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Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

 

From sorrow into gladness

God guides us to, and gifts us for, opportunities to work with him (Esther 7.1–6,9-10; 9.20-22; Psalm 124; James 5.13-20)

 

Context

  • “Today in Kabul a female cat has more freedoms than a woman… A bird may sing in Kabul, but a girl may not...” This is how actress Meryl Streep raised issues of restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms in Afghanistan at a UN-related event this week. The UN’s 2024 gender snapshot data shows that there is still a long way to go before global gender equality is achieved, despite its own 2030 goals.
  • Closer to home we have learned more about allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed, former owner of the prestigious London department store Harrods. It is alleged that he used his wealth and power to sexually abuse and silence women employed by him, with others around him colluding and helping to cover his tracks.
  • Throughout history women have often been abused, exploited, silenced or simply ignored because of their gender, but many have nevertheless managed to overcome obstacles to make their mark on the world. At the Tate Britain gallery in London, the exhibition Now You See Us, on until 13 October, showcases the work of a range of remarkable British women artists from 1520-1920. And in cinemas, Kate Winslet’s film Lee tells the life story of female photojournalist and war photographer Lee Miller.

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

  • The book of Esther tells the story of one woman who certainly did not fade into the shadows of history. The events of her life meant so much to the Jewish people that they have been remembered ever since in the Jewish feast of Purim, instituted by Mordecai in Esther 9.20-22. While the lectionary highlights just a snapshot from the story, reading through the whole book really helps to set the context.
  • In the main part of today’s reading, Esther 7.1-6,9-10, we meet Queen Esther at a moment of strength and defiance. She has the king’s favour and she uses it to take the chance to call out the genocidal plans of Haman and identify herself with her Jewish people, pleading with the king to rescue them all. She is the right person, in the right time and place, with the right words to bring about the right result for God. But dial the clock back just a little before our reading and it might well have seemed to Esther that she was in the wrong place:
    • an exile in the wrong country (2.5-6);
    • orphaned (2.7);
    • a woman living in a kingdom where women’s freedoms have – like those in Kabul – been curtailed (1.10-21);
    • pressed into (to modern eyes at least) sexual slavery, to be used and discarded at will by her master, the king (2.1-14).
  • Her cage may be better gilded, but her situation is not so dissimilar from that alleged by the women who have accused Al Fayed. The king’s wealth and power keep her vulnerable, trapped and afraid (4.11,16), even after she attracts his eye and gains his favour. Yet from this awful starting point, through Esther’s underlying loyalty to God and willingness to serve his people, God turns things upside down, “… from sorrow into gladness …”(9.22), and brings about their salvation. God can work even in the midst of the most dire circumstances. So let us not lose hope, whatever challenges we may face.
  • Lee Miller and Esther both won admiration and opportunity through their beauty. Miller’s beauty got her work as a model that led her to make the connections that helped kickstart her photography career. From there she went on to become a war photographer for British Vogue during World War II. She was then in the right place at the right time to document the horrors of war and she did not run from the responsibility. Her photographs from the concentration camps at Dachau and Buchenwald made it harder for readers back home to deny the truth of what had been happening in the Holocaust. Esther’s beauty saw her taken – presumably forcibly – into the king’s harem (Esther 2.8) and helped her to win favour, becoming queen. That brought her the rare opportunity – and responsibility – to intervene on behalf of her people in their time of need. “Perhaps,” urges Mordecai, “you have come to royal dignity for such a time as this.” (4.14) We may not have Esther or Lee’s beauty but all of us have unique gifts and life stories that will present us with unique opportunities to work for God.
  • The values of Esther’s concealed faith may also have contributed to her winning the king’s favour. There are hints that it was not just her beauty but also her humility and good character that impressed the king (“she asked for nothing except what … the king’s eunuch… advised” 2.15). God’s hand has been at work in who Esther is and in all the twisting, turning circumstances of her life that lead to the point in the story that we read today. God is at work in us, too.
  • There is one final detail to notice in Esther’s story. When Mordecai first asks Esther to speak up for her people, she is reluctant and scared of how the king may react to any approach (4.11). Mordecai encourages her but still Esther is not quite ready; instead she asks for further support, that all the Jews in Susa fast for three days, with her and her maids, presumably to ask for God’s help in her task (4.15-17). Only after this does she go to the king (5.1). We do not need to attempt God’s work alone, we can ask him and his people to help us.

 

Questions for discussion

  •  Are we alert and ready to act on the unique opportunities and responsibilities God has placed before us, as Esther did? If not, what holds us back?
  • Esther, understandably, seems to need a bit of an encouraging nudge in the right direction, at first from Mordecai (Esther 4.10-14) and then through the support of her people’s prayers (4.15-17). In the Epistle for today too, James urges those who are sick to “call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them” (James 5.14). Who are our Mordecais, the people we can trust to mentor us in hearing from and following God? And who are the people to whom we can turn for support and prayer when we face suffering and tough challenges?
  • “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,” reflects the writer of Psalm 124, “then the flood would have swept us away”. Can you think of times when, looking back, you can see that God was at work to help you and get you to the right place, as he did for Esther, even if you could not see it at the time?

 

Rebecca Froley was the launch editor for the Roots website and has worked in online publishing editorial and product management roles for 20+ years. Now job seeking following redundancy (and a rest!), she worships at a Baptist church in the London Borough of Sutton and helps with the young people and mission group.

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

Some commentators regard the book of Esther as problematic: there is no mention of God; it includes the theme of forced concubinage; and the character of Esther is more complex than a simple exemplar of courage. It cannot be honestly presented to our young people as a love story, followed by an act of courage.

That said, there are important parallels to the world we live in. This week’s news has included allegations of the trafficking and abuse of women by former Harrods owner, Mohamed Al Fayed. To report this type of attack requires considerable bravery by the women concerned - we all hope that our young people will never be called on to have this type of courage.

However, this story also demonstrates the lack of valour among those surrounding these women. The BBC documentary indicates that members of staff including security and medical personnel were, in all likelihood, aware of what was happening but took no action[1]. Undoubtedly, they were frightened - an understandable reaction to what was happening. The definition of courage is to do something despite the danger and fear. Esther was scared, but acted anyway. Her uncle encouraged and supported her and, despite not being mentioned, we can see the hand of God in Esther’s actions.

  • Possible questions for discussion:
  • What scares you?
  • How might you act in the face of a frightening situation?
  • Who might you approach for support?
  • How might you pray for courage?

This story may be a difficult one to discuss with your group due to age/context. If this is the case you could replace the situation with one of bullying, or seeing a friend shop lift for example.

  1. Potential legal claims investigated against Harrods following rape and sexual abuse allegations in BBC documentary 

 

Victoria Etherington is children’s, youth and family’s ministry leader for the Yorkshire North and East Methodist District.

 

Views expressed are the authors' own. Hypertext links to other websites are for the convenience of users only and do not constitute any endorsement or authorisation by Roots for Churches Ltd.