: SUCH A TIME AS THIS

SUBJECT: EXPOSITION OF BOOK OF ESTHER

By Kevin Omulah

STEM Staff| At UOE-CU|3RD FEBRUARY, 2023

 CONTENT

•Background
•Exegesis- through hermeneutical enterprise
•Application
•Conclusion
BACKGROUND
 Author-Unknown
 some believed to be Mordecai
Then redacted by the Great
Assembly

 Dates written- 450-331 BC

 Geographical setting- Persian Empire,
Citadel of Susa/ Shushan.
 Historical setting- Occurs when Jews are
exiled in Persia, after being deported from
Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar under the
reign of King Jehoiachin of Judah
BACKGROUND
• Peculiarity- God/ Lord literally unmentioned
• Just like in Songs of Solomon
• Styles- historical book, narrative
• Opinions- Some scholars have disagreed with the genre of
Esther because God isn’t mentioned
While some have raised objections to the
canonization of the book; failure to mention God, question
historicity of Esther & regard it as fictional narrative serving
merely to bolster the national ethic of Jews or to justify the
existence of the uniquely non theocratic holiday of Purim.
My opinion?
EXEGESIS
Key Characters • Key Proceedings
Mordecai • Queen Vashti dethroned Es 1
Esther • Esther selected as Queen Es 2
King Xerxes/Ahasuerus & His • Mordecai saves King Xerxes Es2
wise men • Haman conspires against Jews Es 3
Queen Vashti • Esther boldly speaks up for Jews Es
4-7
Haman & his advisors
• Jews delivered Es 8-9
• Haman hanged while Mordecai
rewarded & advances Es 7& 10
EXEGESIS
Thematic Analysis
1.Sovereignty of God- despite God is not mentioned, He doesn’t exist as an
incognito. He displays His power by;
• Esther finding favor Es 2:8-9
• Wisemen & wife of Haman sentiments Es 6:13
• Esther not having not invited in Kings palace for 30 days, but finds favor
from King and holds on her Golden Sceptre; instead of death Es 4:11, 5:2
• King & Haman accepting invitation to banquet of Esther
• King honoring Mordecai at such a critical time Es 6:11
• Haman being hanged on same gallows he made for Mordecai Es 7
• Mordecai being incharge of Haman’s house[his enemy]
EXEGESIS
2. Prayer and fasting • Mordecai revealing plot to kill King Es2v19-23
• Jews fasted after hearing the news Es • King dethrones Queen Vashti Es 1:16-22
4:3
• Esther commands Mordecai to tell the 4. Obedience & Loyalty
Jews, pray & fast for her Es 4:16  King vs Vashti- disobedience Es 1:10-12
• Their prayer bears fruit  King vs Wise men Es 1:13-
 Haman vs King –irrationale decision to kill Jews &
3.Courageous Witness letters supplied Es 3:11
Mordecai believes that God would  Mordecai vs Esther- not to sate her identity Es
rescue the Jews, even if Esther don’t Es 2:10 Probability; Could her reveal her identity,
4:14 then such she couldn’t have received such great
treatment. Mordecai visited regularly to check on
Esther boldly addresses the King, in her. But also there is hand of God
the inner court Es 5:1 That if she perish  Her identity is later revealed Es 7:4
she perishes ES4:16
EXEGESIS
Mordecai vs Haman
 Mordecai doesn’t bow down to
Haman. • Es 7:4 Israelites were to be killed,
Though, no historical law prohibiting Jews
destroyed & annihiliated
to bow to kings/men • 5. Generosity
So he plots to destroy all Jews • The King kindness Es 2:18, 1:7, 9:22
Exod 17:16- war against Amalekites from • Mordecai selflessly cares for Esther
gen to gen
1Sam 15- Saul vs King Agag
It started with Israel and Esau, where 6.Pride vs Humility
Amalekites are Edomites Numbers Psalms Haman was full of pride Es 3:9
83:6-7
Mordecai had mentioned being a Jew He even makes gallows
Es 8:3- Haman is an Agagite; the reason But Mordecai with his humility, is uplifted
for Him being an enemy to the Jews Es Es 8:15-16, 9:4
3:10
APPLICATION
1. Our sovereign God
We serve a constant God in a constantly changing world
He knows the end from the beginning; He’s Alpha & Omega
Always trust in Him, for He’s sovereign. What can’t He do?
In our needs; financially[fees, sustenance], family relationship, academics,
protection, malady, leadership.
Silence of God- God is the unseen force behind the events in Esther. Acting in most
unexpected ways to protect His people.
Same applies to us, He will mysteriously, miraculously above any human
understanding. And He supplies to as per His riches in glory
Offer our allegiance to Him, without compromise
Obedience is better than sacrifice
Mordecai & Esther, new this secret, thus trusted in Him through prayer
APPLICATION
2. Prayer & Fasting
Lk 18:1- Men always ought to pray, &
not to lose heart
Can prayer of man, change the mind
of GOD?
Numbers 23:19- God is not man that
He should change His mind
Last week was prayer & fasting
“Prayer catapults us onto the frontier
of spiritual life. Of all the spiritual
disciplines, prayer is the most central
because it ushers us into perpetual
communion with the Father” Richard
Foster
APPLICATION
“To pray is to change. Prayer is central
avenue God uses to transform us. If
we’re unwilling to change to change,
we will abandon prayer as a
noticeable characteristic of our
lives.”R. Foster
Fasting reminds us that we are
sustained by every word that
proceeds from God’s mouth. Food
really doesn’t sustain us, but God’s
word.
It aint just physical abstinence from
food, but from a spiritual angle
APPLICATION
• To stand at such a time as this,
we must fast & pray
• Scrivens writes and says,

• What a Friend we have in

Jesus, all our sins and griefs
to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we
bear,
All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.
APPLICATION
• Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

• Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

• Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

• Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
•
APPLICATION
3.Courageous Witness
Living in a perversed & broken world.
But we ought to march out heart courageous & for what is true.
Arena where; extremities of Charismatism
LGBTQ advocacy & dress code
Compromise in job market
Cults & occults
Academics integrity
Like Shadrack & team, Esther & Mordecai, shall we
be bold in witnessing for Christ
Even if He leads us where the battle rages, we shall
follow him & march with hearts courageous after Him
APPLICATION
4. GENEROSITY
• Economy Njaanuary- Kuinama
real
• Welfare giving- support
others[grains, clothings & all
materials]
• Lets show love to one another
through giving to them
• Academic generosity-
discussions& teaching others
• Assets Fundsdrive- We give, we
own, tuwajibike
APPLICATION
5. Pride vs Humility & simplicity
In humility; Consider others of high value than you
No retaliation- but feed your enemies- laws of pwer
Desire to be at peace with all
Simplicity is inside out. Inward reality liberates us outwardly
For all who humbles themselves, God uplifts, like Mordecai
“Simplicity is freedom. Duplicity is bondage. Simplicity brings joy & balance.
Duplicity brings anxiety and fear” Richard Foster
CONCLUSION
God is calling us at such a time as this to stand out boldly, obediently
and witness for Him.
That no Matter when all are fallen, we should stand with truth because
it’s absolute.

God is calling us to be courageous witness, even when the

circumstances and battle rages.

Maranatha Music- Hearts Courageous

Thank You