The Tale of Two Women (Esther 5)

Esther 5

GBCCR 8/16/25

Introduction

Comments-

Thanks for your prayers for this weekend

I’m never a fan of traveling, but it was a good time and I got to talk to some good people

I was reminded of how to handle times of suffering

Truths about making decisions biblically

How we can keep reminding each other of the gospel

AND HOW the bible says the conscience works

It is always a good time to hear people explain the bible

Prayers

Lord we pray for our brother John Vogel… his ongoing health issues have been a huge trial, and now he’s been in the ER, please heal and provide

And we pray for the children and teachers in our community as the return of school… may you all the Christians to speak clearly

And Lord, allow peace between Ukraine and Russia, but more than that, allow the Ukranian believers to grow and see many more come to know you

Catch- It is said behind every great man is a great woman

And we have some wonderful examples of that in people like Martin and Katie Luther or Charles and Susanah Spurgeon

Susannah believed strongly in what God had called Charles Spurgeon to do. She wanted his preaching to be preserved and used for generations to come.

Set setup up her famous Book Fund.

she “saved every five-shilling piece got.”

She would often send them to various ministers at no charge – this was the start of the Book Fund.

But perhaps it can be just as equally true to say behind every wicked man is a wicked woman

Of course, there is a biblical example here of the wicked King Ahab’s wicked wife Jezebel

1 Kings 19:1–2- Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”

Women, you are important in the spiritual lives of those around you

The bible doesn’t call you to be the shepherds in people’s lives

But it does warn you can be either good or bad counselros for them

Review

If you do not the end of the story, things do not look good for Esther right now

The most powerful man besides the king of this massive empire hates her people and has issued an orddr to have them all killed

While no one knows that she is Jewish

The same man who told her to keep it secret has told her that the secret won’t last

But it is the King’s signature on the order, his power is behind it

And while she is queen, she hasn’t seen him for 30 days

The law says that anyone who barges in on the king uninvited will receive the death penalty

There is no guarantee that she will survive or succeed

I tried to show you that Esther and Mordecai are not living good law following Jewish lives

They have every reason to think that God will not bless them because they have not been obeying God.

But the desperation means she and the people of Israel desperately but imperfectly pray with fasting

So let’s see an example of how

Two influential woman call you to good counsel

The patient influence of Esther reminds us of God’s control (1-8)

Explanation

Esther boldly faces the king (1-4)

On the 3rd day, she clothes, she goes, and she stands

4:16 says fast for fast without water or food for 3 days

She then goes on that final day

We can see her boldness as she puts on her royal robes

The word in Hebrew is she clothed herself with royalty

It is the same word used in 4:14

And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

She uses the position that God has placed her in for the good of her people

And she stands across from the King’s throne

The word throne is once again the same word “royalty”

While she puts on royalty, he sits on it

And when he sees in in verse 2… we hold our breath… Will he be annoyed or angry and have her killed?

Will he be annoyed or angry and have her killed?

No, he rejoices to see her and offers half the kingdom

Favor means fondness or compassion as he forgives her by putting out his scepter

And as she approached him to touch the scepter

He asks her what is wrong

For her to come to him in such a situation when the laws are what they are, there must be something troubling her

And he offers her a huge gift, which is something Kings did

We all know the story of Herod

Mark 6:22–23- and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.”

It was a boast from a powerful king to say, “whatever your problem is, I can fix it with my great power.”

But notice her response in verse 4 shows she’s been paying attention

If it please the king is a highly repeated phrase

Esther 1:19- “If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him..

Esther 3:9- “If it is pleasing to the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed,..

People in court knew how to move the king their way and Esther does the same thing

So Esther requests the king come to a meal she has already prepared

Look down in your Bible at her words…

The meal that I have prepared for him

The party is already prepared, so how can he refuse?

Trans: But did you see the meal is not just for the king, but for Haman

Esther shrewdly faces Haman (5-8)

Inviting Haman may seem a strange request from his wife

But while the whole city was crying in 3:15, the king and Haman were drinking together

These two are bound together, so perhaps the only way to separate them is bring them in a room together

Haman is brought and they both enjoy the banquet

So the king, now in the presence of Haman asks her for whatever she wants

And verse simply reads ‘Esther answered and said, “My petition and request …” ’

The sense seems to be that Esther begins to answer and then breaks off

Verse 8 returns to the same phrase as before as she asks for another banquet tomorrow

Why would Esther delay again when she has the king offering her anything?

Many reasons have been given

She knew she was asking the king to change the unchangeable law, so he needed more convincing

She wanted to test the kings’ affection for her so she asked him to come twice

She wanted to make the king curious so he was really ready to hear her

She was following the customs that valued preparation and conversation before important transactions

Or she chickened out and needed to finish the 3rd day of fasting first

But can you see the reason given by God?

The text doesn’t say why she did it

But we will see God’s plan in chapter 6

Esther 6:1- During that night the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records….

The text purposely doesn’t give us her reason because the point is that she is fitting into God’s hidden providence

Illustration point- Esther’s patient influence reminds us of God’s control

We all know that in rolling of dice you’re supposed to have an equal one in 6 chance

But if you keep getting the same #, you start to get suspicious that someone is setting this up

As students of history we see how Friedrich Nietzsche took a strong atheistic approach, arguing that “God is dead” and that the old morality of Christianity needed to be replaced with something better for the modern world

Many times, people have said Christianity would be gone and yet the bible still stands

We are still trusting and preaching it

Her faithful efforts remind us that God’s in control

Application

This is where we need a good theology of God’s sovereignty over our good decisions and our bad

RC Sproul has said

No Christian can avoid theology. Every Christian is a theologian.

The bible then says God is sovereign

So, I want to have the same level of comfort the text gives to Esther

Just do something

Nowhere in the bible are we told to listen for a small voice of God directing us

You do not need to be sure of something

Instead,

Seek to serve Christ by living a holy life as you fight sin

1 Thessalonians 4:2–3- For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;

Seek to obey the great commandment of Loving God and loving others

Try to obey scripture

Pray for wisdom… search the bible and others for wisdom

But then just make a decision

And guess what… God’s sovereign will shall work in whatever you do

Even if you make a foolish choice… or God forbid, you actually sin… like we all do

Guess who was soverign over the sins of Babylon and the sins of Jospeh’s brothers

What man means for evil, God means for God

If you love Him, he’ll use even that to make you to Christ

Because God is not like King Ahaz-u-air-us

He is far more mighty and terrifying because he is holy and good

But you can boldly come before the throne of Grace because the golden scepter of God’s justice fell on his willing Son instead

Jesus died for sinners like you and me

So, if you’re not a Christian, you don’t have to impress the king… You have to accept you’re not impressive and trust in His Son’s replacement for you

And if you are… remember, you’re still not impressive enough, but Jesus is, so you are forever loved because of Him

Trans: We’ve seen one woman use her influence to try to save people and thus reveal God’s work in her life… but now

The dangerous advice of Zeresh reminds us to find good counselors (9-14)

Before we get to the second woman’s advice, we need to see the need for the advice while we learn 3 foolish alternatives to those good counselors.

Self-control does not supersede good counsel (9-10)

Explanation

You can imagine how joyful Haman must have been as he left the banquet—Everything is going his way

He is rejoicing, elated, good of heart

Look down in verse 11 to see

He is rich

He has many sons to continue his legacy

He is second only to the king of the great Persian empire

And he alone received this great honor to eat with the king and queen

But this is the problem is idols that give us joy are fickle things that turn against us so easily

He then exits the palace and sees Mordecai back to his duties as a palace official

As the great and powerful Haman walks back, Mordecai just continues his duties of making judgments or inspecting trade items

He does not stand in reverence or start shaking in fear

He goes on doing his job like normal

So Haman is consumed with fury

The word also means venom… like his blood was boiling

But he is the prince… he has good self-control

After all, revenge is a dish best served cold

And this is exactly the type of anger Ephesians 4:26 warns against

Ephesians 4:26- BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

This Greek words for anger is the burning on the inside--those internal feelings of hatred and bitterness, eating at people from the inside out

Illustration point- self control is no replacement for Godly counsel

There is something foolish about losing your cool at an inanimate object

I know you have never done this

But I may have a time or two looked like a complete fool by throwing a tool across the yard in frustration, as I couldn’t get a bolt off or something

And you would rightly say… wow, that didn’t help

And I’m pretty sure that was not righteous anger pastor Chris… to which I’d say yes

But wasn’t it far worse when Absalom quietly planned the murder of his brother and overthrow of his father

It was brilliant… it worked

And it was evil

We must not believe the lie that self-control is a good replacement for wise counsel

Application

One danger we have in reading narratives like this one is to just see the bad guys as just so bad and unlike us

But might I suggest that many of us do the same thing in a more socially acceptable way

Robert Jones in uprooting anger defines, “anger is our whole-personed active response of negative moral judgment against perceived evil”

And Mordecai is breaking the law… he is ignoring the king’s command…

and if he does is, who else will

Do you see how he might perceive injustice?

One key passage to help us understand how to interpret the bible is in 1 Corinthians 10 in speaking of Israel’s sin

1 Corinthians 10:11–14- Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

We are to see, I am a lot like these sinners

So, let me flee idolatry

Because idols have a way of offering us things and then controlling us

This is why we get angry, we want something

James 4:1–2- What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel….

If you’re angry it because a functional God is being denied

ask yourself then:

What is it I am wanting so badly?"

Let go of it as something you must have.

The only desire you must have is to glorify God

Trans: Less we think we’re only like Haman in being tempted towards cold anger, let me suggest

Loved ones do not supersede good counsel (11-13)

Explanation

At the end of verse 10, Haman does want many of us do when we’re upset

He calls his family

Friends is the Hebrew word for love

It could be his actual family members or those he loves like family

Because while we know gossip is wrong

Proverbs 20:19- He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip.

Family is the exception, right?

Haman’s many glories are shared, but it feels empty

Psalm 127:3 says Children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

But Psalm 127:1 says Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it;

And all his idols are self-worth are collapsing over one man ignoring him

He’s really not that strong and secure if one man ruins his satisfaction

Proverbs 10:2- Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death.

His practical God is betraying him

Application

We must beware the excuses for gossip

Counselor Paul David Tripp writes,

Gossip doesn't lead a person to make a humble confession before God or others. When I gossip, I confess the sin of another person to someone who is not involved. Gossip doesn't restrain sin; it encourages it.

There is a difference of getting wise counsel for how to deal with a conflict

Often you can tell the difference because the conversation will be more about you than them

And their words will be, follow Matthew 18 and go to your brother

We want good friends

Proverbs 27:5–6- Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

Kids… you want friends who will help you, not just complain with you

To our seasoned saints… You have the great benefit of being good friends who do not just hear the complaints, but point the complainers back to God’s word

But Zeresh doesn’t do that, we finally get to the second women’s advice, and it’s anything but true peace

Feeling better does not supersede good counsel (14)

Explanation

Notice that her name is first here in verse 14 but second in verse 10

Many commentators will agree the orders matters as she is taking the lead

She, like Eshter is driving the ship that her husband and these other men are on

Her suggestion is crazy

50 cubits is 75 feet in the air

It seems like overkill,

but you can imagine if they have a house on a hillside,

the actual wood doesn’t have to be that high

She says, Let’s kill Mordecai right away and put him on display

This will solve that problem of anyone else disrespecting you

It is vile, but her motivations are relatable

She wants her husband to go to work joyfully

She wants him happy

What wife doesn’t want that?

And her influence powerfully wins her husband over

Beware the idea that feeling better is more important that good counsel

It would be rather obvious in some areas

Can you picture a doctor whose goal was just to make you feel better?

So every person who came in got the equal treatment from him

Placebos or sugar pills were given out

Patients feel good that they’ve been heard

They’re relieved they are doing something

But does it help?

It’s the same with the main goal of life being feeling better

Application

So let us be careful for the advice we give heed to

Let me speak first to those who are suffering

There are a lot of worldly psychologies out there

I use the plural because there are many different kinds

And a number of them make you feeling better their highest good

And they will suggest you do and believe things that go against your great good of glorifying God and enjoying Him

Instead of trusting Him they will tell you to trust yourself

You need to not listen to them even if they can make you feel better

And while I don’t think any of us would buy the lie to kill someone… nor could we

There are tough relationships in our lives and sometimes the advice is given…cut them off

Which is another way of saying… treat them as if they were dead to you… kill them in your heart

Jesus said

Matthew 5:21–22- “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; …..

Ken Sande’s book the peacemaker says

we can make the mistake of peace-faking when were run away,

or peacebreaking where we attack

You may not kill, but you can treat the person like they’re dead to you

The hard call of reconciliation is the call of the Christian though

Therefore

Since we have seen (Cohesion)- Two women offering influence

One tries to save her people, and God sovereignly uses her

And one tries to comfort her husband and suggests murder

We know we must (Resolution)- be good influences

Women… you will never honor God to be a pastor or an elder

God has not called you to be the shepherds of God’s people

You are not to be the heads of your homes

But you must be Godly

Because there are two types of leadership

There is the leadership of a position, which is effective

Just think of the power the governor or the president has to get people behind these men

They are calling in forces and making laws

But the leadership of influence is greater still

How many of those elected officials got there because some famous person endorsed them

And people said… I love Taylor Swift, so I’ll do what she says

Influence is often unseen, but it can direct the future

So, we need to watch our influences… the ones we let in or the ones we give

Proverbs 22:24–25- Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.

Closing prayer

Lord, let us beware the voices that come to influence us… may we trust those who bring your word more, OH God

Amen