The sooner we repent sooner he restores us. In disciplining us God doesn’t aim to abandon us to die but to bring us back to our right senses. The truth to draw from this analysis is no matter how painful and frustrating things may seem but we must not lose heart at God when he disciplines us. Unfortunately, a considerable number of people lost heart at God when he waited for 70 years to bring restoration. ![]() The new testament also confirms this conclusion, (Hebrews 12:6). It is temporary because God restores the disciplined, (Illustration: “ The kissed hand“). It’s rather an act of correction motivated by a deep love for us. The beauty of God’s discipline is he does not administer discipline out of hatred for his children. Although he used Babylonians to discipline his people he never allowed his people to die at the hands of these invading nations. Still, his fatherly nature can be seen in many things that he has said and done, especially in the book of Esther. The fatherly heart is not a quality attributed to God in the Old Testament. God’s fatherly attribute is the reason why he silently worked behind the scenes to deliver his people. In God’s perfect planning, Esther was not just attractive – but incredibly beautiful. Instead of looking for a girl with a reputable ancestry and nobility, which Esther didn’t have, the only qualifications the advisers expected were that the girl should be attractive and a virgin. ![]() His invisible hand is well evident behind Queen Vashti’s dethronement and the search for a new queen. Even before Esther was formed in her mother’s womb God planned to use her to carry out his rescue mission right under the king’s nose.)Ĭ. He foresaw that the very existence of Israel will be threatened (even before he laid the foundations of the earth. (He did not leave his people behind to die at the hands of a heathen king.) He was actually working in the background quietly and unknown to his people.ī. This silence doesn’t mean that God was inactive though. This is probably because God was awfully silent during this period as Israel’s sin against him had reached its peak. ![]() The book of Esther is often scrutinized for the lack of any reference to God in it. This sermon, however, is about the providence of God and his ability to accomplish his will, despite the imperfections of his people. Some preachers put significant weight on the virtues of the people who saved the Jews from certain genocide. In the book of Esther Xerxes and Haman become his instruments and we read how God used a woman to thwart Satan’s plan. Likewise, Satan also has used different people at different times, (Judas – Luke 22:3). We already know that God uses a man to carry out his plans. Unarguably Satan exploited the flaws in the king’s character to devise a plan to rid the earth of Jews because it’s through them the Messiah will be born. (His rejection of Haman’s silver was only an example of Oriental politeness that did not actually mean he rejected the payment). Ten thousand talents of silver weighed at least 375 tons and were the equivalent of two-thirds of the annual income of the Persian empire. Xerxes was corrupted: He gladly accepted Haman’s bribe in exchange for permission to the mass slaughter of Jews. In matters of urgency, he consulted astrologers and magicians who gave counsel according to their reading of celestial phenomena.ĭ. Xerxes was a heathen: He was not a worshiper of our God. Xerxes was a playboy: He wasted people’s tax money on banquets that lasted for months, to show off his wealth and impress his guests with the greatness of his kingdom.Ĭ. Xerxes was a fool: He probably asked queen Vashti to make an appearance before his drunkard guests without her clothes on and dethroned her because she disagreed.ī. King Xerxes was absolutely a wicked king. ![]() It was in such a time as this that Esther and Mordecai lived. The Bible says “When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice when the wicked rule, the people groan.” (Proverbs 29:2).
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