Esther's plan (Banquet)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Great is the fall
Great is the fall
Great is the fall in the public eye these days.
Celebrities
Athletes
Politicians
Preachers
The bible speaks of evil plans that come into light. (see Num32:23; and Ps7:14-16)
23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
and then Ps7:14-16
14 Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.
Even though Haman did not realize it yet, God’s hand was already at work to destroy him (a great fall to take place). Tonight we start to see that.
Divine Sovereignty- brings Esther's boldness (Est5:1-5)
Divine Sovereignty - brings false confidence; pride to Haman (Est5:6—9)
Divine Sovereignty uses sinful pride (Est5:10-12)
Divine Sovereignty even when there is malice (Est5:13-14)
Divine Sovereignty- brings Esther's boldness
Divine Sovereignty- brings Esther's boldness
1 Now it came about on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace in front of the king’s rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace. 2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.
3 Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.” 4 Esther said, “If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly that we may do as Esther desires.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared.
Anything in particular jump out at you in these verses?
Esther prepares to stand before the king (v.1) and goes, how does the king respond (v.2)?
He extended his golden scepter. Which means she found favor.
Think about this, Ester was willing to do this dangerous thing with great courage and bravery, what can we learn from her in facing difficult situations?
The king asks what is your request (v.3) and how does Esther respond (v.4)?
May the king and Haman come to prepared banquet for Haman.
Quickly dispatch sent out to Haman to come to the banquet, and they went (v.5)
It took great courage to appear before the king uninvited, it could bring death as we mentioned before in the last lesson. We know historically the king did not treat his wives very well, remember Vashti?
I have used divine sovereignty in the title of each point tonight. In this section we see God’s hand in giving Esther courage not knowing if the king would grant her audience it could lead to immediate execution.
Consider Pro19:21
21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.
Remember “a time such as this?” - the Jews were praying and fasting for 3-days as was she and now it was time to act. We know what (Jm2:20) says, faith without works is dead.
Esther knew the covenant between God and His people (Gen12:1-3). She also knew that God is forgiving when His people humble themselves (2Chr7:14)
14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
A reminder this was after the 70-years of captivity, a remnant had returned to the land to rebuild the temple. Esther had faith that knew God loved his people and promised His people, to preserve them.
In reading some commentary I came across this:
“One of the greatest needs in the church today is for intercessors who will pray faithfully for a lost world and a church that desperately needs revival.” (Wiersbe)
Esther knew what she was praying for, she knew what she was going to ask, and it was a big ask. I love what John Newton said about faithful prayer, petitions:
“Thou art coming to a King, large petitions with thee bring; for His grace and power are such none can ever ask to much.” (John Newton)
It was once said “preparing to pray is as important as praying itself.” - this is outside of emergency prayers of course. Now let’s see how Esther prepared.
She had fasted and prayed for 3-days
She now prepared herself to go to the king (maybe remember so did Ruth to go to Boaz)
You may wonder why didn’t Esther tell the king her desire. Let me offer you a few reasons I found.
It was not the right time, the king would not be ready to receive such news about his Prime Minister.
It was not the right place. She came to the king on his throne, in public, and what she had to say, ask needed to be done privately
Esther wanted the audience to be only the king and Haman alone. She wanted to talk about his evil plot, in private, knowing that this would catch Haman off guard at this point too (remember he is prideful and we will get more into that in a few minutes)
One more, one that even Esther did not know, God in His sovereignty still needed to do and that was the king needed to be reminded that Moredecai was never rewarded for saving his life years before, and that was a big part of this. God was orchestrating all these things behind the scenes.
“God so worked in the king’s heart that he not only cooperated willingly with his queen but also made Haman cooperate. Such is a wonder of the providence of God.” (Wiersbe)
Divine Sovereignty - brings false confidence; pride to Haman
Divine Sovereignty - brings false confidence; pride to Haman
6 As they drank their wine at the banquet, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition, for it shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” 7 So Esther replied, “My petition and my request is:
8 if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and do what I request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king says.” 9 Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai.
Notice anything?
What does the king ask of Esther as they were drinking at the banquet (vv.6-7) and what was her reply.
What is your petition, for it will be granted to you?
Esther replies that her petition is a request.
What was the request (v.8); and how was Haman thinking, feeling (v.9)?
He left glad, pleased but then was filled with anger when Mordecai did not even stand up or tremble at him.
Think about this a private banquet for you and the king, by his queen, you would feel pretty special, honored, and it the queens quarters at that. How would you feel?
The king restating his question to his queen, what is your request, a private thing, he must truly trust me and she must respect me to discuss a private thing with me. Pride enters without a doubt.
You can see Haman’s pride at Mordecai’s refusal, he was filled with anger.
OK, where does the sovereignty of God come in here?
The Lord restrained Esther from telling the truth to the king about Haman at this time.
The Lord was working on the king too in that the king accepted the delay and another day, banquet. So whatever he had planned the Lord’s plan prevailed (Pro16:1)
1 The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
The invitation for the second banquet would feed into Haman’s pride and confidence. Esther knew pride would lead to his fall. Consider (Pro28:26)
26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
Haman was trusting in himself, and his perceived greatness.
There is more on the pride issue as we press on.
Divine Sovereignty uses sinful pride
Divine Sovereignty uses sinful pride
10 Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king.
I know we may be running short on time, but I think we can still grab some information.
May we start with a Pro16:18
18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Let me show you.
Haman filled with anger against Mordecai controlled himself, went to his house, sent for his friends, and his wife.
As you see right there it is all about Haman.
Haman told of his riches, his sons, his promotion and even his being singled out for the banquet.
Pride, pride, pride, me, me, me.
“Pride is the ground in which all the other sins grow, and the parent from which all the other sins come.” (Barclay)
Someone once said “Pride is the only known disease that makes everybody sick except the person who has it. Unless cured, pride is a sickness unto death.”
Divine Sovereignty even when there is malice
Divine Sovereignty even when there is malice
13 “Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” 14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.
Haman had been pleased, but not for long, Mordecai spoiled his great place. Anger filled that place (5:9), malice filled that place.
It was previously that Mordecai refused to bow down (3:4-5) now refuses to even stand up.
With all the greatness he was basking in (5:10-12), he was not satisfied (5:13)
Wiersbe says: “The insidious thing about malice is that it has to act; eventually it must express itself. But when you shoot at your enemy, beware! For the ammunition usually ricochets off the target and comes back to wound the shooter! If a person wants to self-destruct, the fastest way to do it is to be like Haman and cultivate a malicious spirit.”
God’s sovereign plan was being worked out through Haman’s wife, unexpectedly. Build a gallows to put Mordecai on, it would lead to his own demise in the coming chapters.
Some take away’s for tonight:
May we have the courage of Esther when we face difficult situations.
May we lean on God and God’s way, and God’s timing to work things out for the good.
Do not allow pride to rule over you.
Let your faith be practical, meaning apply your faith today in your actions and words.
