Good evening, I am Robin Harris, one of the elders here at Verse by Verse Fellowship. Tonight we will continue through the book of Esther. We will be studying chapter 4:1-17 and chapter 5:1-8. The title of the message is Divine Appointments. Have you ever had a divine appointment? That is to say, some event or circumstance totally orchestrated by God for a very specific purpose. Most likely you have to some degree. We know that Paul had a divine appointment with Jesus on the road to Damascus. After that event, Paul’s life would never be the same. Neither did he have a clue where his life would be headed, but it would be amazing!  

I have had several divine appointments that have altered the course of my life and the lives of my family. One was back in 1995 when a preacher heading for Salem, Oregon stopped into our Church. His daughters and his wife sang some beautiful songs and he preached a 15-minute sermonette. It was specifically for me and that day I surrendered to the call to be a pastor. It was both exciting and terrifying in a way. Life was never the same after that day. Divine appointments can definitely be that way.  

We will see in our text today some very distinct elements that can be associated with a divine appointment. So we will start with 

the first element that we see:  

Divine appointments often involve a crisis 4:1-3  

4:1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went up to the entrance of the king's  

gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth. 3 And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.  

What we see in verses 4:1-3 is the immediate response to a crisis. What was the crisis? As we learned last week the crisis involved the decree by the Persian King to have all Jews eradicated, every Jew in every province. All other people were to rise up and destroy all of the Jews. No Jew was to be spared. We also know that Haman had orchestrated this evil decree and had prompted the King to issue the decree, which no one could now stop. According to the law of the Medes 

and Persians, not even the King himself could rescind the decree. How horrific it would be, to hear and to know that nothing would stop the genocide from occurring. Being a Jew, you would know your children, your family, your friends, your coworkers, your entire people group slaughtered in a day. I would say that is a crisis. Fear would spread like a plague throughout the entire region. Hope would vanquish knowing nothing would stop the upcoming slaughter. Mothers and fathers would look at their children and frighteningly conclude they had no future.  

What was the Jewish population's reaction? Look at Mordecai and the people of every province. Mordecai rents his garments and puts on sackcloth and ashes. Then he went into the midst of the city and publicly cried out aloud. The text says he bitterly cried out. It was one thing to be dispersed into captivity, but it was a whole other thing to be completely eradicated from the face of the earth. His bitter cry was a warranted sign of great grief and sorrow, but it was not just for the people to see. This was a customary way the Jews sought out deliverance by Almighty God.  

It was an outward display of deep mourning and grief. An outward display of humility and complete abandonment of any self-reliance. It was a sign of being completely undone and falling into the hands of God. The tearing of the garment represented outwardly the ripping of their heart. The sackcloth was a one-piece coarse material representing complete abandonment of self. It was uncomfortable and was basically a sack. The ashes were a picture of humiliation. Mordecai was not alone in his despairing cry. The entire Jewish population was weeping and mourning. The sounds and the visuals would be heartbreaking. The sounds of whaling, crying, and lamenting would have pierced into the ears of all. It would not have been just a few people, it would have been a “great” mourning from all the Jews.  

Not only did the people mourn and lament, putting on sackcloth and ashes, but they also fasted. Fasting was another indication of abandoning self to focus solely on the only one that could make a difference, Almighty God. Though God’s name is not mentioned, we all know that the Jews were seeking out deliverance from the unseen character in the story, Almighty God.  

This reminds me of another account in the Old Testament. A massive army was gathering to come up against Judah. They would surely be overwhelmed, but the wise king gathered all the people together and announced a fast. 2 Chronicles 20:1-4 

As they fasted and assembled, the king of Judah cried out to God for deliverance from their enemies. God answered the prayer of the king and delivered them. Matter of fact God went to battle for them. They did not have to raise one sword against their enemy.  

You also can read of God answering Nehemiah’s prayer when he had fasted and prayed after hearing of the terrible state of Jerusalem. Nehemiah chapter 1  

And how about the wicked city of Nineveh being spared by God when their king removed his robe putting on sackcloth and ashes and repenting of his ways, proclaiming repentance. Jonah 3  This heartfelt demonstration of self-abandonment, grief, mourning, and display of humiliation was the means to approach the throne of God and Mordecai and the people were compelled to do so. Then Mordecai went to the entrance of the king’s gate. Why go there? Yes, he had been given a position, but the decree had been made. It would not be changed. Also, he could not enter through the gate, because it was forbidden for anyone wearing sackcloth to do so. Why was God, behind the scenes, moving into the heart of Mordecai to make a spectacle at the gate entrance? Remember his niece was the queen. The crisis was coming to the queen, and it’s so jaw-dropping to see Esther’s initial response.

This leads to my 2nd point.  

Divine appointments often involve a crossroad 4:4-11  

4 When Esther's young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.  

What in the world is she thinking? Let’s give her the benefit of the doubt. Apparently, she wasn’t told all that was going to happen but was only told that Mordecai was making a scene. Wouldn’t it be strange to her that he was sitting at the gate entrance in sackcloth and ashes and crying out bitterly? I would think that. Here it is, she is isolated from the real world and really has lost her sensitivity to outside circumstances. Something really big must of happened and she is focused on the optics of the situation. Unbelievable, right?  

5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was. 6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the City in front of the king's gate, 7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction,[a] that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him[b] on behalf of her people. 9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, 11 “All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come into the king these thirty days.”  

Divine appointments often involve a crossroads. Esther is at a crossroads. Before we get all righteous about her actions, just look into your own life. You probably have had a time when you were at a crossroads that God either orchestrated or at a minimum allowed. Was your first instinct a worldly path? If you reacted in a biblical way, let me remind you that it was by the power of the Holy Spirit, the truth of the Word of God, and maybe even a brother or sister in Christ that interceded.  

Where was her mind when Hathach told her about the king’s edict and showed her the evidence proving it was true? Her mind was on the last thing that Mordecai said.  

“command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him[b] on behalf of her people.”  

She listened to every word intently, probably standing very stately with her arms crossed until those last few words were spoken.  

“command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him[b] on behalf of her people.”  

Her mind and her words went straight to self-preservation! Look at what she said.  

11 “All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come into the king these thirty days.”  

She had not seen the king for thirty days and Mordecai wanted her to just pop in on him. Hi King, I have something to discuss with you. The death sentence, right?  

“This was no empty threat. Contemporary depictions of the Persian king excavated at Persepolis show him seated on his throne holding his scepter, flanked by various officials, including a soldier with an ax.” — Esther & Ruth (Reformed Expository Commentary) by Iain M. Duguid  

Frankly, the crossroad we most commonly face involves self-preservation. If I do what God wants me to do then something bad is going to happen with my current life.  

Example: Sharing the Gospel with Danny  

Most definitely the decision to either receive the Gospel message or reject it is a crossroad that a person must face. Many times people are so wrapped up in themselves and what the world offers that they do not see the eternal value of salvation through Jesus Christ.  

Esther was at a crossroads. Initially, she could not see anything, but self-preservation. Something had a hold of her and it was causing her to make poor judgments. 

Write this down …  

Divine appointments often involve a collision with fear and faith 4:12-17, 5:1-2  

Esther’s fear of death was weakening her reliance on faith. Fear of what man can do is a snare.  

Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” (ESV)  

Esther was not considering  

    The Creator of the Universe was her God.  

    God had delivered the children of Israel from past great kingdoms ie Egypt. God used one person to lead the charge in that situation also.  

    The children of Israel were His chosen people. He would not allow them to be eradicated from the face of the earth. 

She was ensnared by fear, but there was going to be a collision of fear and faith. Not only was she fearful of going before the king without being summoned, but also remember this, she had hidden from him that she was a Jew!  

Let’s look at the collision of fear and faith.  

12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  

Do you see the unspoken character within this scene? Who is the implied person who has ruled over the whole situation and is orchestrating a divine plan? Mordecai does not mention His holy name, but he points to Him as he skillfully crafts his answer which causes a collision between fear and faith.  

God uses Mordecai to cause this collision. Mordecai lets her know three things 

    Don’t think you will be spared…remember you are a Jew and you will be found out!  

    My faith says God is going to deliver, and it might not include you.

    Besides this, God has providentially placed you in your position to be His tool for deliverance.  

Her response shows that faith won! Esther chooses to live by faith and not by sight. Some may say that she didn’t have much faith at all. I don’t believe that at all, especially based on her subsequent actions. Whether it is walk on water faith or little faith, you be the judge as we proceed.  

15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”[c] 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.  

What was the sign of her renewed faith? She told Mordecai to gather the people on her behalf to fast for three days and she and her young women would do the same. She needed God to intervene, the unseen character in this story. The unspoken, but relied upon character in the crisis is God. There had been a collision of fear and faith, and Esther turned to her faith and the community of faith. Not only that, but she leaves her life in the hands of the Almighty. “If I perish, I perish “. I don’t take “if I perish, I perish” as a lack of faith, I take it as a reliance on the all-powerful God of the universe.  

Divine appointments often involve a collision with fear and faith. Esther walked by faith. 

She left it in the hands of God. “If I perish, I perish.”  

Reminds you of three young men not willing to worship the golden image built by King Nebuchadnezzar, right? They said whether God delivers us or not we will not bow down to that image, o king. Daniel 3:17-18  

We know what happened in that case, don’t we? God was at work then and God is at work with Esther. 

5:1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace.  

Listen, faith is no faith at all without action. After the time of fasting was completed, (And I personally believe they prayed, even though it is not mentioned) Esther put feet to her faith. She got smartly dressed and she walked towards the inner court. Every step was taking her closer to deliverance or death, and she did not know which it would be. Even her words could have been echoing in her mind, “If I perish, I perish.” She reached the inner court and was now in front of the king’s quarters. She stands there. Let’s picture it. She is there and he is on his throne. Her heart is probably bounding so hard you could almost hear it. What will the king do? It could have been totally silent. The king is on his throne, not yet noticing Esther, and she has been standing there trying her best to just breathe. Then he looks and sees Esther. The axe or the scepter, which will it be?  

2 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.  

Do you see it? She won favor in his sight. I am sure Esther looked beautiful, but I am also sure he was accustomed to beauty in his presence. Everything about her, her royal robes, her countenance, her beauty, her meekness, won in that heart 

pounding moment. The king gave her favor. But who is moving in the heart of the king?  

Who is the unseen member of the cast? Who is taking the faith of Esther and moving the heart of the King? We all know who it is. The one who raises up kings and brings kings down. It is almighty God. Based upon the faith of Mordecai, the faith of the Israelites throughout the land, and Queen Esther’s faith, God was on the move. God was right there and orchestrated His plan. Write this down…..  

Divine appointments always involve a constant, the Creator orchestrating His purposes 5:3-8  

3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.”  

The king has basically given the queen a blank check. She could have asked him for anything. For example, hang Haman immediately! Off with his head! Esther does not do that, because God is giving her wisdom. She can’t ask that the edict be rescinded, that was a given. She could have Haman killed, but she doesn’t do that. God will bring about a course correction in His timing.  

4 And Esther said, “If it please the king,[a] let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.” 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. 6 And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”[b]  

Now, this is the second time that the king has given her a blank check. Is it time to have Haman knocked off? He is right there. Wouldn’t you have said off with his head? Esther doesn’t rush to a rash action. She patiently lays out a plan that God has placed on her heart.  

Now Haman thinks he is in the place of honor. He has just had a feast with the king and the queen. He has had all kinds of things to eat. He has had wonderful conversations with the king and queen. He has rubbed shoulders with royalty. It just can’t get any better than that for Haman, right? He probably was walking around at least an inch taller. He was thinking about all the things that he would tell everyone about the great honor that the king and queen had given him. He was a big shot now and everyone was going to know it! 

7 Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king[c] to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”  

A second feast! Unbelievable, right? Haman has to be glowing like a strobe light. A second feast, really? She has the perfect opportunity and now she is delaying swift judgment? No, she is patiently working out the plan that God has given her. Isn’t that so like God? Our ways are not His ways. His timing is most often different than our desired timing. God is in control and He is orchestrating His plan for His purposes. Right now Haman is on the top of the mountain rejoicing and Mordecai is in the valley fasting and praying. What will happen next? What will Esther say at the next feast? What is God’s next move? ……..You will find out next week  

Let’s now draw some applications…..  

1 Our crisis may very well be God’s plan to move in our life. Instead of running away, God wants us to run to him in a very meaningful way. Sackcloth and ashes, fasting, and praying are more meaningful ways than a quick ATM prayer to God. Do we have to mimic the Jews? No, but we have to approach the throne of grace with humility, repentance, faith, and persistency.  

2 Every believer has had at least one crossroad. When you became a believer you were at a crossroads, believe by faith or reject in unbelief. You believed by faith! If you have not believed by faith, then you are at that crossroads tonight. Jesus Christ came to this earth to live a perfect life, He went to the cross, He bore your sins, He bore the wrath of God for you, He shed his blood for the forgiveness of sin, He died, He was buried, and He rose from the dead on the third day. All of this was done for you. This is the Gospel. You are at a crossroads. Do you believe the Gospel to be true? Do you put your trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior? You are at this crossroads.  

Sharing the Gospel can be a collision between fear and faith. God puts you in a place and at a time orchestrated solely by him for you to open your mouth and share the Gospel. Will fear win or will faith win, knowing it is all up to God anyway? 

God has called you into a relationship with Him. God has given you His Spirit. God has given you spiritual gifts. God has given you His Word. God will give you His grace. Finally, God has placed you in this body for such a time as this. What is controlling you? Is it a crisis, a crossroad, or fear, or is it faith? Faith without works is no faith at all.  

Lastly, God’s sovereign plan is at work whether there are highs or lows in our lives, and whether we see opportunities or not. I ask you, will you cease your moments? Do you even see them?  

Mordecai said it best, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”