ESTHER, QUEEN MOTHER
ESTHER, QUEEN- MOTHER
Sunday, May 13, 2018, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
There is no record in the Bible of Esther having children. However, Esther, no doubt, lived far into the reign of her stepson Art-a-xerses Lon-gi-manus and as Queen-Mother, was a person of influence in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.
The doors of history hinge on the extraordinary decisions of ordinary people. Obedience to God is not just for self and the moment, but for eternity.
It is seemly on this Sunday, May 13, 2018 to honor not only our mothers but Queen Esther who is one of the mother’s of Israel. It is the 70th anniversary of Israel’s restoration as a nation. The 70th anniversary memorializes and celebrates their sudden rebirth as a nation on May 14, 1948. Israel’s rebirth was the most momentous prophetic fulfillment in recent history as they became an independent nation again in their former homeland against all odds. After being scattered throughout the world since their rejection of Christ and the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD, the Jews were banished from their land for centuries. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Paul and other prophets prophesied that after many years and in the Last Days they would return.
Seventy is the number of perfect spiritual order; fullness of accomplishment; release from Babylon; set for increase and a generation.
In the Book of Esther, Mordecai pours out his life for Esther and the people of God in captivity. Esther in turn pours out her life for the nation.
In Chapter one, we have the deposing of Vashti as a woman outside the covenant of God’s people. This reveals the place which woman occupied in that day and this without the dignity, respect and honor given to her by her King. She was the slave and plaything of man. Her only purpose was to satisfy his flesh and fulfill his ego. Jesus Christ has redeemed women from the curse of the law. (Gal. 3:13, 28; Jn. 4: Acts 2:18).
The King’s order that Vashti (“beautiful woman”) should come and immodestly display herself before a vast company of half-intoxicated revelers ( in their presumptuous pre-celebration of the Grecian war) was not only a gross breach of Persian etiquette, but a cruel outrage which would have disgraced for life the one whom, above all other, the King should have protected. From a natural standpoint, Vashti’s refusal was courageous and fully justified. This example should be used to balance some of the extremes that are evident today concerning submission of wives to husbands. The woman (and the man) should ever be submissive, but do not obey that which violates the Word (the will) of God!
The culture of the Middle East is still abusive to woman as well as is now being embraced by many cultish Christians in the church.
Xerses reigned from India to Ethiopia (two extreme boundaries) over 127 provinces.
Our King Jesus rules over the whole earth. Our King has obtained complete perfection and Redemption.
After Vashti’s demotion, and the choosing of Esther in the “House of the Women” (the royal Harem), there was a season of preparation for Esther. Esther pleased and obtained kindness of Hegai, and he speedily gave her the things for purification, with such things as belonged to her; and seven maidens, out of the King’s house. The King preferred her and her maids.
Ps. 45:13-14: The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework; the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto you. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought; they shall enter into the King’s palace.
“Esther’s beauty and excellence of spirit had been developing over several years, and at God’s time was revealed. (So shall the Virgin Church, which is being prepared in obscurity but will rise at the timing of God and reveal her perfection. She and her anointed leadership will be appropriately placed worldwide, just as Mordecai and Esther)” – C. R. Oliver – Sealed Unto His Coming.
Esther was instructed by Mordicai to not speak of her people nor her kindred, the Jewish race. There was twelve months of purifications. (2:12):
- Six months with oil of myrrh – sufferings of the Christ
- Six months with sweet odors – sweetness of the Christ.
14:13: You can take any “Babylonian trinket” you desire when you go into the throne-Room to please Him. Go in the evening; then return in the morning to the second house under the “hand of” Shaashgaz, keeper of the concubines. After this, you can only see him (King) if called by name!
Isa. 43:1b: Fear not for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name, you are Mine.
Esther never went to the House of the Concubines. Instead, she was chosen to be the Queen!
She now has choice; be a slave to her circumstances or a star to shine in a dark place! In the appointed time, Esther’s turn came, but she required nothing but what Hegai…appointed.
The typology of Hegai (Hege) is two-fold:
- The Holy Spirit who prepares the Bride for the King
- The five-fold ministry who prepares the Bride for the King.
Hegai was the eunuch who had charge of the harem of Xerses; and the preparation of the females sought as concubines for him. He was the King’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women.
Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her. (2:15). The King loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti!
Then the King made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s Feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the King. She passed His measure and was sealed in the forehead. The principle of Esther’s feast is the principle of the marriage feast.
He loved her so dearly that in Chapter 4, when she went before him to ask for her people, he offered her half of His Kingdom.
Chapter 5: 1-3: Now it came to pass on the third day (11 Pet. 3:8) that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the King’s house, over against the King’s house; and the king upon his royal throne in the royal house over against the gate (place of judgment). And it was so, that when the King saw Esther the Queen standing in the curt, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the King held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter! Then said the King unto her, “what do you desire? What is your request? It shall be given you up to the half of the Kingdom.”
King Jesus is extending the full authority of His Name to His Church as we stand in His Presence! We will not draw back but instead do take hold of Him (who is the top of the Scepter) and grow up in His headship.
Since a Persian King’s decree could not be changed, the decree for the Jews’ massacre could not be reversed. But Esther did persuade the King to make another decree authorizing the Jews to resist and slay all who would attack them, which they did. Even so has the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus counteracted the law of sin and death. (Rom 8:1-4)
The peril to God’s people was not yet averted. The royal proclamation said that they would be exterminated on the 13th day of the 12th month (3:13). Here we see the King’s own messengers hurrying throughout the land carrying letters (the Word of God), urging the people to be ready against what had been intended to be the fateful day of their slaughter. So strange a happening was it that the Jews were filled with much gladness and joy, while a new fear of them fell on the native people, and so many of the “people of the land became Jews!”
As God’s army today is waking up to proclaim the finished work of King Jesus, so the Body of Christ stirs itself and arises to be overcomers positioning ourselves as we are watching Heaven invading earth in the metaphor of lightning and suddenlies. The “Mordecai” voice of the Spirit is crying out to the “Esther” Church of today through the prophetic picture of God’s covenant land and people---Israel---through her birth, existence, and current struggles as we watch the Psalm 83 war and the Gog/Magog war escalate around her borders.
Had Haman succeeded in his plot, 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 happening. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.
God’s ultimate intention is a “spotless Bride” through whom God will have sons in his image to perpetuate his seed (Divine Nature and Ministry) in the earth and universe.
Esther was a type and shadow of Galatians’ 4:26: But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, rejoice you barren that bear not, break forth and cry you that travails not, for the desolate has many more children than she which has a husband. Now we brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Eve is named the Mother of all living, Sarah, mother of nations, Deborah is called mother of Israel in Judges. Here we see the Queen Mother as she valiantly stands as mother to a nation.
Sarah gave birth to Isaac
Rebecca gave birth to Israel
Rachel gave birth to Benjamin and Joseph
Ruth gave birth to Obed
Hannah gave birth to Samuel
Shulamite gave birth to her son in Song of Sol. 8
Mary gave birth to Jesus
And Esther gave birth to the restoration and protection of a nation that was in exile for 70 years.
In Rev 12 when the Sun Clothed Woman gives birth to the man-child the word is “HUIOS”; which is used to speak of the fruit of the woman, even the “Man-Son.”
This is that “Perfect Man” of Eph. 4. While the righteousness of God is imparted to the Bride, it is implanted in the Son. This also moves over into the realm of the Gifts for the Bride, while the Giver is in the Son!
For there to be a Son, there must be a Bride. This Bride of Christ becomes the Jerusalem which is above, the mother of us all.
OLD ORDER (law) NEW ORDER (Grace)
Bondwoman (Gal.4) Freewoman
Hagar Sarah
Leah Rachael
Peninnah Hannah
Naomi Ruth
Vashti (Israel) Esther (Church)
Earthly Jerusalem Heavenly Jerusalem
Old Covenant New Covenant
Bondage Liberty
Law of Sin and Death Law of the Sprit of Life in Christ Jesus
Harlot Bride
When the King extended to Esther the golden scepter in Ch. 5:2, this denotes the all authority of the King – the power of the name, the principle of the rod. Somebody like Esther is going to press into the presence of the King and live and 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.
In 6:12: Zeresh and his wise men said, If Mordecai be the seed of the Jews before whom thou has begun to fall, thou shall not prevail again him, but shall surely fall before him.
Est 8:1On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.
On that day and A good day (8:17) are key concepts to the Day of the Lord. After the victory, it was a day of feasting and gladness and A good day.” The Day of the Lord is a day of reversal and a Day of overturning. It is the Day when the Lord turns again the captivity of Zion. It is the day of the King’s scepter! To the son he says, Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. (Heb. 1:8).
And what of this new day? The Day of the Lord is a day of Overturning. Church great and awesome things are happening on the earth today. We are seeing the work of Haman in Mueller to overthrow the President of the United States. Yet, the President continues undaunted in the promises he made to the people of our nation and to God. We celebrate with Israel by officially moving our embassy to Jerusalem, thus coming into agreement that Jerusalem is the capitol of Israel.
Mordecai and Esther were the brains and the heart of the palace! This paved the way for the work of Ezra and Nehemiah to deliver the Jews from 70 years of exile.
When Mary told Jesus to turn the water into wine at the Wedding of Canaan, she released him into his ministry. When he told her in Mt. 12:48, Who are my mother and brethren? He was not being disrespectful. He was saying there is a new day a new order, His Kingdom had come to earth and he was going to the Cross to defeat the spirit of antichrist forever and a new nation was to be born through the power of the Holy Ghost. This nation is the Kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
There is a New Day upon the earth. Nations and Kings are being overturned. The frogs like unclean spirits are spewing out of the mouth of the beast. Heaven is invading earth. Prophecy is being fulfilled in our generation. It is a great day to be alive.
Today we honor our mothers with royal crowns.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V.
Sermons by Pastor Sissom, 2005 and 2010. I have no record of sources.