Part 1 | God’s Method in Our Madness

From Esther 1-2

Providence: The soul-satisfying that God is no matter the world is doing.

Three facts about Persia:

1. A culture of .

📖 Esther 1:1-4 NLT These events happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. 2 At that time Xerxes ruled his empire from his royal throne at the fortress of Susa. 3 In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media as well as the princes and nobles of the provinces. 4 The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty.

📖 Esther 1:5 NLT When it was all over, the king gave a banquet for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were in the fortress of Susa. It lasted for seven days and was held in the courtyard of the palace garden.

📖 Esther 1:6-7 NLT The courtyard was beautifully decorated with white cotton curtains and blue hangings, which were fastened with white linen cords and purple ribbons to silver rings embedded in marble pillars. Gold and silver couches stood on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones. 7 Drinks were served in gold goblets of many designs, and there was an abundance of royal wine, reflecting the king’s generosity.

📖 Esther 1:9 NLT At the same time, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

2. Ruled by .

📖 Esther 1:8 NLT By edict of the king, no limits were placed on the drinking, for the king had instructed all his palace officials to serve each man as much as he wanted.

3. Dominated by the .

📖 Esther 1:10-11 ESV On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at.

📖 Esther 1:12 NLT But when they conveyed the king’s order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come. This made the king furious, and he burned with anger.

📖 Esther 1:22 NLT He sent letters to all parts of the empire, to each province in its own script and language, proclaiming that every man should be the ruler of his own home and should say whatever he pleases.

1. God’s Providence can and will in environments.

God is in spite of the in your .

2. God’s Providence can and will through people.

📖 Esther 2:5 ESV Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite,

📖 Esther 2:8 ESV So when the king’s order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king’s palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women.

3. God’s Providence does not have to be to be in our lives.

📖 Psalm 46:10 ESV “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

📖 Isaiah 30:15 ESV For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

What is our responsibility?

1st: Esther’s Action: .

📖 Esther 2:10 (ESV) Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known.

2nd: Mordecai’s Action: .

📖 Esther 3:1-2 (NLT) Some time later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire. 2 All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect.

📖 Romans 8:28–30 (NLT) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. 29 For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory.

Sermon in a Sentence:

God is no matter the is doing. Our job is to be and our lives only to Him.