Sermons at St

The book of Esther is unfamiliar and interesting enough to warrant a look at the whole story. The book of Esther is an early Jewish novella, set in the context of the Persian Empire of the fifth century BCE. It is written for Jews who live in close proximity to foreign rulers and must learn to make their own way in a society in which they are a minority and where there is a danger of persecution and oppression.

The novella begins at a big bash thrown by King Ahasuerus. After getting soused, the king decides to show off the beauty of his wife, and summons her to come before the party. She refuses, and is then banished by the King.

At the banishment of the queen, a beauty contest unfolds, a "Miss Persian Empire Contest" or an ancient "Who wants to Marry a Millionaire" unfolds, with commissioners searching the empire for the hottest looking young ladies. Worthy contestants are brought back to the king's harem.

Enter Esther. The Cinderella-like Esther has had a tough childhood. Both her mother and father died while she was a girl. Orphaned but not forsaken, she is taken in by Mordecai, an older cousin, and a Jewish citadel of the Persian king. Mordecai recognizes an opportunity for his adopted daughter, who has both a gorgeous body and lovely face. Esther is discovered and taken to the king's harem. The eunuch gives Esther the penthouse suite of the harem, gourmet meals, and seven servant girls who provide beauty treatments with oil and myrrh, perfumes and cosmetics. This is about the time guys start thinking, Hmm, I wouldn't mind being a lady.

The head eunuch also teaches Esther how to make a good impression on the king. She does, and she becomes queen. Soon thereafter Mordecai discovers a plot to assassinate the king and he tells Esther who then tells the king's men. The conspirators are killed and credit is given to Mordecai.

Mordecai runs into a bit of trouble when he refuses to bow down to Hammon, the kings narcissistic, second in command. Hammon plots to annihilate not only Mordecai, but the entire Jewish population, by writing an edict and forging the king's signature seal. There is no mention of God in the entire book, but one gets the sense that Mordecai's refusal to bow down can be attributed to his faith in Yahweh. Nevertheless, it looks like his uncompromising faith will result in the death of his entire race. As news spreads of the coming terror, Mordecai and the Jewish people begin to mourn. Mordecai suggests that Esther make an appeal to the king.

Here we are jolted back into the world of patriarchy, when Esther states that nobody, not even the queen, can approach the king without being summoned. Such audacious behavior could very easily result in a death sentence. Esther, with the advice of Mordecai had kept her race a secret, but Mordecai reminds her that even though she is queen, her life would not likely be spared if Hammon's genocidal edict were carried out.

Mordecai lays it all on the line for Esther, delivering one of the great speeches in scripture. "If you remain silent, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place while you and your family will perish."

Here I am reminded of the poem attributed to German protestant pastor, Martin Niemöller, "When They Came." Niemöller had gained respect and social position in Germany as a U-boat captain in WWI prior to becoming a pastor. He supported Hitler prior to his taking power. Initially the Nazi press held him up as a model of service. But Niemöller broke very early with the Nazis. In 1933 he organized the Pastor's Emergency League to protect Lutheran pastors from the police. As one of the lead organizers of the Barmen Synod from which we get one of the Presbyterian confessions, he once declared that he " would rather burn his church to the ground, than to preach the Nazi trinity of 'race, blood, and soil.'" Niemöller was protected until 1937 by both the foreign press and influential friends in the up-scale Berlin suburb where he preached. Eventually, he was arrested for treason, and placed in a concentration camp.Narrowly escaping execution, after the war, he became a leader in confession and repentance of the German Protestant Church complicity and failure to speak out. He wrote the oft-quoted poem:

When the Nazis arrested the Communists,
I said nothing; after all, I was not a Communist.
When they locked up the Social Democrats,
I said nothing; after all, I was not a Social Democrat.
When they arrested the trade Unionists,
I said nothing; after all, I was not a trade unionist.
When they arrested the Jews, I said nothing; after all, I was not a Jew.
When they arrested me, there was no longer anyone who could protest.

Now, back to our story: Mordecai tells Esther that silence is not an option and says, "But who knows but that you have come to a royal position for such a time as this!" Maybe her whole life, the loss of her parents, coming to live as his daughter, her beautiful form and features, being taken into the harem and given the luxurious life of a queen; maybe all this was not just coincidence, but divine fate that gave her the responsibility and power for courageous action on behalf of her people. Don't think this is all about fine clothes, jewelry, dinner parties and myrrh massages by buff eunuchs and servant girls. You can keep silent and try to protect your own privileged and luxurious life. Still you are fooling yourself if you think you are immune to prejudice and treachery. Perhaps you have come to such a position for such a time as this: God is calling for a female Moses, and you are it, girl!

Requesting the spiritual support of her people, Esther orders a three day fast. On the third day Esther approaches the king unsolicited. The king welcomes her, generously offering her up to half of his kingdom. Esther requests a dinner banquet with Hammon present. There she will make her request. The suspense is set, for the king knows neither of Hammon's plot of genocide, nor what Esther is up to.

Meanwhile, Hammon is full of himself, telling everyone how he has been honored with a special invitation to the royal banquet. High on his own power, Hammon comes across Mordecai again who will still not bow down to him. Hammon orders a gallows to be erected, 75 feet high, so that he can kick off the killing of the Jews by hanging Mordecai.

The king, however, unable to sleep listens to a reading through some of his court records and discovers that it was Mordecai who foiled the earlier plot to assassinate him. To Hammon's consternation, Mordecai is publicly honored by the king. Arriving at chapter 7 we read this morning, Hammon, Esther and the King gather with the rest of the court for the climactic dinner party, and the king asks, "Queen Esther, what is your request? Even up to half by kingdom, it will be granted."

Esther, in the very public dinner banquet, requests that the King "grant me my life." And revealing her ethnicity, she requests the life of her people, telling of the plot to slaughter them. "Who is this man who has dared do such a thing?" the king asked. "The adversary and enemy is this vile Hammon," Esther replies.

Hammon is then hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai. Mordecai is given Hammon's seat on the King's court, and Esther is given Hammon's estate.

The rest of the story continues the reversal of fortune for the Jews, who destroy the enemies who would destroy them. And to commemorate the reversal of fortune brought by Esther's courage and faith, the festival of Purim is instituted.

Given our belief in the one God, creator of all life in every land and race, we may question the exclusive claims that our people have the only true handle on God, and that God is against our oppression and annihilation but in favor of the annihilation of others.

Still it remains a fact of history that individuals and groups will plot evil, and place their person, position or race above giving honor to the God of peace, justice and love. We are called to purge the sin and prejudice from ourselves, recognize others who are working for like cause, regardless of where they are or what they call themselves, and in solidarity, speak and act with courage, faith and integrity. Whoever is not against us is for us.

Your life is not a coincidence. God has brought you through time and here together at St. John's for a purpose. You are not to focus in the negative past, your past pain and sin, nor hide in isolated luxury, but to recognize that by God's grace you have been forgiven, and are called to this great communion banquet, to use your strength and ingenuity to speak out against evil, and join in solidarity and justice for all life. May God grant us the integrity and wisdom of Esther and Mordecai. Amen.