No King No Queen

Text:

Esther 2:15-17:

15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour 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.

 

Theme:

No King No Queen

 

Introduction:

• The Book of Esther from which our text is “taken” is a very unique book for a few reasons:
  • The Book of Esther is historical to an extent that no other book in the Bible reaches. The information and the absence of philosophical or theological exploration leave a rich history untouched and unequalled.
  • The Book of Esther does not mention the name of God once throughout its 10 chapters.
  • The Book of Esther has the “handiwork” of God throughout its providential government in spite of the name of God being omitted from the account.
• The second chapter depicts the high point of the story of Esther’s ascension to queen.
  • King Ahasuerus, the king of the Medes and Persians who current held the Israeli people in bondage, was suffering from problems in his marriage to Queen Vashti.
    • Queen Vashti disobeyed the command of the King to come and show herself to him and the princes one night when they had gotten drunk. Vashti was very beautiful and Ahasuerus was proud of his “trophy”, but her not defying the king’s power made Ahasuerus and even the princes upset that she would disrespect them int hat way!
  • The princes moved to urge King Ahasuerus to seek another wife who would “please” him in ways that Vashti did not.
    • Folk always want to tell you what you needJ
  • They scheduled a “viewing” of all of the most beautiful virgins of the Kingdom and the one who “pleased” King Ahaseurus would be made the queen…instead of Vashti.
  • Esther, although she was a Jew, got the opportunity to walk before the king and be considered.
    • After having her uncle, Mordecai, a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, pull a few strings to have her considered.
  • After seeing Esther, King Ahasuerus chose Esther to be his new queen! As it says in our text, verse 17:

“And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour 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”

• This story, although a sentimental expression of God’s providential power as it is used for the benefit of His children, is not so palatable for today’s womanJ. Can you hear the thoughts of some of the “Y2K+3” women our there!
  • Vashti was being treated as a mindless object how the king wanted to parade her around his friends when they got drunk!
  • Vashti should not have been “penalized” for her not jumping when the King said jump! His request was only fit for a “pet” anywayJ
  • How shallow King Ahasuerus must be if he is only using physical beauty as his criteria for selecting a wife.
  • King Ahasuerus was a follower anyway to be listening to his friends and agreeing to pick another queen.
  • Although the result is good for the people of Israel, Esther is basically sacrificing her individuality and intelligence to settle down with this shallow, narrow-minded, egotistical ogre whom she does not even know!
• A woman has to be married to a king to be a queen
  • Regardless of the traditional or contemporary impression of the story, this is one truth that you must not avoid… regardless of how much you may not like it!
  • Only the woman who has the intimate physical, emotional and spiritual relationship with the King can be the Queen.
  • In other words,
    • This contradicts the sociological teachings of many writers, doctors and   They say that all women are queens.
      • Not true; however, ALL WOMEN HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE QUEENS!!
    • There is only one stipulation è NO KING…NO QUEEN!!

 

Body:

• The role of the man and woman as King and Queen à man and wife in a home OR king and queen in a kingdom
  • A man’s “place” (role)!
    • 1 Corinthians 11:3, “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”
      • The man’s “place” is at the feet of Jesus!
        • Luke 8:41, “And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:”
      • The man’s “place” is as the “head” of the woman!
        • Headship and NOT superiority or domination
        • Be ACCOUNTABLE for and LEAD…not dominate or boss around!
  • A woman’s “place” (role)!
    • 1 Corinthians 11:3, “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God”
      • Genesis 2:21-25 gives the basis of the woman’s role as under the “headship” of the man:
        • “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 
          • Note: Before the Fall of Mankind — the inseparable unity and fellowship of her life with his!
        • “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
          • She is a PRIORITY to Him and is not just an OPTION
          • Although they are ONE, the covenant is made with the man to “cleave to his wife”
        • “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”
          • “HIS” denotes accountability and not possession.
          • Genesis 3:20, “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.”
            • Adam named Eve … an act of his role as Head.
    • Genesis 2:18, “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”
      • The woman is to HELP the man MEET the requirements that God has put before Him in covenant!
        • She was man’s complement, essential to the perfection of his being.
    • After the Fall of Mankind — there was a slight difference
      • Genesis 3:16, “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over”
        • The punishment for the woman after the fall of mankind was that her power of influence was reduced to the point that she should not influence the man à given that the influence facilitated the Fall!
          • This is NOT to say that the man gained power è the woman lost prominence in the Work of God
          • Before the Fall, they were a divine team in God’s work!
          • After the Fall, the woman helps the man complete God’s work!
            • For the woman, Serving her husband IS serving God!

Conclusion:

• In search of a “King”!
  • The relationship of King and Queen
    • Marriage to the King makes the woman a Queen
      • As the text explains, “And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins”
    • The King determines the Queen
      • As the text explains, “he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti”
    • If you want to be a Queen, you better find a King!
  • Man and Woman make husband and wife:
    • Mark 10:8, “And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.”
    • The basis for the King making the Queen is the fact that marriage to the husband makes the woman his wife.
    • If you want to be a Wife, you better find a husband!
  • God and the Church make the Bridegroom and His Bride
    • Revelation 21:2, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
    • If you want to be a member of God’s Church, you better believe in God!
      • Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
• God is the “Everlasting King”!
  • Women want to find a Man…they better find GOD!
  • Men want to find a Woman…they better find GOD!
• God is the King that we all (men and women) should cleave to!!
  • Seek God FIRST!
    • Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
  • God is the King of Kings!
    • Revelation 17:14, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”
    • Being with the King of Kings is what causes us to be identified as “called, and chosen, and faithful”
      • Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
    • He will provide your every need!
      • Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
  • Cleave to the King of Kings and:
    • The King will be added
    • The Queen will be added
    • The husband will be added
    • The wife will be added
    • The joy will be added
    • The peace will be added
    • The power will be added
  • • BUT, if He does not give you what you WANT, there is comfort in knowing that He CAN!!
      • Daniel 3:17-18, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
    • He’s ABLE!!!!!!!!

#227