Esther - A Happy Ending

Intro

We all love the happy ending

They lived happily ever after

this isnt quite the ending we have been given yet

Haman has been hanged

Esther and Mordecai elevated

But the issues of the Jews destruction is not over

If you remember and edict from the king sealed with is signet ring can not be revoked

The king cant just come out and say he changed his mind

So lets see how this plays out

Read Esther 8

Esther 8 ESV

1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. 2 And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. 3 Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. 4 When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. 5 And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 6 For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews. 8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.” 9 The king’s scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. 10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king’s service, bred from the royal stud, 11 saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods, 12 on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 13 A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. 14 So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king’s service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king’s command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. 15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. 17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

The reversal are the point

The author wants us to see and draw the parallels

Between haman and Mordecai

One an actor of pure evil

The other the actor who serves the one true God

Esther and Mordecai promoted

Esther 8:1–2 ESV

1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. 2 And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

Esther and mordecai are given all that was hamans including the signet ring

Haman is hanged and all that he has

All his wealth

All his status is turned over to Mordecai and Esther

but this isnt the end of the story

Esther and Mordecai live happily ever after

No because they still face the thirteenth day of the twelfth month

The day of their annialation

Esthers Plea

Esther 8:3–6 ESV

3 Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. 4 When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. 5 And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 6 For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”

Esther again appeals to the king

The king holding out his scepter reminds us that this story isnt over

Happily ever after hasnt been achieved

Esther herself still must humble herself before the king

She must still hope for his favor

She pleas for this order to be revoked

Her wisdom in pleading with the king

She doesnt say law or edict

She calls it a letter hoping the king can just revoke it

She appeals to his affection for her

I cannot bear it if this destruction takes place

She seems to place all of her words so carefully finally doing as mordecai had asked pleading for the lives of the Jews

Her plea is successful

The kings response

Esther 8:7–8 ESV

7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews. 8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.”

The king does as he has throughout he delegates the power

Showing he is a man afraid of commitment

and a man devoid of any real convictions

Perfering to delegate these tasks

He leaves it to mordecai and esther to figure out

Mordecai Crafts the Edict

Esther 8:9–14 ESV

9 The king’s scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. 10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king’s service, bred from the royal stud, 11 saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods, 12 on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 13 A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. 14 So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king’s service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king’s command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.

Using words from Hamans own edict Mordecai reverses the law without abolishing it or doing a take back

He crafts it so the Jews are able to defend themselves hopefully desuading blood and carnage

He use anniailationist language on purpose

He would deal harshly with those who would come against the jews

The enemy of the Jew must be completely wiped out

Just as Saul was commanded to do

Mordecai gives the power back to the Jews

The Jewish celebration

Esther 8:15–17 ESV

15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. 17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

The Jews rejoice

Their mourning is turned to rejoicing

They have been saved

C

Application

As we read through this story and the first 6 chapters you may find yourself asking where is God

Now we must answer the question

Right place right time or divine sovereignty?

Is this just a story of happenstance and good fortune or was God working through the whole thing

Perspective is a powerful thing

Something some of you may lack

This is why we have God’s word

It’s a reminder for us