Was Esther Wicked For Disobeying the Law? | Biblical Resistance Series Ep. 2

In part two of our Biblical Resistance Series, we confront one of the most commonly quoted—and commonly misunderstood—passages in all of Scripture: Romans 13. Are Christians commanded to obey government no matter what? Or have we accepted an interpretation that contradicts the rest of the Bible? In this episode, we look at the powerful example of Esther, who knowingly broke the law to do what was right before God, and we begin carefully examining what Romans 13 actually says—rather than what modern authorities claim it says. If government is ordained by God to punish evil and reward good, what happens when it does the opposite? Let’s open the Scriptures and reason together.

TRANSCRIPT

Generated using A.I.; please forgive any mistakes.

Welcome to part two of our series, "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God." And as you'll see here in this clip, the common interpretation of the scriptures, especially Romans chapter 13, is that we're supposed to obey the government no matter what. Check this out. "I would say you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13 to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained the government for his purposes." Now in every edition of this "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God," we will share with you a story from the scriptures that show that this interpretation of Romans 13 is wrong and then actually get into the text of Romans 13 to help us better understand the actual scriptures. And so I wanted to bring out again both the King James as well as the new revised standard version of the scriptures, kind of give us a classic King James as well as a modern reading of the scriptures.

I want to bring up the story of Esther. And if anybody's gone to Sunday school, I think you've all heard the story of Esther. The Hebrews are in bondage and Esther is made the Queen of Persia. But one of the king's consuls convinces him, not knowing that his new wife is a Jew, convinces him to make a new rule that all the Jews are going to be executed. And so in an effort to save her family and her people, Esther has to do something. She has to make a choice whether she obeys the law or she does the right thing. Okay, so we go to Esther chapter 4. This is in the King James Version and verse 16. And we read Esther says, "Go gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan and fast ye for me and neither eat nor drink three days night or day. I also and my maidens will fast likewise and so will I go in unto the king which is not according to the law which is not according to the law and if I perish I perish." So she's talking about, hey we all need to get together, we all need to fast and pray and I'm gonna go do this. I'm gonna take an action and if I die I die. It's the right thing to do and I just have to take the consequence. Now let's go to that new translation and we read again Esther saying, "Go gather all the Jews to be found in Shushan and hold a fast on my behalf and neither eat nor drink for three days night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king though it is against the law and if I perish I perish though it is against the law." So again this is two major themes going on in this story. The first thing is taking action. That we're not going to just let things be the way that they are. We're gonna do something about it. Whatever it is we're gonna do something about it and we're gonna appeal to God and we're gonna ask for his divine providence. We're gonna ask for his help and whatever happens happens. But it was against the law. It's very clear in every translation that Esther was breaking the law. Now as we go to Romans 13 I think it's important for us to to look into what it says compared to what these individuals in government and in different positions of power say that it is. Because it's very clear that as we see right did Esther do what the the Attorney General said to do? No. Of course she didn't do that. Now was she bad? No she was blessed. It ends up of course the king wakes up to what's going on and he has his consul he has his his advisor killed because of what he did because of the treachery. And why did that happen? Because Esther was willing to break the law because it was the law or do the right thing. And she chose to do the right thing instead of obeying the law. We have to understand that. So we go to Romans 13 and it says, "Let every soul be subject to the higher powers for there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resisteth shall receive to themselves damnation." Okay it's an ordinance of God. I mentioned this last time and I want to bring this up again the fact that it's an ordinance of God. And so I'm going to read to you from a 1660s book called The Downfall of Tyranny. And it brings up the fact this is a fantastic book. We're gonna be selling it the Tree of Liberty Society. We're in the process of reprinting it. And it is a it shows the Christians duty. It goes through and makes the arguments of when is a Christian supposed to submit to government and when is it supposed to resist government. And in that book we read, "The end or ends of this great ordinance called government." Government is an ordinance as we read in Romans 13. "Is the glory of God and the good of the people. Magistrates are the ministers of God or his servants. Now a servant honoreth his master and they being by their office servants of God are bound in their several places to seek how they may honor and glorify him." Okay so when a when it is a true ordinance of God it is in the service of God. Right? Because in verse 3 Romans says, "For rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evil." So when government is a terror to evil that means it is changing the ordinance. That means they are no longer servants of God which means we are no longer subject to them. Even according to Romans 13. When government goes outside of its divine mandate to punish evil and to bless good and to serve God we are no longer under any obligation to obey it because it is no longer an ordinance of God but it is an ordinance of Satan. So stay tuned next time for part 3 in our series "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God." At the Tree of Liberty Society we're not just studying history we're restoring the principles that built a free people.

This movement isn't funded by corporations or politicians it's built by people, patriots who care enough to act. Now you can stand shoulder to shoulder with us through YouTube memberships, a simple way to strengthen the cause of liberty while gaining access to deeper discussions, exclusive content, and direct engagement with the society. As a patriot for just $1.99 a month you'll carry your badge of support with the loyalty icons, custom emojis, members only live chats, and priority replies to your comments. At the Minute Man level for just $6.99 a month you'll get early access to new videos and all the benefits of the Patriot rank, a digital call to arms for those ready to act before the crowd. The Sons of Liberty tier at $9.99 brings you even closer with personal shoutouts, connections on social media, and every person from the earlier levels. And for those who wish to help lead the charge, the Founders Club at just $19.99 a month opens the door to members only live streams, exclusive videos, and all the rewards of the previous levels, direct access to the conversations shaping the future of liberty. If you believe liberty is worth defending, not only in word but in action, then join us, not as spectators of history, but as participants in its renewal.