“Sometimes Silent but Always Sovereign God” (Sunday Worship, May 18, 2025)

“Sometimes Silent but Always Sovereign God”

Esther 1:1–22

Introduction: A Book Like No Other

Good morning!

On Monday, we began reading and meditating on the Book of Esther, which is, in many ways, like no other in the Bible. Let me explain.

It is the only book of the Bible that does not mention God. No angel appears. No prophet speaks. There are no miracles, no divine laws, no direct intervention. On the surface, it is a political drama—complete with kings, banquets, betrayal, beauty, and power.

And yet, the Book of Esther is anything but "godless."

The Jews have long understood this. Every year, they celebrate Purim, the holiday that commemorates the events in this book. During Purim, the scroll of Esther is read aloud. When the name of Haman is mentioned, children stomp and boo. When Mordecai is praised, there’s cheering and rejoicing. It is a lively, loud, and joyful occasion.

Purim celebrates God's providence, even when He seems so silent.

Beloved, this story is not just for the Jewish people. As the New Covenant people of God, we also need Purim. We need reminders that even when God seems silent, He is never absent. That is when we do not see miracles, we are still living in the middle of mercy. That even in a secular world full of pride, power, and pressure, God is quietly positioning His people for redemption.

Esther is not just their story. It is our story.

So let’s look at Monday's passage again—chapter 1.

Summary of the Passage

The book opens with a feast—a massive one. King Ahasuerus, ruler of 127 provinces, holds a 180-day display of wealth and power. After that, he throws a 7-day feast for everyone in Susa. (Note: In the Book of Esther, the king Ahasuerus is also known as Xerxes I. Scholars generally identify Ahasuerus with the Persian king Xerxes I, who ruled from 486 to 465 BCE. The name Ahasuerus is considered a Hebrew transliteration of the Persian name Khshayarsha, which Xerxes I used.)

The scene is dripping with luxury: golden goblets, fine linen, royal wine flowing freely. Everything is meant to say one thing: I am in control. I am glorious. I am untouchable.

But beneath the glittering surface lies a different reality: insecurity. Because a man who is truly powerful does not need to show it off. A man confident in his rule does not need to impress his subjects with endless banquets, but the earthly king does.

On the final day of the feast, the king commands Queen Vashti to appear before the men to display her beauty. The implication is clear: she is another ornament in his court, another possession to be paraded.

But Vashti refuses. And the empire pauses.

The king turns to his advisors, and Memucan speaks up. His advice is almost comical in its paranoia. He warns that if Vashti’s defiance is not punished, wives across the empire will start disobeying their husbands!

So a royal decree is issued: Vashti is removed from her position. Every man is to be the master of his household. The edict goes out across 127 provinces.

Let that sink in: an international law is passed… because one man’s ego was bruised.

This is what happens when kingdoms are built not on justice or truth, but on appearance and control.

Who Is God in All This?

You may be wondering—where is God in all of this? There are no burning bushes, no parted seas, no prophets crying in the streets. But the seeming absence of God's name is not the absence of God's presence.

God is present, not in spectacle, but in sovereign silence.

Our God is someone who often appears "silent"—not because He is passive, but because He is also patient, He lets human pride run its course before His purposes unfold.

Our God was providentially setting the stage for a young Jewish woman to take Vashti’s place one day. For a forgotten act of faithfulness to be remembered at just the right time. For deliverance to come, not through human power, but through divine providence.

God is not named in this chapter, but He is not absent. He is sovereignly present, quietly weaving His will through broken kings, political decrees, and human flaws. Our God works behind the scenes. He is behind the rainbow. He nurtures us with the Spring rain and enriches our lives with the Autumn foliage. His love is as solid as the mountain grandeur. And, every day, He invites us to rest in Him with the fantastic sunsets. And in Esther, we see Him move the entire empire into place to protect His covenant people.

As Charles Spurgeon once said, “When you cannot trace His hand, trust His heart.” That is what Esther invites us to do.

What Is Our Guilt?

The truth is—we are not unlike Ahasuerus.

We may not rule an empire, but we often build our lives on image, control, and public perception. We fear being exposed, misunderstood, or challenged.

We often make decisions not based on truth, but on how it will be received, how it will preserve our status, or keep others in check.

We say we "love" Jesus, but we often "love" to pray in the name of Jesus to get what we want. Jesus' name is merely a religious tool to get what we really want in life--promotion, elevation, significance, power, money, love, etc.

Like the king, we also create unspoken "laws" in our hearts—rules about how others should treat, honor, or not question us. We, too, get enraged when those rules are broken.

But the gospel calls us to a different way. It points to Jesus Christ.

It calls us to Christ's humility, servant-hearted leadership, and dying to self in order that we may join in the resurrection of our Lord.

Our guilt lies not only in pride, but in forgetting that the "throne" is not ours to sit on. There is a little "Ahasuerus" in all of us.

How Does God’s Grace Shine?

Grace doesn’t announce itself loudly in this chapter, but it is very much present.

It is there in the exposure of human pride.

It is there in the fragility of earthly kingdoms.

God’s grace begins by making room for redemption. God is up to something: He is up to something good!

He does not work "quickly" but timely.

And He always acts faithfully.

He lets the stage of the world be set, so that when He enters the story visibly, no one can take credit but Him.

And this, ultimately, points us to Christ.

Unlike King Ahasuerus, Jesus the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, does not demand submission to maintain His power—He lays His power down to save His bride.

Like Mordecai, He is first ignored, forgotten, and despised by the world—but in due time, He is lifted up.

Like Esther, Jesus steps into a royal court not seeking His own glory, but to intercede for His people. Esther said, "If I die," but Jesus said, "When I die."

Conclusion: When God Seems Silent

Maybe you are living in a chapter of life where God seems silent.

No miracles. No signs. Just routine. Just decisions by others. Just unanswered prayers. Just silence.

But the Bible reminds us that God, the author and the perfector of your salvation, is still writing your story.

He is the God of silent sovereignty—still directing, still orchestrating, still remembering every act of obedience and every injustice unseen by others.

And the beauty of this book is that we know how it ends.

Deliverance is coming.

Reversal is coming.

Redemption is coming.

Resurrection is coming.

So if you feel stuck in Esther chapter one today, don’t lose heart.

Even when God is not mentioned in your ordinary, everyday life, He is ever present in your life.

Look for Him (Turn to God's Word).

Wait for Him (Spend time in prayer).

Trust Him (Rejoice and do some "good" for yourself and for the "world").

He is sometimes silent, but He is always sovereign.

Let's pray.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Abba Father, You are Sovereign God!

Thank you for even when we cannot see or name your "work," you are faithfully present.

Thank you for your quiet providence, for the way you prepare salvation in the silence. Forgive our pride and our desire for control.

Teach us to trust in your hidden hand and to live not for appearances but for your purposes.

When we feel forgotten, remind us that you never forget.

When we feel overlooked, remind us that you are working all things for good.

When you seem silent, grant us faith to confidently know that your sovereign plan is unfolding still.

In Jesus’ name we pray.