(Portions of this sermon come from Just a Sister Away by Renita Weems)
My name is Esther and I grew up like so many other girls in my village. I sat at my mother’s feet learning to grind flour and to make our holiday meals. I walked to synagogue with my parents and sat in the outer courtyard with all the other women. I fetched water and made matzoth. One day my life changed forever. My parents died and I felt all alone and abandoned. But God heard my prayers and my older cousin Mordecai took me in and raised me as his own. He was a good and wise man who understood what it was like to have your world taken away. He told me many times of the Fall of Jerusalem when the Babylonians captured his family, and they were deported and had to live hand to mouth. Later, Mordecai discovered a plot to assassinate the King, so he sent word to the King that saved his royal life; a deed that would ultimately save the lives of thousands.
Mordecai knew an opportunity when he saw one, so when the King asked for all the beautiful virgins to be brought to the palace he called me to him. Cousin Mordi said, Esther my flower, you are beautiful like your mother. Go to the palace, but do not reveal your Jewish heritage. I did as I was told, but it felt like I was all alone once again. As a young girl, I left my friends, Abram the boy who had a crush on me, and cousin Mordi, to be one of the many pretty girls who might delight the King. I trusted my cousin, but I trusted God more. I kept close to God. I decided I was in this place and I should make the best of it. So I charmed Hegai the man in charge of the harem and received preferential care. I embraced my beauty and I liked all the attention because I felt like Queen Vashti before she fell from grace.
Queen Vashti had courage I admired. She had entertained noble women for months and then during the last week of parties she was asked to leave her guests to show off her beauty and parade in front of all the drunken governors and princes. She did the appropriate thing, the strong thing, she said no. She defied the King, and for that she lost her crown. She was lucky she did not lose her life. The law clearly states anyone who comes before the King without being summoned will be put to death.
Queen Vashti’s courageous choice brought me to the palace. The King wanted a new queen. After a year of beautification, it was my turn to be with the King. I was honored and humbled when the King set the royal crown upon my head and made me his queen. I found grace and favor in the sight of the King and he loved me more than any other. Being Queen was amazing enough, but then the King gave a great banquet to honor me; his new queen, Queen Esther.
Five years passed and I became a strong woman, as well as a beautiful queen. I had obeyed Mordecai and had never revealed my Jewish heritage. But a time came when my silence must be broken. The King had placed Haman in charge of much of his kingdom which meant all the other officials were to honor him. My cousin Mordecai worked at the King’s gate, but would not give honor to Haman (because of a long standing feud between their clans.) Haman knew my cousin was a Jew, so he convinced the king that all the Jews failed to follow the laws of the King. Haman even agreed to pay the king a handsome bribe as revenge upon the Jews. A decree was sent across the kingdom to destroy and annihilate every Jew. This was my people’s darkest hour.
I was deeply distressed. Mordecai asked me to make supplication to the King on behalf of my people. But how could I do that? He was asking the impossible. I had not seen the king in over a month and now I was just supposed to walk into his inner court without invitation. Everyone knows if anyone should do that they would be put to death, unless the king holds out the golden scepter granting life.
Mordecai tried to convince me of the right path by saying, “Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this” (4:14). He was right. So in order to gain strength for my approach, I called for a three day fast for all the Jews. They fasted for me, my courage and for God to find favor with my people. My maids and I also fasted for three days to create solidarity with all of God’s people so that I might intercede on their behalf. I felt more connected to my people those three days than I had my entire life. My resolve strengthened, my fears abated, and my hope for my condemned people was renewed. Even though it was against the law, I would approach the king and if I perish, I perish (4:16).
As I stood in the courtyard, I prayed: O my Lord, help me, I am alone and have no helper but thee. Make thyself known in this time of our affliction and give me courage, amen. Then I approached the King. As soon the king’s eyes met mine, his heart was open and he pardoned my life- extending his golden scepter. My God is good. My prayers were heard. The king’s graciousness overwhelmed me, for he promised to grant me any request up to half his kingdom. So I invited the king and Haman to a banquet, and then another banquet the following day. In between these feasts Haman pridefully celebrated his success, while building gallows for my cousin Mordecai who still refused to tremble in his presence.
God also moved the king. He could not sleep the night between the two banquets, so he read the great book of records reminding him of Mordecai’s bravery in saving the King’s life. Out of gratitude he wanted to reward Mordecai and asked Haman to present my cousin Mordecai with the finest robe and parade him on horseback through the square. Haman did the king’s bidding, and left in shame. Only to be summoned back to the palace for the second banquet I was preparing.
After the fine meal, I made my request of the King, If it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people’s lives at my request. For Haman, your enemy, has ordered all Jews be slain (7:3, 6). The fury of the king was great, and he ordered Haman to be hung on the very gallows he had built to destroy Mordecai. I petitioned the King to write a decree vindicating my people from India to Ethiopia (8:9).
Not only had I saved my people from complete destruction, and my cousin’s life, I was able to tell my husband, the king, that Mordecai is my cousin claiming both my family and my heritage in one affirming moment. Then the king generously gave me all that had belonged to Haman. I in turn set Mordecai over the house of Haman and my cousin’s fame spread throughout the kingdom. My people celebrated their salvation. The Jews in every province had light and gladness and joy and honor.
Every year we remember our day of deliverance with the Feast of Purim. we relive the defining moment when the faith of this world, intersected with the power of God as we joined together in a fast. The Fast of Esther recalls the unity of our people before God- a time dear to my heart when the faith of so many was experienced by one: a time when I rose beyond a queen of beauty, to become an instrument of God.
