1 The background story: Our story begins with Ahashuerus of the King James Version Xerxes the great of history circa481 or 483 BC. Xerxes was King of Persia.

2 It is 103 years after Nebuchadnezzar had taken the Jews into captivity (2 Kings 25), 54 years after Zerubbabel led the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem (Ezra 1,2) and 25 years before Ezra lead the second group to Jerusalem (Ezra 7).

3 All but a few thousand of God's people Israel were in the Persian provinces. The King had the leaders of 127 provinces to come for a celebration to last 187 days--more than six months.

4 It was common for the Persians to put on a feast before launching an invasion. In this case they were planning to invade Greece. The invasion would end up with a victory for the Persians at Thermopylae and a crushing defeat for Xerxes and Salamis in 480BC.

5 It was a feast of drinking, of sin, etc. The King sent for Vashti to come and show her beauty. She refused because of her modesty. The King accepted the suggestion to reject her and choose another to be queen in her stead.

6 Esther was chosen. She was a young, beautiful Jewish girl. Her cousin Mordecai had offended a vain official named Haman, who by trickery got a decree signed that all the Jews should be put to death. The decree was unalterable.

7 God stepped in and in a providential way delivered His people from the decree that Christ might come of their seed as promised. Gen. 12:1-3.

8 The story is written for our benefit. Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16,17.

A. Mordecai thought Esther had come to the throne "for such a time as this." What sort of a time was it?

B. It was a time when the King and the leaders of the nation were selfish,- wicked, and immoral.

C. Sin was in the saddle.

(Proverbs 29:2 NIV) When the righteouses thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

D. Haman was wicked to the core

E. The leaders of all provinces were wicked.

F. Consider the morals of some of our leaders.

(Proverbs 14:34 NKJV) Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.

(Matthew 15:12-14 NKJV) Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" {13} But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. {14} "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."

G. What about atheists and agnostics as leaders in our schools, universities and the nation?

H. Is there sin in high places today?

I. Even some some church leaders are worldly.

A. Esther 4:13-16. It was a time of worldly pomp and show.

B. It was a time when the King and leaders of 127 provinces recklessly took a six-month vacation for wickedness and sin.

1. They neglected the nation and its welfare – their homes and children, education, etc.

2. Today, our nation is neglecting to preserve our freedom and to purify the streams of morality, etc. 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Eccl. 12:13,14.

(2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV) But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. {2} People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, {3} without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, {4} treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- {5} having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

C. It was a time of strong drink. Est. 1.

D. We are slowly becoming a nation of drunkards and alcoholics and problem drinkers.

(Proverbs 20:1 NIV) Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

1. Proverbs 23:29-35.

E. It was a time of immodesty and debauchery. It was a time when the king demanded Vashti the Queen to come before the leaders of 127 provinces and display her body before the lustful eyes of wicked men. Est. 1; 2

1. We should be thankful that the Queen had the moral courage to dare to do right.

(1 Timothy 2:8-10 NKJV) I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; {9} in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, {10} but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

F. It was a time when the sanctity of marriage was at low ebb. The King was willing to get rid of the Queen for no fault of hers. Est. 1.

1. We are now seeing one divorce for every two or three marriages in our country. Matt. 19:3-9.

G. It was a time when human life was cheap. The leaders were willing to sign a decree to have 2,000,000 Jews killed, because one of them would not bow and tip his hat to Haman, a wicked scoundrel.

H. We would never do anything that wicked? 98% of all abortions in America are for reasons of convenience.

I. The papers are full of murder, adultery, theft, and hate.

J. It was a time that cried out for good woman of courage, Esther. Est. 4:13-16.

1. Her silence would have been sin – in a responsible position, in a time that needed good people – of conviction and prayer.

2. It was true in her time.

3. It is still true in our time.

David E. Parks