FAVORITE BIBLE VERSES ESTHER 4:14

1. FAVORITE BIBLE VERSES ESTHER 4:14 “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” New King James Version

2. The Background Of The Verse. • Jews are in captivity. • Ahasuerus is king. • Mordecai is her foster father • Haman is an official in the king’s court. • Mordecai seeks Esther’s help to prevent destruction of the Jews • The providence of God

3. The Definition Of Providence • The word

4. And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, • New King James Version • Acts 24:2

5. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfillits lusts. New King James Version Romans 13:14

6. The Definition Of Providence • The word • The concept

7. The Description Of Providence • Two senses • General providence • Natural world

8. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the service of man, That he may bring forth food from the earth, New King James Version Psalm 104:14

9. For I know that the Lord is great, And our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places. He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries. New King James Version Psalm 135:5-7

10. “Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” • New King James Version • Acts 14:17

11. The Description Of Providence • Two senses • General providence • Natural world • Animal world

12. The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their food from God. When the sun rises, they gather together And lie down in their dens. Man goes out to his work And to his labor until the evening. O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions—

13. This great and wide sea, In which are innumerable teeming things, Living things both small and great. There the ships sail about; Thereis that Leviathan Which You have made to play there. These all wait for You, That You may give them their food in due season.

14. What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good. You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. New King James Version Psalm 104:21-29

15. “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? • New King James Version • Matthew 6:26

16. “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. • New King James Version • Matthew 10:29

17. The Description Of Providence • Two senses • General providence • Natural world • Animal world • The affairs of men in general

18. He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them. New King James Version Job 12:23

19. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. New King James Version Daniel 2:21

20. “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. • New King James Version • Matthew 5:45

21. The Description Of Providence • Two senses • General providence • Special providence • For the righteous

22. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. New King James Version Psalm 37:23

23. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. New King James Version Proverbs 3:6

24. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. • New King James Version • Matthew 6:33

25. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. • New King James Version • Romans 8:28

26. The Description Of Providence • Two senses • General providence • Special providence • Some things to keep in mind • The ultimate end is man’s spiritual good

27. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. New King James Version Romans 5:3-5

28. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. • New King James Version • James 1:2-4

29. The Description Of Providence • Two senses • General providence • Special providence • For the righteous • Some things to keep in mind • The ultimate end is man’s spiritual good • We should not presume all things are the result of special providence

30. I returned and saw under the sun that—The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. New King James Version Ecclesiastes 9:11

31. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. • New King James Version • 1 Peter 5:8-9

32. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who

33. loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. New King James Version Romans 8:35-39

34. The Description Of Providence • Special providence and man’s cooperation

35. Give us this day our daily bread. New King James Version Matthew 6:11

36. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. New King James Version • 2 Thessalonians 3:10

37. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. New King James Version • 1 Timothy 5:8

38. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. • New King James Version • Philippians 2:12-13

39. For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears areopen to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” New King James Version 1 Peter 3:10-12

40. The Determination Of Providence • Need for caution • Many interpret what happens as indications of God’s judgment • There are exceptions

41. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For thereare no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble asother men, Nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with abundance; They

42. have more than heart could wish. They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say,

43. “How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?” Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches. New King James Version Psalm 73:3-12

44. Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power? Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them. Their bull breeds without failure; Their cow calves without miscarriage. They send

45. forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance. They sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice to the sound of the flute. They spend their days in wealth, And in a moment go down to the grave. New King James Version Job 21:7-13

46. The Determination Of Providence • Need for caution • Many interpret what happens as indications of God’s judgment • There are exceptions • We cannot always be certain

47. The Determination Of Providence • The best we can do • Possess the perspective of Mordecai

48. “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” New King James Version • Esther 4:14

49. The Determination Of Providence • The best we can do • Possess the perspective of Mordecai • Remain open to the possibility that the Lord’s will may be different

50. making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. New King James Version • Romans 1:10