Esther - Part 4 - Divine Deliverance
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning! Welcome to CHCC. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I just wanted to extend a thank you to all the kiddos in the program this past Christmas Eve, to Andy, Pam, Sherri, and Katie for the beautiful music, to Naomi for helping keep all the kids in order during the program and all the practices. To Pat and Calvin for the lighting. It was a wonderful service.
Now in our final Sunday service before New Years we will close out the book of Esther. We paused for a few weeks as we had our Christmas series, but we are back to finish up the final three chapters. If you’re like me, you probably need a refresher to remember what has thus far taken place in the story.
The whole overarching theme throughout the book of Esther can be summarized by God’s divine providence; God’s sovereignty. Even though God’s name is not mentioned in Esther, His fingerprints are seen throughout. Similar to detective work, we can infer God’s presence and God’s purposes and plans throughout by simply looking at the story taking place. How circumstances play out, how things are ordered all point to God’s perfect timing.
In a sense, the book of Esther serves as a microcosm to the enemies efforts and attacks on God and His people throughout history. As soon as things look bleak—hope seems to be utterly extinguished and the end of the road has come upon His people—God turns it around.
And maybe you’ve experienced this kind of thing in your own life. Back’s against the wall and you have no idea how things are going to turn around, and you’re praying, “God, I don’t know how this is going to work out, but you have to do something.” And God did. When there was no way, God made a way. And your life may testify to that.
And another thing that is really highlighted in the book of Esther is the constant attacks of the enemy. Haman—who is the clear enemy of the story—was elevated to a place of prominence; second in command under King Xerxes (or Ahasuerus). And his first order of operations? To utterly annihilate the Jewish people.
And I believe that when you pull back the curtains of this story and Haman, you see that Satan is at work. And this is not the enemies first attempt to wipe out the Jewish race.
Back in the book of Genesis, the enemy tried to mix the seed of God’s people, thus effecting their offspring and violence and evil became so rampant that God destroyed His creation through a flood, preserving one family and his descendants and thus keeping the hope of the future Messiah alive.
Then in Exodus, working through Pharaoh, you can see the enemy hard at work again. Pharaoh had all the Jewish male babies thrown into the Nile and drowned. Yet, once more God preserved His people.
Then in 1 Kings, we come across a similar plot once more. The wicked Queen Athaliah who killed all the offspring to the throne of David but again, God preserved His promise as the line continued on through one child—an infant boy by the name of Joash—was hidden away in the temple.
And more of the same continues into the New Testament. We just glossed over this during our Christmas series. King Herod had all the boys, aged 2 and younger, in Bethlehem slaughtered. But Jesus was protected and preserved.
The enemy though He won when Jesus was sent to the cross and died. But guess what? Jesus rose from the dead! And defeated the enemy once and for all. So time and time and time again, the plans of the enemy are thwarted.
This is a constant theme throughout the Bible and seen here in the book of Esther. The enemy trying to put an end to the people of God and thus to the Messiah. And time and again, God stepping in and making a way.
But the Bible also tells us that a time is coming where the antichrist will come and try to destroy the Jewish people again. But Jesus will return and rescue them.
The reality is that the enemy is always scheming, as the Bible tells us, to steal and to kill and to destroy. And at the same time the Lord over all is working all things together for the good of those who love Him, triumphs over darkness. As the apostle John put it:
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
And that is exactly what is seen in the book of Esther. Where we paused our study of Esther, she had received word of Haman’s plan from her cousin, Mordecai. The Jewish people, as a response, clothed themselves in sackcloth and ashes and mourned, fasted, and prayed.
Then Mordecai challenged Esther to boldly stand before the king to save her people. This is where we get the famous verse where he says to Esther, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).
And so she comes before the king to serve as an advocate for her people and as she approached there is real concern for her life. For no one was allowed to come before the king without invitation and her life would only be spared if he lifted the golden scepter to her and welcome her in.
And Esther boldly enters into the throne room, Ahasuerus raises the scepter, and she approaches the throne. Esther plans a banquet for the king and his right hand man—Haman. And at this banquet she asks if she can have them at a second banquet the following day.
And Haman is on cloud nine. Just him with the king and queen. He’s thinking to himself that he is pretty awesome. So he is completely unaware of what is unfolding here.
And as he is strutting out from this banquet, Haman sees Mordecai and his whole mood shifts. He is so upset, to the point that he, along with some friends and his wife, put together plans to build a gallows to have Mordecai killed.
And during this, our attention turns over to king Ahasuerus who is tossing and turning in bed; he can’t sleep. So he gets up and has someone read to him from the “book of memorable deeds.” And during this reading, he is told of Mordecai and how he saved the king from an assassination plot. And he asks, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?”
And here is where we see one of God’s divine plans come into focus. Because nothing had been done. That was unusual in Persian culture. Kings valued loyalty greatly and would honor those who were loyal to them. But Ahasuerus forgot at the time Mordecai saved him.
So the king thinks to himself, I have to honor him! He asks, “Who’s out in the courtyard?” And what a “coincidence!”
As Jon D. Levenson says, “A coincidence is a miracle in which God prefers to remain anonymous.”
Haman is coming back to talk to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows.
So the king brings Haman in and he asks him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?”
And of course Haman is thinking to himself, “Surely he’s talking about me. Who else who the king want to honor?” So with that in mind, Haman tells the king, “Let him sit on the kings horse and wear the kings robes and royal crown and let someone parade him around the city proclaiming, “Thus shall it be done to the man the king delights to honor.”
Ahasuerus says, “Perfect! Love it! Go grab Mordecai and put him on my horse and have him wear by best robes and crown! And Haman, go ahead and parade him around the city.”
After this was done, Haman, broken, runs home to tell his wife and friends what just happened. And they see the writing on the wall. They tell him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him” (Esther 6:13).
And right at that moment, it tells us that the king’s eunuchs arrive to bring Haman to the second banquet that was just about to take place which Esther had prepared.
Let’s see what happens…
So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?” And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
The king storms out, trying to clear his mind and determine what to do. And while he walks out to the courtyard, Haman decides to fall upon the couch where Queen Esther was and plead with her.
But the optics aren’t good here. Because just as he is doing this, the king returns and sees this and says, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?”
And as the words left his mouth, they covered Haman’s face, brought him to the very gallows he had built for Mordecai and hung him from it.
How God takes what the enemy meant for evil and turns it for good.
And that is where we pick up this morning. So if you have your Bibles with you, please turn with me to Esther chapter 8.
PRAY
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. 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.
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. When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king.
Once more, Esther puts herself in harms way to save her people. At this point she was secure as was Mordecai. But her people were still in peril so she once more approaches the king with a request. This time with weeping, she pleads her case before Ahasuerus.
You can almost sense her confidence growing throughout this whole ordeal. Where she was first nervous and hesitant, she now comes boldly whether or not he raises the scepter or not.
And let us think of this, how awesome is it that we can come boldly before our King? In fact, He encourages us to do so; He desires us to come before Him. We don’t have to worry or wonder if we will be accepted. God’s scepter is always raised, the door is always open. The author of Hebrews calls it the “throne of grace.”
Our King is a King who welcomes us, who is willing to act on our behalf. What a blessing to know we have a king who always welcomes us into His throne room. You cannot wear out your welcome with Jesus.
Verse 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.
Notice with Esther’s words now and how she approaches. She is entering into the presence of the king with confidence, but she is also submitted to the will of the king.
If it please the king…if I have found favor in his sight…if the thing seems right before the king…and I am pleasing in his eyes…
If, if, if, if. Esther did have favor in his sight. She was pleasing in his eyes. And the king was pleased with her request.
According to the Scriptures, we are not trying to earn the favor of the King. We already have it. But knowing that I have His favor, I do submit to Him and make sure it is His will. Lord, if it is pleasing to You.
Because my requests may be pleasing to me but it may not be pleasing to the King. We have His favor. It is a matter of whether or not this is a matter of His will or not.
Esther continues to plead in verse 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?” 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. 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.”
What we see here is that even though Haman is out of the picture, the law that was passed cannot be revoked. So the king gives Esther and Mordecai permission to write another edict in order to save them.
Essentially, they are given the king’s word that is going to give them the ability to stand against the enemy that is coming against them.
Likewise, we have the king’s word that enables us to stand against the enemy that is coming against us. We have the sword of the spirit to fight against the adversary.
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. 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, 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, on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 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. 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.
In short, the decree goes out that the Jews can defend themselves. And the king commands that the word get out quickly, hence sending the couriers on fastest and best horses throughout the provinces.
They had to get the good news to the people because time was of the essence. So the king sends his messengers out because there is a limited amount of time before the window will close.
There is an application here today for God’s church. There is good news to be spread. God is calling His messengers to carry that good news to the ends of the earth. Jesus Himself gave this very commission to His disciples to go into the world and preach the gospel. We are the messengers. And there is a window of time. We don’t know the exact moment or hour. But there are signs as the Bible calls them the pains before childbirth.
We need to ride swiftly and bring the good news. Scripture tells us that we are dead in our trespasses and awaiting judgment and yet we have the good news of Jesus Christ that says the enemy is defeated and our sin has been atoned for and you can be victorious.
In essence, that is what this edict is telling the Jewish people. The enemy is coming, but you can have victory; here is what you need to do…
Verse 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. The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. 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.
What a turnaround for Mordecai. Last time we saw him he was in sackcloth and ashes. Now? Royal robes. Now he is a representative of the king before the people. And the response of the people is joy and gladness. From sackcloth to celebration. From mourning to celebration. From fasting to feast. What a beautiful work of God’s hand.
We now come to chapter 9.
Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.
What an awesome verse. Isn’t this how God loves to work? Just when we think something is going to happen, God steps in and there is a reversal. This is exactly how we can sum up our salvation. Where there was no hope; where there was death; where there was wrath—Jesus stepped in as our Redeemer and one who intercedes on our behalf.
Just when the enemy thought to have gained mastery over us, Jesus reverses that. A spiritual Uno Reverse Card.
The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples.
The Jews gathered together. That is a key aspect in this verse. There is a reason why God calls His people together in His church. I think so often how much the enemy desires for us to be separated and alone. He tried with Covid; shut the churches down they said. No, thanks. We cannot neglect the meeting together as it says in the Bible. Culture today—very private, secluded. We have social media, but never have people felt so alone.
One response that always breaks my heart when inviting someone to church is when they say something along the lines of, “I do church at home by myself.” And yes, you can read the Word at home on your own. You can watch sermons and listen to worship music. All good things. But there is an invaluable aspect of fellowship and togetherness that you are missing.
I cannot imagine walking through this life—all of the hardships, all the spiritual battles—without all of you. Without your love, your fellowship, your support, your prayers. And I hope you feel the same way.
And here with the Jews, it was there togetherness, there unity that allowed them to stand against the enemy.
The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples. All the officials of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful. The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them. In Susa the citadel itself the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men, and also killed Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vaizatha, the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they laid no hand on the plunder.
That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king. And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.” And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day’s edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.” So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged. The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder.
Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder. This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness. But the Jews who were in Susa gathered on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness. Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another.
Notice three times it tells us they did not lay their hands on the plunder. When God’s Word repeats itself, it should cause us to pause and consider why. It isn’t by mistake. God’s Word isn’t being redundant. There is something He is telling us. And that is to show us that this was not revenge; this was not an attack to gain land or power. Rather, this was simply defense to obtain freedom. The plunder meant nothing. Rather, they desired their lives and to live in peace.
Next, we read of the inauguration of the Feast of Purim which continues yearly to this day among the Jewish people.
And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.
Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim. Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to their fasts and their lamenting. The command of Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.
While Christians don’t celebrate Purim, I think we can learn from the Jews the importance of remembrance and joyful celebration. Remembrance is such a vital heartbeat to the Jewish people. Passover—remembering God’s deliverance from Egypt. Purim—remembering God’s deliverance from Haman and the attempted genocide of the Jewish nation.
That is the heart of Christmas and Easter for us—remembering what God has done to SAVE us. To RESCUE us. To REDEEM us. But that kind of heart can and should be applied every single day. It does so much good to the heart to remember God’s faithfulness. Even in the little things in life. God, thank you for getting me through that season. Thank you for the little blessings of today that remind me of your goodness.
We are at the end. Chapter 10…
King Ahasuerus imposed tax on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.
Mordecai had the proper heart as a leader. He sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.
And that wraps up the story of Esther. I know we went mach speed there at the end, but it wraps up the story with a lot of historical information. (Which I love! But doesn’t need a whole lot of exegetical and theological break down).
But what a remarkable historical moment! Just beautiful! I hope that you were able to see God throughout the pages of Esther. Personally, I love how this book is written in this manner. He may not be mentioned by name, but He is absolutely everywhere and in every moment throughout!
God is a God of reversal. When things are bleak, when life has dealt you a blow, when the enemy is seeking to destroy, God enters in and saves. Just as Joseph told his brothers in Genesis…
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,
PRAY//COMMUNION
