December 13, 2010 at 06:30 PM · Posted under Bible, Preaching
Heard a couple of sermons from Esther recently. God's doing his stuff all over the shop - moving players and set pieces: it's abundantly clear that although Ahasuerus has the throne, Haman has access to the King's ear, Esther has access to the King's heart and Mordecai has access to Esther, God is calling the shots.
But is there more than sex, scheming and sovereignty? Is Esther a book about Jesus? Or is it just about how God provided for his people in order that one Jesus might be able to come, as the seed of Abraham, and save?
According to the preacher, Esther is primarily about understanding the purposes of God in human history and seeing the interplay of divine sovereignty and human responsibility working without any seeming conflict.
Which is true. (And it seems that divine sovereignty and human responsibility actually work better together in the courtroom that many people think they will from the classroom).
But it's not the whole truth: because the gospel echoes throughout Esther.
Who is it that wins the favour of the King, but then shares the benefit of their relationship with their people? Esther - but she points the way to Jesus who says that the Father will love us because we love Jesus (John 14:21).
Who is it that triumphs against all odds and sees the enemy slain with his own gallows? Esther - but she points the way to the one who "through death" destroyed "the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil." (Heb 2:14)
Who lays down their life on behalf of their people in order to spare them from the judgment of the King? Esther - but she points the way to the one who doesn't merely risk his life, but lays it down for his people (John 15:13-14).
Esther does provide a fantastic, gutsy example to follow - but, were we part of the story, we'd be numbered amongst the helpless hordes who sit under threat of execution with no hope of saving themselves. And, if rather than just trying to highlight its relevance, we listen for it's gospel resonance, the book of Esther won't just point us to a great example: it'll point us to a great Saviour.
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June 20, 2010 at 09:00 AM
- Angel 1
- Ok – here's the one thing I don't
understand...
- Angel 2
- (Mockingly) The one
thing?
- Angel 1
- Oi – I'm being serious! Chief
priests. Scribes – you know the top notch theologians.
- Angel 2
- I wouldn't exactly call them
top-notch? We've seen stuff they haven't even begun to dream of...!
- Angel 1
- Yes – but they know their
scriptures. You remember how the wise men turned up? They had all
answers to their questions. But they couldn't even be bothered to go
the 4½ miles to see the messiah? To see the one that the Almighty
promised would come to save them?
- Angel 2
- (Thoughtfully) Once again,
you have a point. (Pauses) It was the most significant event
since … well ... since the world was created.
- Angel 1
- What makes someone so indifferent
to what the Almighty is doing?
- Angel 2
- Beats me – I mean, we've seen
bucket loads of this kind of indifference – but still I'm never
ready for it.
- Angel 1
- It's like they just think it's a
puzzle or a story. Or for the fanatics.
- Angel 2
- They spend their days look so
“righteous” and respectable. But their hearts are colder than
something … something that's really, really cold.
- Angel 1
- It's like they ignore the treasure
that the Almighty offers because they're too busy chasing the wind.
They play with the wrapping paper, and throw out the present.
- Angel 2
- Humans. (Unimpressed) Huh.
- Angel 1
- Hey – careful how you say that –
the Almighty's pretty fond of them, you know...
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June 19, 2010 at 09:00 AM
- Angel 1
- There's that evil scheming
black-hearted villain?! He's the reason I put in my application to
become an angel of wrath and destruction!
- Angel 2
- He's a slimebag, if ever there was
one...!
- Angel 1
- Power hungry.
- Angel 2
- Backstabbing.
- Angel 1
- Greedy.
- Angel 2
- Lying.
- Angel 1
- Murdering.
- Angel 2
- Stealing.
- Angel 1
- You remember his line... you know
the “that I too may go and worship him” thing? I actually wanted
to vomit. Grrr. How does he sleep at night?
- Angel 2
- I think he just wants control. His
biggest fear is a rival King. He knows he's the most hated man in
the country – did you know that he's actually left instructions
that the day he dies, a whole bunch of popular guys, you know Rabbis
and so-on, will be executed.
- Angel 1
- Why? That makes no sense?
- Angel 2
- Apparently he wants to make sure
that there'll be people mourning when he's dead.
- Angel 1
- Filthy rotten scumbag.
- Angel 2
- Yeah – but he's not the only one.
He's driven by his fear and his need to be in control. His position
just gives him more opportunity to do evil...
- Herod
- (Laughs)
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