May I Have Your Attention Please

Introduction:

On Tuesday afternoon, my friend Jake Dorak called me and told me he thought he was going to drive up to Wilmore, KY to Asbury Seminary. He asked if I would ride up with him. We had both been reading and see reports of the revival happening after students stayed beyond a normal chapel gathering and had continued to pray and sing.

For Valentine’s Day, Jodi said it was ok if I went along. We arrived after the evening service had already started and we waited in line outside the chapel for about 45 minutes before we were able to get in and get a seat. During the course of our time there we saw a reasonably normal service (preaching, singing, students sharing testimonies, etc), but there was a sense that you could tell God was working in the lives of people in the room.

Certainly there are people on the internet debating whether this could be a real revival or not. There’s also people continuing to make their way there. Some are seeking God, some want to see a show, some want to disprove what’s happening there, but it is generating discussion online about people hearing from God and desiring to see God move. I think it also reminds us that God does work in the lives of his people and from what I saw he often uses normal means to accomplish it.

As we pick up the story in Esther, she was fasting for three days and all the Jews is Susa were also fasting on her behalf, as she prepared to approach the king. I think it’s safe to assume that through her fasting, she’s hopeful that God is going to work in some way.

Bottom Line: We should boldly approach our King with all of our needs.

Read Passage: Esther 5

Esther 5 CSB

On the third day, Esther dressed in her royal clothing and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace facing it. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing its entrance. As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she gained favor with him. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter. “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king asked her. “Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you.” “If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for them.” The king said, “Hurry, and get Haman so we can do as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. While drinking the wine, the king asked Esther, “Whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be done.” Esther answered, “This is my petition and my request: If I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and perform my request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will do what the king has asked.” That day Haman left full of joy and in good spirits. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the King’s Gate, and Mordecai didn’t rise or tremble in fear at his presence, Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai. Yet Haman controlled himself and went home. He sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh to join him. Then Haman described for them his glorious wealth and his many sons. He told them all how the king had honored him and promoted him in rank over the other officials and the royal staff. “What’s more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she had prepared. I am invited again tomorrow to join her with the king. Still, none of this satisfies me since I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the King’s Gate all the time.” His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows seventy-five feet tall. Ask the king in the morning to hang Mordecai on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows constructed.

Esther Approaches the King (v. 1-3)

After fasting, Esther got dressed in royal clothing and went to the inner courtyard where the king was on his throne in the courtroom.

She must have been so incredibly nervous making that walk. She knew what happened to Vashti. The was so much riding on the moment. Was the king in a good mood or not? Had he had a frustrating day and just wanted to be left alone. He hadn’t called for Esther in more than 30 days…did he even want to see her.

But as soon as he saw her the CSB says, “she gained favor in his eyes.” He was glad to see her. Instead of death, she was given an opportunity.

He extended the gold scepter toward her and she touched the tip of it.

The king says, “What do you want, Queen Esther? Name it, up to half my kingdom and it will be yours.”

He’s likely exaggerating. He’s not literally going to give her half the kingdom, but he’s communicating he was willing to be very generous.

Esther’s Unusual Requests (v. 4-8)

Esther doesn’t ask for any part of the kingdom or any material thing that could make her life easier, she asks for the king and Haman to come to a banquet she prepared for them that day.

The Bible never tells why Esther wanted Haman to do be at either of the banquets. We do have to recognize that it’s God’s hand at work in the silence as we see the story turn in chapter 6.

But anyway, the king agrees and says to get Haman so they can both go.

At the banquet the King, while drinking, asks Esther what her wish is again, even up to half the kingdom.

Esther asks for them to come back to a banquet tomorrow and then she’ll make her request.

Haman’s Hateful Plan (v. 9-14)

Haman leaves the party overjoyed knowing he’s liked so much by the king and queen.

His mood changes when he sees Mordecai. Mordecai doesn’t rise in his presence or tremble. He shows no fear at all, which Haman certainly would have interpreted to be no respect either. Haman is now filled with rage. His evening commute has not been a good one.

Haman talks to his family and friends

Haman sang his own praises about his wealth and position in the kingdom.

He gushed that he had even been invited to a banquet with just the king and queen and he’s invited to another tomorrow.

However, seeing Haman has sucked all the possible satisfaction out of all of that.

His wife, who must be as charming as Haman says, “Build some gallows 75 ft high tonight and then tomorrow just ask the king to hang him on them. Then after you’ve had a man murdered go enjoy your banquet.”

He thought that sounded like a great plan so he gave the order to build the gallows.

Application:

In our difficulties and struggles, we have a King who can help.

We can approach him with confidence.

Esther put on her best, most royal attire to see Ahasuerus and remind him she was his queen.

We have nothing to bring on our own, but for those who are in Christ, they’ve been given his righteousness and that’s what gives us confidence to boldly run to him.

Question: Can you confidently draw near to Jesus?

If you’ve placed your trust in him, even if you think you can’t you can. So run to him, not away from him.

If you’ve never placed your trust in him. If you’re still depending on your good works and righteousness, then you can’t draw near confidently. You should tremble in fear.

Coming to the Lord’s Table reminds us that we can boldly approach his throne because he’s already lived the life we couldn’t and died the death we deserve and we live by faith believing he’s going to come again and we’ll enjoy all of eternity in his kingdom.

He has the power to work on our behalf.

The king offer Esther half the kingdom as a way of saying, I’m willing to be generous toward whatever you want.

We have a king who entered our world, experienced our suffering (more than we could know and took what we should have endured). He defeated sin, death and the grave on our behalf, so we can trust that he’s able to work.

We approach the throne through prayer and when we do, we can trust that we receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.

We find power to help when we lack wisdom, when we have relational difficulties, when we struggle with sin, when we are uncertain and anxious and for every area of our lives because we worship the God who reigns over it all and loves and cares for us more than we’ll ever fully understand this side of heaven.

Question: What request do you need to make to the King?

Is there a sin you’re struggling with? Run to him, confess it and ask for him to help. Then run again, and again and again, knowing there’s mercy and grace for you. Keep fighting.

Is there something going on in your life that your anxious and uncertain about? Tell him. Ask him for wisdom and peace as you navigate the uncertain waters. You’re not on a sinking ship, so you’re going to make it to shore.

Are you facing something difficult that you can’t seem to figure out? Tell him and rest in the reality that he knows each step and that even in the painful steps, you’re not walking alone or without purpose.

Hatred will keep you from finding satisfaction serving the King.

Haman loved himself and hated the Jews. He hated Modecai and that kept him from being able to find satisfaction in anything else. We all recognize Haman as an enemy in this story and we all know his fall is about to be tremendous, but a part of me is stirred with compassion for him. He’s so bent on his own thing. He has so much seemingly good stuff surrounding him, but pride and hate ruin his life.

Most of us would not describe ourselves as hateful people. I’d argue that most of the western church is far from being satisfied serving Jesus.

Our lack of contentment could eventually lead to hatred.

We’ll hate that God won’t give us what we really want or believe we deserve.

We’ll hate that people don’t do the things we want them to do.

We’ll hate our life situations because they’re not our dream of how it should be going.

We’ll hate people in our lives who have what we think we want.

When we do that:

we’ll miss resting in God’s provision, no matter the lot.

We’ll miss being used by God in the places he put us.

We’ll miss celebrating God’s work in other people’s lives.

We’ll miss God’s purpose for our lives in the normal day to day life rhythms.

Question: Where is discontentment in danger of growing into hate in your life?

Confess it.

Ask God to help you find satisfaction in Him

Ask God to help you know how to find satisfaction in serving him (in whatever ways that looks like)

Challenge: Esther’s confession was if I approach the king and I die for it, it’s still the right thing to do, so I’ll do it. God used her boldness to allow her the opportunity to speak to the king. We’ll see how the story turns next week, but for today, let’s rejoice in the reality that if we’re in Christ, there’s life in approaching our king.

As we come to the Lord’s Supper, boldly approach your King who can help you. Confess any discontentment growing in your heart and ask him to work in your life.

To the Table by Zach Williams

Hear the voice of love that's calling There's a chair that waits for you And a Friend who understands Everything you're going through But you keep standing at a distance In the shadow of your shame There's a light of hope that's shining Won't you come and take your place And bring it all to the table There's nothing He ain't seen before For all your fear, all your sorrow and your sadness There's a Savior and He calls Bring it all to the table He can see the weight you carry The fears that hold your heart But through the cross you've been forgiven You're accepted as you are So bring it all to the table There's nothing He ain't seen before For all your trials, all your worries and your burdens There's a Savior and He calls Bring it all to the table Bring it all You can bring it all And come on in, take your place There's no one who's turned away All you sinners, all you saints Come right in and find your grace Come on in, take your place There's no one who's turned away All you sinners, all you saints Come right in and find your grace And bring it all to the table There's nothing He ain't seen before For all your sin, all your sorrow and your sadness There's a Savior and He calls Bring it all to the table