Esther - Part 2

Intro/Recap

The sovereignty of God: God’s supreme authority and power over all creation with the right and ability to do whatever He pleases, whenever He pleases according to His perfect will and wisdom.

Esther was the perfect candidate because God chose so

Her parents were dead

She was part of the captivity

She was a Jew in Persia

2. There was the perfect vacancy (of Queen)

3. There was the perfect opportunity

This week: (A focus on Haman from chapter 3)

1. The Promotion of Haman

Esther 3:1 (KJV 1900)

1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

It’s never fun when wicked people get in charge…

Proverbs 29:2 (KJV 1900)

2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice:

But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

God brought judgement on Israel by setting wicked people over them:

a.) “Give them what they ask for”

1 Samuel 8:7–9 (KJV 1900)

7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

b.) Babylonian captivity

Jeremiah 25:8–9 (KJV 1900)

8 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words, 9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

Then there were times where God brought His people out from under the hand of wicked rulers

He brought Israel out of Egypt

He delivered them from the Moabite oppression in Judges

He delivered them from the Midianite oppression

If David had not defeated Goliath, they would’ve been slaves to the Philistines

Sovereignty of God… He has the right and ability to cause America to be under a wicked or righteous ruler

2. The Pride of Haman

Esther 3:2–6 (KJV 1900)

2 And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. 3 Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment? 4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

There was 1 Jew who refused to bow to Haman, yet his anger extended to the entire race of Jews…

Proverbs 16:18 (KJV 1900)

18 Pride goeth before destruction,

And an haughty spirit before a fall.

Psalm 10:4 (KJV 1900)

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God:

God is not in all his thoughts.

3. The Plot of Haman

Esther 3:7–15 (KJV 1900)

7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. 8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. 9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. 10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. 11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. 12 Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring. 13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. 14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. 15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

Conclusion:

Think about what God says he hates:

Proverbs 6:16–19 (KJV 1900)

16 These six things doth the Lord hate:

Yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue,

And hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,

Feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies,

And he that soweth discord among brethren.

A proud look: Haman was prideful when Mordecai refused to bow to him

A lying tongue: 1 Jew refused to bow and suddenly it turned into telling the king an entire nation refused to obey his law

Hands that shed innocent blood: He wanted to wipe out an entire people

Heart that deviseth wicked imaginations: He is in the ear of the king telling him things that aren’t true

Swift in running to mischief: letters were sent to destroy all the Jews

False witness that speaketh lies:

He that soweth discord among brethren

Haman has the banquet with Ahasuerus and Esther

Haman is still enraged that Mordecai won’t bow as he is on his way to the banquet

Haman’s pride is enlarged because of his invite to the banquet

At the advice of his wife, Haman built a 75 foot high gallows to hang Mordecai on

Esther 6:1–3 (KJV 1900)

1 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

It “just so happened” the king couldn’t sleep…

It “just so happened” he had the book of records brought to him to be read…

It “just so happened” he read about how Mordecai warned the king of Bigthana and Teresh’s plan to harm the king

It “just so happened” right after this was read was when Haman came to the king to ask him if he could hang Mordecai

Esther 6:4–11 (KJV 1900)

4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

Once again we see God’s sovereignty highlighted throughout this story…