King Xerxes ruled Persia in the 5th century BC. He chose Esther, a young Jewish woman, to be his new queen after removing the previous queen. Esther's cousin Mordecai served in the king's court. Haman, the king's top adviser, plotted to kill all Jews. Esther revealed she was Jewish and appealed to the king to save her people. The king discovered Haman's plot and had him executed. A decree was issued allowing the Jews to defend themselves. On the appointed day, the Jews defeated their enemies who intended to kill them. This was the origin of the Jewish festival of Purim. Though God is never mentioned, his providence is seen in delivering the

1. A Nation Saved (Esther 7-9)
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22nd Dec 2013
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2. Name of God never used
God‟s voice is never directly
heard
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3. BMGC Sunday Ministry
Refuse to obey an order from King Xerxes
King Xerxes ruled the Persian empire from 486 to 465BC
A young Jewish woman chosen to be the Queen to replace
Queen Vashti
Cousin to Esther, government
Official serving the king
= modern day Hitler

4. BMGC Sunday Ministry

5. BMGC Sunday Ministry
Esther 4:14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and
deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place…
Esther 4:15…”And if I perish, I perish”
Esther 4:11-17
Daniel 3:16-18

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If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you,
grant me my life-this is my petition. And spare my people-this is my
request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed
&annihilated. Ch7:3-4
Chess game, keep your eyes on the „Queen‟
Unfortunately for Haman, he never did
Three offenses of Haman:
1. His plot against the Jews which is a direct threat to the king‟s own wife
2. The king saw the threatening manner he‟s posing to Queen Esther on
the couch she‟s reclining
3. He planned to hang Mordecai pointed out by Harbona the eunuch
v6 An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!
The triumph of Mordecai over Haman

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The triumph of Israel over the enemies
 2nd edict requested by Queen Esther & Mordecai to
the king that allow the Jews to defense themselves
 Issued on the 23rd day in the month of Sivan
 Applicable on the 13th day in the month of Adar
 On that day, 75k enemies were killed throughout the 127
provinces, in Susa alone, 510 on the 13th day & another 300
on the 14th day additionally requested by Queen Esther
 Feast of Purim
 Pur means ‘lot’ or ‘dice’
 Haman casted lot the day the Jews should die but God turned
it to a victory day for the Jews
 To be celebrated on the 14th & 15th day in the month of Adar
 Observed with feasting, joy, giving presents of food to 1
another & gifts to the poor (Ch9:22)

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The triumph of Israel over the enemies
The name of God is never used & God‟s voice is never directly heard
But let‟s LISTEN again….

9. Key learnings
 Queen Esther
 Ch4:14 “Who knows but that you have come to royal
position for such a time of this?
 Esther decided to identify herself with the God of Israel
 Ch4:16 “I will go to the king, even though it is
against the law. And if I perish, I perish
 Are we willing to risk our lives to identify with Christ & HIS
church when we’re hit with crisis or make a stand?
 Mark 8:34-35 If anyone would come after me, he
must deny himself and take up the cross and follow
me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel
will save it. BMGC Sunday Ministry

10. Key learnings
 Mordecai
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11. Key learnings
 The Jews
 Ch9:10,15,16 “..they did not lay their hands on the
plunder
 Rom 12:17-21 (read)
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“As I walked out the door towards the gate that would lead to my
freedom, I knew if I didn‟t leave my bitterness & hatred behind,
I‟d still be in prison” Nelson Mandela
1918-2013

12. Conclusions
for us.
He allowed us to come to this place in our life for a definite
purpose “for such a time as this”
God loves to perform it for people who view their circumstances
as part of HIS appointment & who live to do HIS will right where
they are
Who will we choose to identify with when we are facing trial,
difficulty & challenging times?
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