ESTHER - NATIONAL INTERCESSION AND THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD

Pastor Carolyn Sissom \ September 9th, 2010 (7281 views)

 ESTHER - NATIONAL INTERCESSION AND THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD

Preached by:  Pastor Carolyn Sissom      We are a nation facing some of the greatest challenges in our history.  Not only is the U.S.A. a victim of nets of evil plotting, man-made disasters and malicious enterprise, but the nation of Israel is surrounded by the armies of other nations.  God is bigger than them all and will gather them in the hands of His power. 

   The Governors of the Gulf Coast states have made a decree and proclamation calling our nation to a Day of Prayer.  We are grateful to those governors and saddened that the call to prayer was not made by the President of these United States. 

 

 I quote President Ronald Reagan as posted in  the Governors’  proclamation:  “We face great challenges in this country, but we’ve faced great challenges before and conquered them.  What carried us through was a willingness to seek power and protection from One much greater than ourselves, to turn back to Him (The Lord God of Heaven and Earth) and to trust in His mercy.”   

 

 

 The Lord spoke to me this week to read the Book of Esther.  As the Lord used Esther as part of His Divine Providence to save the Jews exiled in Persia during the Dispersion, so we can walk in perfect peace that He has made provision for this time in our history.  We can be assured  that every evil work of men who plot to destroy  this nation, the church and Israel will be brought to justice.

 The message of the Book of Esther is, though unseen, the hand of Divine Providence guides, guards, and over-rules in, through, and above the affairs of men, keeping watch, and preserving His own elect.   Just as Israel is elect of God so is the church and the remnant in this nation who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and publicly acknowledge God as “one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”    In the time of Esther, the Lord uses major events  as well as trifling circumstances, seeming coincidences and plotting enemies, to serve His highest purposes.

 He did not deviate from the nature of His being and acts in compatibility with man’s free will.   The call to Esther (a type of the Bride of Christ) by Mordecai (a type of  the Overcomer, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, as revealed by the five-fold ministry) was:  Esther 4:13-14:  Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, think not with yourself that you shall escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.  For if you altogether hold your peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but you and your father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  

 

 

 Divine providence is seen in the obedience of Esther to this call to arms.  The Hebrew word for “Mordecai” is “Mordekay” (#4782)  “little man, manikin, of Merodach, dedicated to Mars---Marodach means god of blood, or god of slaughter, war death, slaughter, sacrifice.”  Both he and Ester were of the tribe of Benjamin, (“son of the right hand, of good fortune, of happiness, of prosperity”).  

 

 

 Divine providence is seen in the acceptance of Esther by the King.  The means of that providence were the preparation of a banquet, the preparation of the gallows, the gallows for Haman, the King’s sleeplessness, the neglect of a due reward to Mordecai and Haman’s wicked intentions.

 All this evil was brought about by Haman, a man of utmost vanity, blindest prejudices and capable of the deadliest enmity; a time-serving, selfish implacable, swaggering bully, a man whose mind was covered over at the top, so as to shut out all lofty aspirations; and closed in at the sides, so as to shut out all kindness; and open only at the bottom, for the incoming of base passions, pride, haughtiness, and pride.  This is a description of the carnal mind. 

 The spirit of Haman is described in 3:10b:  “Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy."

 Haman was a descendent of Esau.  Agag was a title of the kings of the Amalek ites .  King Xerses had appointed him Prime Minster of Persia.  All lesser officials were required to bow to him.  Modecai, as a Benjamite, (1 Sam. 15: 7-9) refused to so honor a descendant of Agag, King of Amalek, Israel’s bitter enemy.   Haman was enraged, and plotted to exterminate the Jews.  He offered 10,000 talents of silver to the King to bribe him to massacre the Jews.  The royal signet ring stamped the order of annihilation with authority, although Xerses refused the bribe.  The edict of extermination was published by couriers, the renowned post service of fleet horses which Cyrus had instituted.  

 

 

 This incident took place in the 12^th year, some 5 years after Esther had become Queen (2: 16-17 and 3:7).

 The Providence of God is seen here in the promotion of the man whom God intended to destroy.  (This should be an encouragement to this nation).  God uses the Providential means of Mordecai’s refusal to revere Haman, the wrath of Haman, the casting of the lot, the plans and schemes of Haman, and the King’s commandment.  One of the internet sources describes Haman as the brother of Hamas. 

  The Lord was never asleep are out of control of any of these circumstances.  The Lord made the drunkenness of Xerses contribute to the crowning of Esther, and the gallows built for Mordecai to Haman’s own execution.   This is a picture of the procedure of government in the court of the Persian King.  Haman is haughty and imperious, proud and cruel.  The delay of months in carrying out his cruel intention was, in all likelihood prompted by his desire to make the work of extermination thorough.  Yet how wonderfully it gave time for all the events which ended in the deliverance of the people of God!  the Lord reigns!  

 

 

 The acts of individuals participating in the drama of Esther became mere stepping stones over which God moved toward the consummation of His purpose.

 As we are today faced with the spirit of anti-christ on every front.  It is significant that the numerical value of the Hebrew letters which make up his title (“Haman the wicked” is 666 (Rev. 13:18).  We can also note his power with Daniel 7:8; Rev. 13;  His pride in 11 Thess. 2:4 and this his hate in 11 Thess. 2:8.  His plot can be compared to Daniel 9 and his doom with 11 Thess. 2:8:  “And then shall that wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth ,and  shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.”  He is of the spirit of the Son of Perdition.  

 

 

 This crisis was one of the most alarming that had occurred, and the unalterable nature of the decrees of the Persians made the plot doubly dangerous---had it succeeded, the Jewish race would have been totally exterminated in Judea as well as in other countries, and the Church of the living God would have been swept from the face of the earth.  This was a grand scheme to prevent Genesis 3:15 from coming to pass!  God’s protection and providence was never made plainer than it was on this occasion.  In later years, the King’s successor, Araxes’s Longimanus (464-424 B.C.) showed favor to Ezra and Nehemiah.  The latter probably gained his favored position (cup-bearer) because of the influence of Esther, and was allowed to rebuild the walls. (Neh. 2:6)  No Esther would mean no Nehemiah, and no Nehemiah would mean no Jerusalem!  No Esther would mean no deliverance for the Jews at that time.  Their extermination (or the cutting off of the Holy Seed) would have meant no Messiah, and no Sent One would have meant no Savior for mankind, and no Savior would have meant no Church, and  no New Testament. 

   Esther, conscious of her need of moral support, asked that the people might fast with her.  There is a note of sacrifice and abandonment in her words, “If I perish, I perish.” (4:16) 

 We need the church to come forth in this hour and press into the Presence of the King and Live.  By so doing, cause others to live by bringing them deliverance and salvation!  Break tradition, Esther!  Get out of the boat and walk, Peter!  All others are paralyzed with fear.

 Esther is the message of a burning bush aflame with the mysterious Presence. 

  Jesus Christ is seen in the Book of Esther as:  

1. the King, for Whom the church (Esther) is prepared to be married to and by the ministry of the word (Mordecai) and the Holy Spirit (Hegai).
2. The golden Scepter (4:11)
3. The Gallows upon which Haman was hung.
4. The Crown Royal.
5. The Seed of the Jews (6:13; Gal. 3:15)
6. The King’s Ring
7. The heavenly Pur (Lot or Portion).

 9:26:  Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come to them.”   The Hebrew word for “Purim” (9:26) is “Puwr” (#6332, 6331) and means “ a lot (as by means of a broken piece); to crush, break, bring to naught, to utterly take; a die.”  It is related to the Babylonian “Puru”,  It is translated in LXX by “Phronrai,” from a verb meaning “to watch, guard.” (God’s eye!)  

 

 

 Esther 7: 9-10:  and Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high which Haman had made for Mordecai, who has spoken good for the king, stands in the house of Haman.  Then the King said, hang him thereon.  So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared fro Modecai.  Then was the king’s wrath pacified.    This is a type of the crucifixion of the carnal mind of Adam and the demonic power of satan.  At the Cross Jesus Christ has dealt with satan and the carnal mind!  We are not to give place to either. 

 At the cross we see three men crucified: God in the flesh (in the middle); Adam was reinstated and reunited in the Kingdom (paradise), but the Son of Perdition on the left found no repentance.  Haman (satan and the carnal mind) has been found guilty, convicted and bound; all we have to do is enforce the law! (Rom. 8: 1-4).  The King has dealt with Haman because of the obedience of Mordecai and Esther!  Haman is no longer in the Kingdom of God, but his decree and his influence must be dealt with in the world system. 

 Mordecai (Holy Spirit) has been set over the House of Haman!  Haman is dead!!!) (Gal. 2:20)  “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I lived by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”   Esther was a “Star”.  She was placed by Jehovah as light in a dark place, causing all to gaze toward the heavens.  Her Jewish name was Hadassah and means “myrtle”.  This emphasizes the principle of prettification along with the smell and the beauty of the myrtle.  This tree can stand any weather. 

 Neh. 8: 15-18:  -  The myrtle was used in the booths for the Feast of Tabernacles. 

 Isa. 41:19: = the myrtle is one of  seven trees.    

1. Cedar – King of the trees; Temple wood; durable.
2. Shittah – tabernacle wood, polished
3. Myrtle – fragrance, beauty, purification
4. Oil – Spirit, to purify and anoint
5. Fir – or Cypress; reproduction.
6. Pine – pitch (Ark), for musical instruments.
7. Box – hard wood; for spoons and combs.

 Zech 1: 8-11:  The man among the myrtle trees is Jesus.  The four horses are the four spirits of the four living ones about the Throne; These are the antidote for creation as they bring calm and peace where there was war. (read Zech. 1 and 6 from the Amplified Bible.)   The Governors’ call to Prayer includes the following:  This call is for the Church to arise in the Spirit of Esther and stand before the throne of the King in intercession for this nation.   

1. Give comfort to the families of those killed in the initial oil rig blast.
2. Grant success to the efforts to stem the flow of escaping oil.
3. Intervene to mitigate further damage and strengthen the hands of clean up crews.
4. Sustain those whose livelihood is directly impacted by this tragedy.
5. Preserve the health of citizens along the coastal regions.
6. Comfort the minds of all citizens, reminding us that He is a strong refuge in times of trouble.
7. Guide the counsels of our civil leaders and provide them with wisdom and divinely inspired solutions to the many complex problems associated with this disaster.
8. Pray that God will prevent future recurrences and prevent hurricanes in the affected areas.

   Let us also add the nation of Israel to this list.  They are even now surrounded and threatened by Hamas, Syria, Hezbollah, and the Persian nation of Iran.

  I submit this unto the Lord by Faith.  Tonight I will continue with the principle of Esther standing before the King and the edict of reversal and deliverance. 

 Carolyn Sissom, Pastor

Eastgate Ministries, Inc.

www.eastgateministries.com

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Scripture from K.J.V. Bibliography:  Principles of Present Truth From: Esther by:  Kelley Varner.  Comments, Conclusions and Comparisons to the challenges of this present day are my own and not to be considered to be those  from whom I gleaned.