatever part of town. 00:23:25.633 --> 00:23:27.633 There's plenty of them. 00:23:27.633 --> 00:23:29.432 What was the main threat to that church? 00:23:29.432 --> 00:23:30.965 Was it the government? 00:23:30.965 --> 00:23:34.566 Did the police come in and raid it and shut them down? 00:23:35.432 --> 00:23:40.266 Was was it a new law that was passed saying you can't meet any longer? 00:23:40.266 --> 00:23:44.633 Is that what churches are facing in Louisville? 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:49.833 Where is the main threat in our church today? It's not out there. 00:23:51.865 --> 00:23:54.365 It's in here. 00:23:54.365 --> 00:23:55.732 The main threat. 00:23:55.732 --> 00:23:59.133 In fact, the core issue she's driving at is unity. 00:23:59.432 --> 00:24:01.465 Unity. 00:24:01.465 --> 00:24:03.865 And let my encouragement be to you. 00:24:03.865 --> 00:24:05.665 And this is for me as well. 00:24:05.665 --> 00:24:21.799 If there's anyone if there's anyone here that you have anger, bitterness, unresolved conflict towards, and it could be someone you barely know, it could be your spouse. 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:26.766 If there's anyone here like that, don't let that linger. 00:24:27.032 --> 00:24:29.799 Don't let that stay unresolved, that very issue. 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:32.599 It's not just a personal issue between you and that person. 00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:33.566 It's a gospel issue. 00:24:33.566 --> 00:24:35.833 It's a church issue. 00:24:35.833 --> 00:24:41.165 You see, if we let that fester, those are the very things that drive churches apart. 00:24:41.165 --> 00:24:47.432 The enemy will use that to wedge in and corrupt from the inside. 00:24:47.665 --> 00:24:50.532 You know, the threats not out there. 00:24:50.532 --> 00:24:52.833 It's not PETA, okay? 00:24:52.833 --> 00:24:55.500 It's not AI, it's not LGBTQ. 00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:57.865 It's not whatever political party you hate. 00:24:57.865 --> 00:24:59.766 That's not our threat. It's not. 00:25:02.032 --> 00:25:04.532 The threat’s in here, and I'm not. 00:25:04.532 --> 00:25:07.465 Look, I feel like there's a lot of unity here right now. 00:25:07.465 --> 00:25:11.066 I feel like there's a lot of work that people strive. 00:25:11.066 --> 00:25:14.532 I don't have anybody in particular in mind. 00:25:14.532 --> 00:25:18.965 But this is the message of Esther that has to be proclaimed-- unity. 00:25:19.532 --> 00:25:25.066 Don't let the silly debate about what day to celebrate a high and a holiday on drive us apart. 00:25:25.066 --> 00:25:28.066 Strive for unity. 00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:30.032 This was the challenge they faced. 00:25:30.032 --> 00:25:34.599 In fact, we're going to get a little deep in the weeds here because I want you to see how significant this is. 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:37.266 This isn't just an isolated thing in the book of Esther. 00:25:37.266 --> 00:25:40.266 This goes across biblical history. 00:25:40.865 --> 00:25:47.532 If you go back to the beginning of the Book of Esther in chapter two, Mordecai is called a Benjaminite. 00:25:48.633 --> 00:25:51.333 He's from the tribe of Benjamin. 00:25:51.333 --> 00:25:55.865 Now, I pointed out all the parallels between the Book of Esther and the story of Joseph. 00:25:55.865 --> 00:26:00.032 You saw those one Sunday I got up listed out these verses parallel after parallel. 00:26:00.032 --> 00:26:09.665 A lot of the same wording between the Book of Esther and the story of Joseph, and what was the underlying tension of the book of Joseph, the story of Joseph? 00:26:09.665 --> 00:26:14.133 What was the main issue that drove all the problems to begin with? 00:26:14.133 --> 00:26:17.133 Does anybody remember? 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:20.900 Joseph's brothers hated Joseph. 00:26:20.932 --> 00:26:22.566 That's where the problem started. 00:26:22.566 --> 00:26:26.032 Of course, that started with his dad showing favor to Joseph. 00:26:26.032 --> 00:26:28.200 We’ll blame the dad in this situation. 00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:29.432 He showed favor to Joseph. 00:26:29.432 --> 00:26:33.965 Now his brothers hate Joseph and they sell him off and they wanted to murder him. 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:37.965 They sell him into slavery. 00:26:37.965 --> 00:26:39.333 Now follow the story. 00:26:39.333 --> 00:26:39.932 Stay along. 00:26:39.932 --> 00:26:42.799 We're getting a little bit in the weeds here. 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:48.200 There comes a point in the story now where Joseph has become ruler in Egypt. 00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:51.200 For all intents and purposes. 00:26:51.965 --> 00:26:55.833 And all his brothers show up and they need food, they need rescue. 00:26:55.833 --> 00:27:00.333 And Joseph says, only if you give me Benjamin. 00:27:00.333 --> 00:27:02.333 Benjamin was his true brother. 00:27:02.333 --> 00:27:03.700 Brother from the same mother. 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:06.333 The others were step brothers. 00:27:06.333 --> 00:27:08.032 Give me Benjamin. 00:27:08.032 --> 00:27:08.633 You'll be okay. 00:27:08.633 --> 00:27:10.833 You'll be rescued. 00:27:10.833 --> 00:27:14.932 And in that moment, the person that steps up is Judah. 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:17.700 Judah steps up and says, I'll stay. 00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.900 Let Benjamin go. 00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:21.900 Judah is the one who rescues Benjamin. 00:27:22.232 --> 00:27:25.532 Now this is important for the Book of Esther, bringing it all back to the Book of Esther. 00:27:25.532 --> 00:27:33.665 Because Judah, every time I've said the word Jews, if you look at the Hebrew, it says Judah. 00:27:33.965 --> 00:27:39.932 And so here in the book of Esther, you've got the tribe of Benjamin rescuing Judah, and the story of Joseph. 00:27:39.932 --> 00:27:49.566 You had Judah rescuing Benjamin, the division that started back in the beginning of the Bible in the book of Genesis. 00:27:49.865 --> 00:27:57.333 It's now been paid back at the end of the Bible, Esther and the Hebrew Bibles at the end of the Old Testament. 00:27:57.700 --> 00:28:04.799 The division goes so much deeper than just we're arguing about what day of the year to celebrate a holiday. 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:12.833 The division goes back to their very founding as a people, that this is why this is critical for us. 00:28:12.865 --> 00:28:13.965 We're not just talking about. 00:28:13.965 --> 00:28:27.833 And look, there may be some relevant arguments that are at play here right now between individuals, but the deeper issue is the heart issue of I want things my way no matter what. 00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:33.299 But when Christ shows up, I'm willing to give and take. 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:35.200 I'm willing to sacrifice. 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:40.932 I'm willing to say it's not about me when he shows up, but this is what's at play. 00:28:40.932 --> 00:28:42.465 This is the back story of Esther. 00:28:42.465 --> 00:28:44.932 It's all about unity. 00:28:44.932 --> 00:28:45.099 Now. 00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:51.732 This all leads to the fourth layer of the backstory, because when unity is emphasized, here's what happens. 00:28:51.732 --> 00:28:54.732 Order is restored. 00:28:54.833 --> 00:28:56.599 We're going to see this in these last three verses. 00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.500 How this shows up. 00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:59.066 Order is restored. 00:28:59.066 --> 00:29:01.865 Three things are mentioned here real briefly. 00:29:01.865 --> 00:29:16.799 Look at chapter ten, King Ahaseurus imposed tax on the land and on the coastlands of the sea, and all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the King advanced him. 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:22.032 Are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia? 00:29:23.432 --> 00:29:27.299 For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to Ahaseurus. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:35.900 He was great among the Jews, popular with a multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people, and he spoke peace to all his people. 00:29:36.965 --> 00:29:38.700 Three things to quickly point out here. 00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:46.232 First, this is the part where the adults boo and hiss-- he imposed taxes on the land. 00:29:46.900 --> 00:29:48.865 Yeah. All right. 00:29:48.865 --> 00:29:51.732 That was a little stronger than I thought it would be. 00:29:51.732 --> 00:29:57.032 I think most of us, when you hear the word taxes, you think that's bad right ? 00:29:57.032 --> 00:29:58.232 Who wants taxes? 00:29:58.232 --> 00:30:00.465 It doesn't matter what laws proposed about a tax. 00:30:00.465 --> 00:30:02.365 I vote no that doesn't matter. 00:30:02.365 --> 00:30:03.633 We don't need more taxes. 00:30:03.633 --> 00:30:05.532 You may disagree. That's fine. 00:30:05.532 --> 00:30:08.532 But most of us don't like taxes. 00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:13.066 However, imagine if there were no taxes. 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:16.799 None. 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:18.932 Okay, it sounds good in theory. 00:30:18.932 --> 00:30:23.500 What about our roads, our sewer system, our police, our firemen? 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.532 No taxes at all. 00:30:24.532 --> 00:30:26.732 It's a bad situation too. 00:30:26.732 --> 00:30:36.000 And if you go back to the beginning of the book in chapter two, and the King was so excited about finding a new queen, he said, let's just do away with taxes. 00:30:36.365 --> 00:30:38.365 And that was a sign. 00:30:38.365 --> 00:30:39.766 As exciting as that sounds. 00:30:39.766 --> 00:30:43.232 Stop cheering now okay that's enough Cheering. 00:30:43.232 --> 00:30:46.633 As exciting as that sounds, that was a sign that he had given up his rule. 00:30:46.633 --> 00:30:47.833 He had given up his reign. 00:30:47.833 --> 00:30:50.000 Order had been displaced. 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:52.732 Chaos had taken over. 00:30:52.732 --> 00:30:54.532 And now it's restored. 00:30:54.532 --> 00:31:00.599 He is back in his role ruling his people, giving direction, giving order. 00:31:01.133 --> 00:31:07.232 And part of that was putting Mordecai in place, giving Mordecai rule rather than the other guy. 00:31:07.232 --> 00:31:19.932 Mordecai now is ruling with benevolence and kindness and wisdom, and the whole book ends wrapping it all up, bringing in this back story theme with one word. 00:31:19.932 --> 00:31:24.165 And if you look back at verse three, he spoke to his people with peace. 00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:33.532 This is the message of Esther peace, unity, striving together. 00:31:33.532 --> 00:31:36.232 The enemy is not out there. 00:31:36.232 --> 00:31:39.066 Yes, in the book it seemed the enemy was out there. 00:31:39.066 --> 00:31:51.566 But at the end of the day, God calls us to work towards unity, love, service, sacrifice that only comes through Christ working in you. 00:31:51.566 --> 00:31:53.633 And look, if you don't know him, I want to. 00:31:53.633 --> 00:31:55.766 I just want to speak to you specifically. 00:31:55.766 --> 00:31:58.665 If you don't know Christ. 00:31:58.665 --> 00:32:03.000 I know there's this misconception and many people feel like one day I'll follow him. 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:08.766 Let me get everything cleaned up, let me get my life figured out, and then maybe he'll accept me. 00:32:08.766 --> 00:32:11.266 He can't accept me the way I am right now. I'm too messy. 00:32:13.965 --> 00:32:17.766 That's exactly how he wants you. 00:32:17.833 --> 00:32:20.365 He doesn't want you to try to get yourself cleaned up. 00:32:20.365 --> 00:32:23.633 You don't get cleaned up before you take a shower. 00:32:23.633 --> 00:32:25.833 You come to him as you are. 00:32:25.833 --> 00:32:27.500 Jesus. Meet me where I am. 00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:29.333 You clean me up. 00:32:29.333 --> 00:32:30.865 You go to work in my life. 00:32:30.865 --> 00:32:33.732 You give me that ability. 00:32:33.732 --> 00:32:34.865 In fact, we say it all the time. 00:32:34.865 --> 00:32:37.633 Come as you are, come as you are. 00:32:37.633 --> 00:32:40.500 So you don't have to stay as you are. 00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:42.432 He will work in your life. 00:32:42.432 --> 00:32:46.900 And if you don't know him, I’d love to talk with you about what it means to follow him. 00:32:46.900 --> 00:32:49.133 And I'm going to wrap us up in prayer in just a minute. 00:32:49.133 --> 00:32:51.833 But after the service is over, I'll be down front. 00:32:51.833 --> 00:32:53.500 I would love to talk with you. 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:58.932 I would love to in a week from now, in a month from now to be up there baptizing you. 00:33:01.465 --> 00:33:03.633 Jesus wants you to follow him. 00:33:03.633 --> 00:33:06.066 You don't have to clean it all up yourself. 00:33:06.066 --> 00:33:07.900 Come to him as you are. Let's pray.