Esther - Salvation Requires Celebration

Esther - Salvation Requires Celebration
The Mysterious Book of Esther and the Pursuit of Wholeness

In a Bible teaching delivered by Matthew Vander Els at Founded In Truth Fellowship, the focus was on the book of Esther and its profound message that salvation necessitates celebration. The book of Esther is described as a mysterious and sometimes vague text, prompting readers to delve deeper to uncover its truths. One of the initial points discussed was the human tendency to search for a community grounded in truth and love, a place to worship God, which is the essence of their fellowship.

The teaching then explored the concept of perfection, referencing the compelling verse in Matthew 5:48 where Yeshua (Jesus) says, "Be perfect, like my Father in heaven." Many people read this verse without truly considering its implications, especially when calling themselves believers. It was emphasized that humans are not God and will never be God. To understand this command for perfection, the speaker drew upon the Zonaman Bible Background Commentary, which suggests that the Greek word translated as "perfect" actually means more along the lines of "whole". The context of Matthew chapter 5 describes God's character, and the call to be perfect is a call to pursue the character of God, reminiscent of commands in the Torah like Leviticus 19 to be holy as God is holy.

The pressures of life, work, family, and raising children often lead to a feeling of inadequacy in achieving perfection. The pursuit of perfection as a personal goal is ultimately unattainable for anyone except Yeshua. Instead, the desire of God is for individuals to be perfected by His grace, mercy, and love through imitation of Yeshua, in whom true wholeness (Shalom) is found. The fact that Yeshua had to die and rise again signifies victory over sin and death, reconciling an imperfect people with a perfect God.

Therefore, righteousness is not about achieving a state of flawless perfection but about progress. The speaker cited examples of imperfect yet significant figures in the Bible such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samson, Noah, Matthew, John, Peter, and Paul. The key question is not whether someone is perfect, but whether they are progressing in their faith, taking steps forward, even if they stumble. This progress involves pursuing love, kindness, patience, joy, peace, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. God values intention and cheers for those who are making an effort. Imperfection does not disqualify anyone from God's love, mercy, pride, and grace; in fact, it is because of our imperfection that God's attention is drawn to us. Our response is to follow the one who is perfect, Yeshua, rebuking sin and embodying the fruits of the Spirit. Simply keeping commandments does not equate to perfection; the condition of the heart is paramount. The focus should be on the journey of progress rather than being trapped in the condemnation of striving for unattainable perfection. God's power is perfected through our weakness.

Imperfect People and God's Prevailing Plan in Esther

The book of Esther illustrates how God works through imperfect people to achieve His plans. Esther herself was not presented as a perfect, righteous role model, and neither was Mordecai entirely without complexity. Despite their imperfections, God used them to bring about significant reversals. The story begins with Haman's deception of King Xerxes, leading to a decree to kill all the Judeans in the Persian Empire, sparked by Mordecai's refusal to bow to Haman. Mordecai's lament and appeal to Queen Esther set in motion a pivotal moment.

Esther, initially hesitant due to the law against approaching the king unsummoned under penalty of death, was urged by Mordecai to consider that she might have attained her royal position for this very purpose. Esther's response was to ask all the Jews in Susa to fast on her behalf for three days, demonstrating a shift in her character towards boldness and reliance on communal support. This act of asking for support highlights the importance of the community in times of difficulty. Instead of a passive "thoughts and prayers" approach, Esther sought active support through fasting and petitioning God, even though it wasn't explicitly stated that their fasting was for religious reasons. This marked a significant maturing point for Esther, who transformed from a timid figure to someone willing to risk her life.

Reversals and God's Invisible Providence

The narrative of Esther is replete with reversals: honor to shame, death to life, injustice to justice, weakness to strength. After the three-day fast, Esther boldly approached King Xerxes, who showed her favor. Instead of immediately revealing her request, Esther wisely orchestrated events by inviting the king and Haman to a series of banquets. These banquets, involving drinking, were the setting for crucial political decisions in Persian culture. Haman's joy at being an exclusive guest was contrasted with his fury at Mordecai's continued refusal to bow. Driven by his wife's counsel, Haman had a 50-foot gallows built for Mordecai.

Throughout these events, the providence of God, though not explicitly mentioned in the book, is a significant theme. Unlike stories with visible miracles, God's hand works invisibly, guiding events. The king's insomnia leading him to read the chronicles and discover Mordecai's past service was presented not as a coincidence but as an act of God's providence. This led to the king seeking to honor Mordecai, ironically asking Haman, who believed the honor was for himself, how to best honor someone the king delighted in. Haman's elaborate suggestion resulted in him having to publicly honor his enemy, Mordecai, a profound humiliation.

Salvation Requires Celebration: The Institution of Purim

Mordecai recorded these events and instructed the Jews to observe the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar annually as days of feasting, gladness, joy, and the exchange of gifts of food and gifts to the poor. This celebration, known as Purim, commemorates the Jews' relief from their enemies and the turning of their sorrow into gladness. The teaching emphasized that salvation requires celebration as a natural and necessary response. Purim serves as a testament to this principle.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Embrace Progress Over Perfection: Focus on daily growth in character rather than striving for an unattainable state of perfection.
• Recognize God's Grace: Acknowledge that God's grace is essential for our journey, as we are inherently imperfect.
• Seek Community Support: When facing challenges, seek the support of your community through prayer and action.
• Be Bold in Your Calling: Like Esther, be willing to step out in faith, recognizing that you might be positioned for a specific purpose.
• Trust in God's Providence: Even when God's hand is not visibly apparent, trust that He is working behind the scenes.
• Practice Respect in Conflict: Like Esther's approach to the king, use respect as a tool to diminish offense and facilitate positive change.
• Celebrate Salvation: Acknowledge and celebrate God's acts of salvation in your life and in the history of His people.
• Engage Your Community: Recognize that faith is not solely individual but involves actively participating in God's kingdom with others.

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