Esther 4:12-16 For Such a Time as This
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When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you
are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and
deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who
knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to
Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three
days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is
against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Did you have March 20th marked on your calendar this year? Unless it was your birthday or anniversary, I’m
guessing that this is a date that no one here this morning observed. But perhaps you’re familiar with the Jewish
holiday which fell on that date this year – it’s called the festival of Purim. This festival is celebrated in honor of
Hadassah, who you know better as Esther, the one God used to rescue the Jewish people from the wicked scheme
of a man named Haman who wanted to exterminate them. In true Jewish fashion the festival starts at sundown,
continues into the next day, and includes exchanging gifts of food and drink with neighbors and doing acts of
charity for the poor.
To be fair, however, this festival should really be devoted to honoring Esther’s cousin, Mordecai. It was his
encouraging words to Esther that led her to realize that God had put her in a special place, with special privileges,
at just the right time, so that she might come to the aid of those who needed her. Mordecai said: “Who knows
but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” These words still serve to encourage God’s
people today. Who knows but that God has put you here and given you the gifts that you have to come to the aid
of those who need you? For such a time as this!
Do you remember Esther’s story? Pampered and privileged. Splurged on and made to feel special. Treated like
royalty. She was chosen from hundreds of young girls to be the next queen for the Persian King Xerxes. Before
that, she had undergone a program of pampering that I expect many ladies would envy—not just two hours or
two days at the spa, but a whole twelve months! There were six months of special oil treatments for her skin, and
another six of months of perfume and cosmetic treatments, all designed to make Esther look and smell like a
Persian beauty queen. What a life!
Before all this, though, there were the tough times. She was a captive in a foreign land, orphaned and living with
her cousin, her future was very uncertain. So when some good things finally came her way, she felt a little like any
of us would feel: “It’s about time! I’m worth it!” Ladies, can you relate to Esther? Are there times when you’re
taken for granted, overlooked, overworked. Then something special happens—someone – maybe even your
husband - takes the kids for the night, or you get a bonus from the boss, or you win a day at the spa in the silent
auction at Harvest Fest. How do you feel at times like these? “It’s about time, because I’m worth it!” And even if
you don’t receive special treatment from others, I’m guessing there are times when you find plenty of good
reasons to treat yourself.
But I know that the ladies here don’t have the market cornered when it comes to the “I’m worth it” attitude, do
they? There are plenty of husbands and dads who think they need some special “down time or hobbies,”
teenagers who think they should receive more perks than they do, and senior citizens who figure they’ve already
paid their dues and now its time for others to do for them. There are plenty of times when we all think we should
be pampered and made to feel special. And if someone else won’t do it, we’re usually happy to do it for ourselves,
because we deserve it!
Don’t get me wrong! I’m not against a little pampering. But the thing is; there are many times when we start to
view ourselves a little more highly than we ought to. We find too many reasons to take it easy and devote
whatever resources we have to treating ourselves very well. “What about me?” “When is it my turn?” “Don’t I
deserve it?” Esther knew all about this, she fell into the same trap.
That’s where her cousin, Mordecai, comes in. When the very existence of her people was threatened by Haman’s
plot, and she thought she was safe because of her favored status, Mordecai sent her a message that brought her
back to reality: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For
if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and
your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as
this?” (Esther 4:13-14) What Mordecai said was something we all need to hear: “It’s not all about you. There are
others out there, too. And who knows? Maybe God has put you at this place at this time for the very purpose of
contributing to the needs of others.” For Esther, this was a time to consider the needs of others, not a time to
look in the mirror and ask, “What about me?” It was a time to look at the rest of her people and ask, “What about
them?”
We’re in the middle of a worship series looking at the various spiritual gifts described by the Apostle Paul in
Romans 12, any of which God might give to you. But what precedes that detailed list is so important for helping us
understand how to use these gifts. In Romans 12:3, Paul says: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you
ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given
you”. Essentially, that’s the same thing Mordecai said to Esther, that just maybe you are here— right here, right
now—for such a time as this, a time to look at things a little differently and see the needs of others. It’s not all
about you; it’s about others and their needs, too. In fact, when you look at the entire New Testament, all the
words of Jesus and John, Peter and Paul, and all the others—over 150 times the phrases “one another” or “each
other” or “others” are used to move us towards less selfishness and more selflessness when thinking about the
needs of those around us, much like Mordecai urged Esther to think of the bigger picture.
So, with this new vision of others, the question was now, “What would it cost?” A throne, a crown, a claim to the
kingdom, a royal name, royal position, royal perks—it was all on the line, all for the sake of others. Esther could
have asked these questions as she considered what she might have to sacrifice in order to help her people. But
what she stood to lose is nothing in comparison with what Jesus freely gave up. When the Holy Spirit takes off the
blinders of vanity, and forces us to look at the bigger picture of humanity, we want to begin by viewing Jesus
himself at work. Thankfully, for Jesus, it was not all about himself. When Jesus faced the dilemma of people
heading to an eternity of hell, he didn’t think of himself. He couldn’t think of himself. All he could do was think of
you and me, and our need to be saved.
Here’s how the Apostle Paul put it: “(Jesus) being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even
death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8) Just like Esther, Jesus also had his “for such a time as this” moment, only his
was far greater, because the hope of salvation for all people of all time was on the line. And it’s that great love of
Jesus that we celebrate every day of our lives—his willingness to put his life on the line, even more so than Esther.
He allowed his life to be taken so that ours would not be. He gave us his righteousness that makes us acceptable
in the sight of God so that we wouldn’t be condemned on the day we stand before him. His compassionate plea
from the cross – “Father forgive them – it is finished” would change the verdict of condemnation that we
deserved to the promise of eternal life that we didn’t deserve.
And now, as we celebrate Christ’s love every day, it becomes our calling in life. As we have been saved, we now
have the opportunity to save others, to contribute to their needs in small or big ways. Our life is our own “for such
a time as this” moment. Is there someone you know who needs to be saved from a few tears or maybe even a
lifetime of unnecessary sadness? Then look for a time and a way that you can comfort them in their trouble with
the comfort that you have received from God. (2 Cor. 1:4). Is there someone who would come to church, if only
they had someone to sit with, if only someone would pick them up? Maybe that’s you? Is there a ministry in our
congregation that needs someone to manage it, staff it, or move it along – maybe that’s you? Are there things
that catch your eye when you drive in or walk through the doors – things that need cleaning or fixing or replacing
– you can’t do it all, but can you do some of it? Are there needs that people have or the congregation has for
which you think you have nothing to offer, speak to your Father in heaven in prayer – if you can’t help, he most
certainly can?
Maybe God brought you to this place, at this time, with the gifts that you have so that you can help others and
encourage still more to do the same. We don’t do it to be recognized, just like Esther never envisioned the
festival of Purim to be held in her honor. But we will contribute to the needs of others, we will have a greater
vision toward those needs, we will do what we can to help others—all for the sake of Christ who loved us and
gave himself for us. If a person’s gift is contributing to the needs of others, let them give generously. Amen.