Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Humility vs. Arrogance

Humility n. — the disposition of valuing or assessing oneself appropriately; especially in light of one’s sinfulness or creatureliness.

(Biblical Sense)

Arrogance n. — overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward others.

(Biblical Sense)

Proverbs 11:2 (ESV)

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

1 Peter 5:5 (ESV)

5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Micah 6:8 (ESV)

8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Fearlessness of Esther

She appeared before the King as she promised to do.

When the King saw Esther, He looked at her with favor and wanted to be generous to her request.

Esther responds with an invitation to a feast she set up for him and Haman.

Both the King and Haman were very pleased with Esther's feast.

The King asks Esther what her request is.

Esther invites the King and Haman to another feat the next day.

God is going to accomplish the shift from Haman’s control to Mordecai.

Proverbs 18:12 (ESV)

12 Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Haman (5:9-14)

Haman’s fury (5:9–13)

Interaction (9-10)

Esther 5:9–10 (ESV)

9 And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart.

But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.

10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh.

Haman left the feast really happy and walked by Mordecai at the King’s gate.

Mordecai does not rise or fear.

to stand up (arise) v., to rise to one’s feet.

(The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag.

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Mordecai did not rise to his feet to show honor towards Haman as he walked by.

to tremble v., to move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways; often as a sign of fear or anguish in people.

(The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag.

Print.)

Haman was expecting that his edict would cause Mordecai to fear him, but Mordecai showed no reaction to Haman.

Haman’s response

fury n., a feeling of intense anger (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag.

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Restrained - to curb v., to lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits.

(The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag.

Print.)

Went home and invited friends over to boast about himself.

Haman’s arrogance (11)

Esther 5:11 (ESV)

11 And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king.

Money - “the splendor of his riches...”

Vitality - “the number of his sons...”

Honor - “all the promotions with which the king had honored him...”

Position - “how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king."

Haman’s Anger (12-13)

Esther 5:12–13 (ESV)

12 Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared.

And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king.

13 Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

He was invited to a feast with the King prepared by Queen Esther and he was invited to another feast tomorrow.

Anger clouds everything.

Worth Nothing - non-existence; nothing; not, no; without.

(The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag.

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All of the things he just mentioned is seen as nothing in comparison to his anger towards Mordecai.

He will remain in His anger until Mordecai is dead.

Wife's fatal advice (5:14)

Esther 5:14 (ESV)

14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it.

Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.”

This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.

Wife’s advice

Why wait for the edict to kill Mordecai, do it now and wait for the rest of the Jews for the edict.

Build Gallows 50 Cubits

stake n., a sharpened wooden stake set in the ground for impaling victims on.

(The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag.

Print.)

Fifty cubits - seventy-five feet tall

After King agrees with you, Go, enjoy your time at the feast.

Haman is pleased with the idea and builds the gallows.

Mordecai (6:1-14)

The elevation of Mordecai and humiliation of Haman is accomplished without their influence.

God used the sleeplessness of the King.

The King’s discovery (6:1–3)

Esther 6:1–3 (ESV)

1 On that night the king could not sleep.

And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

3 And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?”

The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

King can’t sleep (1-2)

You would think the king would sleep well after being with Queen Esther and Haman at the feast with another feast the next day.

Asks for his memoirs to be read.

The account of the assassination attempt of Bigthana and Teresh that was thwarted by Mordecai.

Seemingly, the author is showing this event as God working in the background to accomplish His goal of elevating Mordecai and humbling Haman.

Coincidence, The night that Haman decides to kill Mordecai is the same night the King reads about the assassination attempt thwarted by Mordecai.

Not all coincidences are God’s working, but could be His working.

King learns that Mordecai was not rewarded.

(3)

The discussion with Haman (6:4–9)

Haman’s aspirations (6:4–5)

Esther 6:4–5 (ESV)