Divine providence

Divine Providence The book of Esther is a good example of providence

Background
Ahasuerus was the king of Persia
It was a time of great peril for Israel.
The book of Esther shows God's providence at work.
The book of Esther does not mention God - but God is seen throughout the book.

Background
Providence = The preservation, care and governmet which God exercises over all things that He created, in order to accomplish the ends for which they were created.
Providence does not employ miracles.
God uses natural means to do His work.
You might think - accident, coincidence; but they may be providence.

The Story of Esther
Ahasuerus throws a wild and expensive party that lasts 104 days (1:1-8)
Drunk, calls for wife, Vashti
Wants her to parade in front of the drunks at the party
She refused - king become angry
Removes her as his queen

The Story of Esther
He misses the company of a woman and begins the search for a new queen (2:1-15)
Many young girls appear before him
Esther catches his eye
Esther is made queen instead of Vashti

The Story of Esther
Mordecai uncovers a plot to kill the king (2:19-23)
Mordecai is Esther's uncle
He saves the king from assasination
The deed is recorded in the chronicle of the king

The Story of Esther
Haman is promoted (3:1-2)
All are to reverence Haman
Mordecai refuses to pay reference
Haman decides that he hates ALL Jews
He judges a nation becuse of one man
This is the definition of prejudice

The Story of Esther
Haman goes to the king to get revenge
Esther 3:8-9
He tells a lie
A law is established by the king that could not be reversed
The exterminiation of the Jews is decreed (3:12-15)

The Story of Esther
There is great mourning among the Jews (4:1-3)
What would extermination mean?
All the promises to Abraham would fail
All the prophesies about Christ would fail

The Story of Esther
Mordecai asks Esther to intercede (4:8)
She gives a excuse (3:11)
Esther 3:13-14
Esther agrees to intercede - "If I perish, I perish."

The Story of Esther
Esther petitions the king (5:1-8)
She is granted a hearing
She invites the king and Haman to a banquet
At that dinner she announces another dinner for Haman and the king
Haman is on cloud 9 - he is special
He brags to friends (5:13)

The Story of Esther
King is unable to sleep (6:1)
He is reading the chronicles and sees where Mordecai saved his life
Has he been honored for this deed?
Haman comes in
Total humiliation - Haman must plan to honor Mordecai
Then the summons to the second banquet

The Story of Esther
Esther reveals the plot of Haman (7:1-10)
King asks what her request is
Esther 7:3-6
Esther 7:9-10

The Story of Esther
The law could not be reversed, BUT:
Esther and Mordecai were given power to make a counter decree
The Jews are given the authority to resist their enemies
The Jewish nation is saved!

Observations
We can not physically see God or any miracles - but His hand is stretched out in providence.
God's working of providence in this book
Vashti had integrety
Vashti refused to parade at the party
Esther was in the right place, right time
Mordecai saves king's life
King could not sleep, read chronicles

Observations
Did God have anything to do with this?
I believe He did.
Providence is most often seen in the rear view mirror – not before it happens or as it is happening
Man's part of providence
Faith that God is active in our lives
Willing to obey God

Conclusion
God is still working in our lives.
Will you believe it?
Will you act in harmony with it?
Will you follow the Lord in obedience to His word?

Divine providence

by Manly Luscombe on Aug 13, 2011

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Divine providence — Presentation Transcript