Sermons From The Old Testament - Paragon Of Beauty And Virtue

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                     "PARAGON OF BEAUTY AND VIRTUE"

                            Esther 1:1-10:3

INTRODUCTION

1. A much loved story in the Bible is that of Esther (Hadassa)...
   a. A Jewish girl who becomes Queen of Persia
   b. Who at great risk to her life intercedes for and saves her people

2. I like to think of her as a paragon of beauty and virtue, long noted
   for...
   a. Being lovely and beautiful
   b. Her faith and courage

[She certainly serves as a role model for young women today.   To see
how, let's first review...]

I. THE STORY OF ESTHER

   A. THE EXPULSION OF VASHTI...
      1. King Ahasuerus (Xerxes, 486 to 465 BC) of Persia has a six
         month celebration, followed by a seven day feast, also one
         hosted by his wife, Queen Vashti, for the women  - Es 1:1-9
      2. Ahasuerus decides to show off his wife, but she refuses to
         cooperate - Es 1:10-12
      3. In anger, Ahasuerus has Vashti banished, as a warning to all
         wives - Es 1:13-22

   B. THE ELEVATION OF ESTHER...
      1. A search to replace Vashti was begun - Es 2:1-4
      2. In Shusan there was Mordecai, a Jew raising his lovely and
         beautiful cousin Hadassah (Esther) - Es 2:5-7
      3. Together with other beautiful virgins, she underwent 12 months
         of preparation, and ultimately was selected to replace Vashti
         - Es 2:8-19
      4. But she did not reveal that she was a Jew - Es 2:20
      5. Meanwhile, Mordecai thwarted a plot against Ahasuerus - Es
         2:21-23

   C. THE EXTERMINATION OF THE JEWS PLANNED...
      1. Haman the Agagite, is promoted, but Mordecai as a Jew refuses
         to bow before him, which infuriates Haman - Es 3:1-5
      2. Haman receives permission from Ahasuerus to kill the Jews, the
         13th of Adar - Es 3:6-15
      3. Mordecai mourns in sackcloth and ashes at the king's gate - Es
         4:1-3
      4. Esther hears of her cousin, and learns of Haman's plan to kill
         the Jews - Es 4:4-9
      5. Mordecai convinces Esther to approach the king, at great risk
         to her own life - Es 4:10-17

   D. THE EXTERMINATION OF THE JEWS THWARTED...
      1. Esther is granted an audience, invites the king and Haman to a
         banquet - Es 5:1-5
      2. She invites them to another banquet the following night, to
         make her petition - Es 5:6-8
      3. As Haman leaves he is angered when Mordecai refuses to bow to
         him; his wife and friends persuade him to build a gallows for
         Mordecai - Es 5:9-14
      4. That night the king can't sleep; reading through the archives
         he learns how Mordecai thwarted the plot against him, yet
         nothing had been done to honor him - Es 6:1-3
      5. The king asks Haman what should be done to honor a good man;
         Haman assumes the king intends to honor him and answers
         accordingly - Es 6:4-9
      6. The king has Haman bestow honor on Mordecai, Haman returns home
         ashamed - Es 6:10-14
      7. The next day, the king and Haman dine again with Esther; she
         tells of the plot to kill the Jews (her own people) and accuses
         Haman - Es 7:1-6
      8. In anger the king leaves, soon returning to find Haman
         assaulting Esther - Es 7:7-8
      9. Informed of the gallows Haman built for Mordecai, the king
         hangs Haman on it - Es 7:9-10
     10. Esther given Haman's house, Mordecai promoted, plan to save the
         Jews is made - Es 8:1-17
     11. The Jews are spared, their enemies destroyed, Esther and
         Mordecai institute the feast of Purim to commemorate the Jews'
         deliverance - Es 9:1-32

   E. THE EXALTATION OF MORDECAI...
      1. Mordecai the Jews becomes second to King Ahasuerus of Persia
         - Es 10:1-3
      2. Mordecai becomes great and well received among the Jews,
         seeking their good and speaking peace to them - Es 10:3

[The story of Esther is indeed an exciting one.  Let's now review...]

II. ESTHER'S BEAUTY AND VIRTUE

   A. WOMAN OF GREAT BEAUTY...
      1. She was lovely and beautiful - Es 2:7
      2. She was taken along with many other young women - Es 2:8
      3. She pleased Hegai the custodian, who advanced her to the best
         place - Es 2:8-9
      4. She underwent 12 months of preparation for beautifying women
         - Es 2:12
      5. She obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her - Es 2:15
      6. She was loved by Ahasuerus above all other women - Es 2:16-17

   B. WOMAN OF GREAT VIRTUE...
      1. She was a virgin up to her selection by the king - Es 2:2-3
      2. She honored Mordecai as her surrogate father - Exo 20:12
         a. She followed his advice not to reveal her ethnicity - Es
            2:10,20
         b. She remained in contact with him - Es 4:4-5
      3. She manifested faith in God's providence
         a. Accepting Mordecai's view that her position might be
            providential - Es 4:14
         a. Calling upon others to fast with her - Es 4:15-16
         b. Being willing to risk everything (position, life) if
            necessary - Es 4:16

CONCLUSION

1. Esther proved she was more than just a pretty face...
   a. A model adult daughter:  free to act as she chose, but carefully
      weighed Mordecai's advice
   b. A model person of faith:  devoted to God and His people

2. Esther proved herself to be a true daughter of Sarah...
   a. Beautiful on the outside perhaps, as was Sarah - cf. Gen 12:10-20
   b. But more so on the inside, as all women of God should be - cf. 1Pe
      3:3-6

May this "Paragon Of Beauty And Virtue" be a role model for women and
daughters everywhere...
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