Even if I perish, I perish…

The Book of Esther is part of what is called the Megillah.

Five Scrolls that are meant to remind us that God is always working, even in the season where He seems hidden.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

-Ephesians 2:10

Mordecai (Esther’s older cousin who raised her)— mourns in sackcloth and ashes at the palace gate.

Tthe palace complex was called “The Acropolis” which means, The High Place or The High City.

ONE&ALL Church: Realize where you are.

You say, “I’m in no palace! But you are - because you live in America! You have the privilege of living in a place of influence.

Why do fewer and fewer people use their position for the cause of Christ?

There is a high danger and risk when you live for Jesus in the Palace.

Esther sends a message back to Mordecai and lays out the risk of using her place in the palace for the people and the kingdom of God.

All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.

-Esther 4:11

Who knows that you were not brought into your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14)

1. If you are not willing to risk everything for the Kingdom of God, then the palace has already devoured you.

Illustration: Luke 16 parable (The Rich man and Lazarus)

It’s possible to root your identity in your position in the palace!

To live in the palace is to get your identity from something other than Christ and his kingdom—so that you are about self-preservation—not the preservation and expansion of the kingdom.

[notes]

2. Grace

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

-Esther 4:14b

“you have come” is a hithel verb form which means its passive and could be translated “You have been brought” to the palace for such a time as this.

- You didn’t get here by your own merit!

- You would not be here if it were not for grace.

Mordecai is reminding Esther she worked with talents that God gave her!

Esther learns that God is far less concerned about giving her a wealthy and prosperous life than about putting her in a difficult situation that she might be used to accomplish something great.

Do you see the position you have as having been given by God?

That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate. Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him. 'If it pleases the king,' she said, 'and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?'

-Esther 8:1-6

The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

-Esther 9:5-10

Hebrew Language:

• Each letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a picture associated with it.

• Letters also possess numerical value.

They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews.

-Esther 9:7-10a

• The Hebrew letters Tav (ת), Shin (ש), and Zayin (ז) in the names Parshandatha, Parmashta, and Vajezatha are written smaller than the other letters.

• The Hebrew letter Vav (ו) in the name Vajezatha is written larger.

Esther & The Nuremberg Trials

Only Julius Streicher went without dignity. He had to be pushed across the floor, wild-eyed and screaming: ‘Heil Hitler!’ Mounting the steps he cried out: ‘And now I go to God.’ He stared at the witnesses facing the gallows and shouted ‘Purimfest, 1946.’

-Newsweek, October 1946

Parshandatha, Parmashta, and Vajezatha

Tav: a numerical value of 400

Shin: a numerical value of 300

Zien: a numerical value of 7

Total: 707

Vav: A numerical value of 6

The sixth millennium is in the 5000’s in the Hebrew calendar.

The large letter tells us the Millennium, the small letters tell us the year.

5707 is 1946 on the Hebrew calendar.

The only way you will ever be able to endure the hardships you face, the only way you will be able to do the hard thing when it may cost you, the only way you will risk “losing the palace” is when you truly believe that God is involved in major events of your life and has brought you to such a time as this.

Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?'

-Luke 9:23-25

We were all created by God and He gave us everything we have and sustains our lives every second.

Bible says Esther saved her people by identification and mediation.

Jesus Christ lived in the ultimate palace.

If you see Esther as an example it will crush you—you will never live up to it.

But if you see Jesus as your Savior—doing what he did it for you—and you know you are that valuable to him, that changes your identify, value, security, and worth.

“If I perish, I perish” happens only after you transition from self-preservation to Kingdom priority.

Kingdom priority happens only when you are truly convinced that God has secured your eternity in Jesus.

Make a Decision