THE GLORY CONCEALS AND REVEALS
“It is the
glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out
a matter.”
Proverbs 25: 2
This verse knows no greater
example than the book of Esther. The name “Esther” has two meanings:
“I will be
hidden” – the glory conceals.
“A star” – the glory
reveals.
Mordecai, her loving uncle,
questioned
her purpose as the new and Jewish queen of the most powerful monarch in
the world, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such
a time as this?” If she remained hidden, national genocide of the Jews
would have begun a process to eradicate the scriptures. All God’s promises
to Israel would have been seen to have failed. God’s reputation was at
stake.
Esther was hidden in terms
of her race. Also she knew the power of discretion in exposing the wicked
Haman at the right time. The tables were turned completely on the arch
enemy of the Jews.
Mordecai, then Esther, then
the king searched out the matter for the glory of God. Mordecai’s refusal
to bow down to the false number two, Haman, began a time of desperate importance
throughout the Persian empire. The society we live in today is similar
with righteousness crumbling around God’s people and evil being enshrined
in our laws. Will we be defiant and protest with the courage of Mordecai?
Or will we bow down silently to the occult forces arrayed against the Lord
Jesus and His church?
Esther became a star who
now shines like the stars forever and forever. Will we be stars, who press
home the Lord’s victory over evil agencies on the earth today? The victory
in the HEAVENLIES is manifest HERE through the church. There is no mention
of God or Satan in this, the last history book of the Old Testament. Behind
the scenes, however, God and Satan are very much at work.
God is looking for discerning
disciples who will wage the warfare of Ephesians 3: 10,
“… To the
intent NOW the manifold wisdom of God THROUGH the church BE MADE
KNOWN to the
principalities and
powers in the heavenly places.”
(Emphasis mine)
We have two lives and live them
simultaneously: a life here on earth, and a life in the heavenlies. We
are hidden with Christ in God, and we receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Spiritual warfare depends upon a consciousness of the two realms. The importance
of Esther is that by hearing God she made known God’s wisdom in perilous
times. The concealing and revealing aspect of God’s glory is found in Esther.
Let’s see the book in eight simple divisions.
1. VASHTI PRECLUDED (ESTHER
1: 19)
Her flat refusal to obey
her husband caused an outrage. Ahasueras summoned the wise men and Memucan
hit the nail on the head. Her defiant rebellion would become known throughout
the empire and usurp man’s position in the family as the head of the home.
Divine order is established when Jezebel is removed (Jezebel being a spirit
of control, likes to humiliate and undermine). Memucan means “their poverty”
and if Vashti had her way marriages would be wrecked. 1 Corinthians 11:
3 stands as eternal truth, now and then. The aspect of heaven coming to
earth in family life for glory to be revealed is when the wife is neither
above nor below her husband, but ALONGSIDE.
Women look for sensitivity
in a man and men look for significance from their wife. Without respect
the woman cannot give significance to the man. What Vashti had initiated
was so dangerous to the fabric of society, she had to be excluded. The
difficulty of Christian wives living with non-Christian husbands is well
documented; but they must be won, without a word, and with chaste behaviour.
Women try to change their men, but only God can! Christ is the head of
man and man the head of woman. Let us respect divine order for the healing
of families.
2. VITAL PRECURSOR (ESTHER
2: 22; 6: 2)
Mordecai discovered a plot
against the king and as a faithful subject informed Esther, the new queen.
Discerning righteousness was remarkably rewarded (see chapter 6: 1 – 11)
at the very time when gross evil was about to be inflicted on the Jews,
and upon Mordecai himself. If we exercise a ministry of warning and discernment
we will be wonderfully protected in the last days. If we handle our responsibility
down here (of discernment) we will judge angels, who have the ability to
obey or disobey God’s decrees. Esther informed the king of her older relative’s
concern, and carried on the obedience she had walked in (see 2: 10; 2:
15; 2: 20).
3. VILE PLAN (ESTHER 3:
8, 9)
Extermination. Genocide.
Ethnic cleansing. The vile plan of Haman has a modern ring to it as governments
become more totalitarian. Hitler and Hamas are modern equivalents, whose
hatred of the Jew demands their liquidation. Today the same vile plan of
destruction obsesses the fundamentalist Islamic mind. The nations of the
world will, through their fears, ultimately encourage it, not knowing they
prepare themselves for Armageddon’s judgement. Demons incite world leaders;
they are a special target of unseen agencies in the heavenly places (see
Isaiah 24: 21). Haman’s strategy is a warning for such a time as these
end-time days. We must not over-estimate diabolical intrigues, but the
body of Christ basking in a false triumphalism tends to under-estimate
them. The charge of ‘navel gazing’ or ‘seeing demons under the bed’ exhibits
a spiritual blindness that is itself demonic! The knowledge of demonic
activity comes to us as a gentle illumination of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes
discernment comes as a sudden surprise. Our initial response is usually
correct.
4. VALIDITY OF PURPOSE
(ESTHER 4: 14)
A relationship without godly
purpose always deteriorates… i.e. Saul hunting David, Delilah pursuing
Samson. This key verse in Esther underlines the purpose of the Mordecai
– Esther relationship. Our relationship with the Father and the Son only
grows if we know and obey what the Holy Spirit is saying. He alone knows
the future purpose of God. Are you walking down a blind alley, a comfort
zone avenue, or the King’s highway? Nobodies become somebodies by the power
of obedience to God’s purpose. Who gets into God’s holy purpose? Is it
the most loving, the most holy, or the most gifted? Like Esther, it is
the obedient. Obey God’s command and the glory of God shall be revealed
to you. She agreed with her older relative with a hunger to do God’s will.
The most proactive thing in the world is to embrace God’s agenda and Esther
did it with astute wisdom.
5. THE VALIANT PROPOSAL
(ESTHER 4: 16)
“And so I
will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
The most spiritual and the ugliest
thing in the world was Calvary. The purpose of God took Jesus there (see
John 12: 27, 28a). Only a proactive Church who determines to do the will
of God, and chooses the Lordship of Christ will succeed in vision. Religion
is reactive and submits to circumstances; it is led by the flesh and consequently
will flounder, trapped by enemy suggestions. Esther broke through limitations
of fear and natural thinking. Counting her life as nothing, she hazarded
her privileged position for the sake of her people. The three day fast
brought her to the beautiful moment of being seen by the king in all her
beauty. This moment, engineered by God, brought her the necessary favour.
She was dressed to kill! She didn’t have to say a word!
6. VIOLENT PREDICAMENT
(ESTHER 5: 14)
The gallows were made for
Mordecai, and Haman goes to the private feast with joy. Everything seems
to be going his way. The sovereign God is still working behind the scenes
and stops the king from slumber. No dignity had been forthcoming for Mordecai’s
intervention in helping to keep the king safe, so we have…
7. THE VIRTUOUS PARADE
(ESTHER 6: 11)
Can you imagine the clenched
teeth of Haman as he proclaims before Mordecai, “Thus shall it be done
to the man whom the king delights to honour.” How do we receive honour?
Is it with a humble heart like Mordecai, who went back to the king’s gate
to pray? Or do we allow exaltation and reward to puff up our ego, and so
we forfeit the glory of God? How do we react when others are honoured?
Do we rejoice with them? Criticism and jealousy in the body of Christ short
circuits the glory and purpose of God, allowing the enemy to sow his mischief.
A sharp thought or accusing words, mixed with the venom of jealousy, bring
a take-over spirit, cutting the victim away from blessing.
8. VITAL PETITIONS (ESTHER
7: 2f; 8: 5)
“What is your petition,
Queen Esther?” asked the king. Spiritual timing crucially produces the
victory. Our requests to a mighty King in heaven need to come at the right
time. Too many prayers begin with petitions. We should spend time tuning
in our spirits to the Holy Spirit by praising God, singing in the Spirit,
praying in tongues; fasting and meditation on the Word will also help,
producing a watchfulness. C. G. Bevington would get himself quiet for days
before he petitioned God. The Spirit of God must be allowed to brood over
the waters of the dark and deep. Our hearts need to be attuned to the nature
of God and see the sinful, dark human heart and be pained at the huge gap
that can only be bridged by Calvary. The Cross is more than a moral lavatory
but is the door that opens to eternal life. Prayers of petition are answered
by the price of redemption. The daring initiative of Esther in days of
diabolical intrigue brought divine intervention.
TO CONCLUDE
God looks for the faith and
receptivity of Esthers today who will shine as lights on the hill, lamps
to the path, and be trailblazers of glory! You were born again for such
a time as this! If we are dressed in the armour of God, we will overcome
even in days of demonic strategy and deep confusion. We need Father’s wisdom
as well as the Spirit’s power to ask in Jesus name. Esther could say her
times were in God’s hands even in the midst of utmost, severe trials. Like
her very name, the real stars in God’s kingdom are the hidden intercessors,
who sacrifice their lifestyles to pray on behalf of God’s people, for God’s
glory alone. Although Jesus spoke to large crowds, most of His earth walk
was hidden in obscurity. The entire gospels only cover about 28 days out
of 33 years. Today’s emphasis on the lime light can become a contrary spirit
to the Holy Spirit, whose very name indicates difference from the spirit
of the world. Modern Esther’s work behind the scenes, in close communication
with the Lord. People who are up-front in the ministry need the hidden
times with God. Those who are behind the scenes need those moments of glory
(not personal), which are revealed to the church or the world.
Let’s pray:
“Sovereign Father God,
I refuse to be unconcerned
with what is happening politically and morally. Grant your holy discretion
that I may be used in Your purposes and providence. Strengthen trust and
faith that I may know the Mordecai spirit, knowing Lord Jesus that You
will prevail over man. I come to die out to self, to abandon myself entirely
to You, loving Lord. Give me the heart obedience and submission of Esther.
Help me to see Your wisdom and Your glory in the master key of Calvary’s
Cross. Prepare my heart in fasting, and help me to hear the still small
voice of victory. In Jesus name. Amen.”
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