Does God see?
Media > Esther: The providence of God > Does God see?
June 16, 2024
We begin our new series working through the book of Esther. The Jews are far from home, with no temple, no priests and no sacrifices, wondering does God still see us, will He hear our prayers? They are surrounded amid the power and trappings of empire and are asking the question, where will our help come from? The resounding answer in the book of Esther is that although sometimes God seems hidden, He is never absent. He has a plan for all His people and will use them to further His purposes. What was true then is still true today. God has a plan to use us, to help us and although he sometimes feels hidden, He is never absent. We can trust Him through every season and circumstance.
Esther 1:1–8 (Listen)
The King’s Banquets
1:1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. 5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods1 and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. 8 And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired.
Footnotes
[1] 1:6
(ESV)
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.
Visit us
If you’d like to visit us the best way to start is by joining us on a Sunday at 10:30, at Harborne Academy.
This is a newly refurbished school and there is plenty of parking available.
If you’d like to get in touch, visit us or if you’ve got any questions about our church then we’d love to hear from you.
07528 924420
hello@kingschurchbirmingham.org
King's Church Birmingham was planted by & has an ongoing relationship with Grace Church Nottingham and is a member of the Evangelical Alliance.