Image Credit - foulline - CCO Public Domain Image - via Pixabay

  The following are my notes taken during my pastor's sermon.

Our Bible study passage for "Hope with Purpose" is Esther 4:13-16.

Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” 

Esther Plans to Intercede

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” - Esther 4:13-16

The scriptures give us hope and encouragement.

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. - Romans 15:4

When we feel hopeless, we tend to focus on ourselves.  We focus on our disappointments, our circumstances, and our sadness.  We must refocus.  We must learn to use our heartache for His glory.

The Background Story

Ahasuerus was a powerful king.  He loved a big party.

Queen Vashti refused the king's request to model.

By Esther, chapter 2, there had been no queen for several years.  Ahasuerus missed having a queen.  Several hundred women were selected to contest for the position of Queen.  They went through sort of a beauty school.  Esther was a Jewish girl who was part of the contest.  She had been raised by Mordecai.  Esther was chosen and became the Queen of Persia.

Mordecai overheard a plot to kill the king.  Hamen enters in Esther, chapter 3.  Mordecai would not bow down to Hamen.  Hamen's plan was to murder all the Jews.

Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to seize their possessions as plunder. - Esther 3:13

 Mordecai told Esther of the plot.  He told her that she is in her position "for such a time as this."  She responded with character.

"Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” - Esther 4:16

Esther requested a banquet.  Hamen plotted to kill Mordecai.  The king found out that Mordecai saved his life and wished to honor him.

Get this Bible Study on Esther by Beth Moore here.

Hope with Purpose

Esther was there for a purpose.

1.  God is never absent.  He is always present.  He is always at work.  God was in all the details of the story of Esther.

2.  God has a purpose for our lives which makes us hopeful but it will require conviction, courage, and change.