Grace or Opposition
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But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Biblical Truth
Biblical Truth
Insert Haman’s evil plan
But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Biblical truths for when Satan schemes against you (
Biblical truths for when Satan schemes against you (
See write up in ESV Bible. Compare to Naman in the Esther story.
Commit you way to the Lord
We left off in Esther chapter 5 as Esther, being prayed up, obedient, and being led by the very hand of God courageously entered the presence of a the king. She did not know, as we do, the outcome of this encounter. There were several things that might have been going through her mind. Will I live? Will I die? What will happen to my people? Will I be banished as Queen Vashti was for breaking the law?
Many of us go through those very same thoughts as the challenges of life come before us. We can find great comfort from the life of David as he writes about this.
Trust in Him
Be still
Wait patiently
Do not fret
He will ...
do this:
Make your righteousness shine.
Remove the power of the wicked.
Challenges for us
Challenges for us
Do not fret
Do not be envious
Trust in the Lord
Do good
befriend faithfulness
Delight yourself in the Lord
Commit your way to the Lord
Trust in Him
Be still
Wait patiently
Do not get agitated or worried over the prosperity of the wicked
Refrain from anger
Have abundant peace
Keep His way
Have a future
Can take refuge in Him.
God challenges us to prove that He means what He says. He is waiting to do business with us, whenever we're ready.
Consequences for them
Consequences for them
Fade and wither
Be cut off
Will be no more
pierce their own hearts
Have their arms broken
Will perish and vanish
Be destroyed
Have no future
The best-laid plans an powerless, if God wills to baffle them.
Promises from Him
Promises from Him
Will give you the desires of your heart.
Will act.
Bring forth your righteousness and justice
Laughs at the wicked
Uphold the righteous
Loves justice
Will not forsake His saints
exhalt you
Is our salvation, stronghold in time of trouble, helper, deliverer.
Our lives will not be problem-free, but there is hope in knowing that regardless of the petty schemes of humanity, there is divine purpose, and God’s plan will not be thwarted.
We can also see in our text today that Esther, with the help of God, would be helped, saved, and delivered from this time of trouble in her life.
And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
God’s Opposition to Pride (Haman’s Pride)
God’s Opposition to Pride (Haman’s Pride)
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
What causes this problem?:
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
ESV What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
What is the result?:
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
ESV Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
adjective
arrogantly superior and disdainful.
"synonyms:proud, arrogant, vain, conceited, snobbish, superior, self-important, pompous, supercilious, condescending, patronizing; scornful, contemptuous, disdainful;
full of oneself, above oneself;
informalstuck-up, snooty, hoity-toity, uppity, uppish, big-headed, high and mighty, la-di-da
"he is both haughty and disdainful"
Haman’s Pride
Haman’s Pride
And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
ESVAnd Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh.
And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king.
Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king.
Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.
Esther 5:
Sometimes we can let our circumstances weaken our foundation. One situation can flip our world upside down if we let our circumstances control us.
ESVNevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king.
Haman’s Haughty Spirit
Haman’s Haughty Spirit
Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.
ESVThen Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.
If your foundation is found in anything other than Jesus Christ, it can be easily washed away.
God’s Grace for His People (Haman’s Fall)
God’s Grace for His People (Haman’s Fall)
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
His Presence
His Presence
ESV8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
His self-humbling, followed by exaltation in his Father’s own good time, is the pattern for Christian discipleship.
His Perfect Timing
His Perfect Timing
And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
And the king’s young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.”
Esther 6:
His Planning
His Planning
So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?”
And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor,
let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set.
And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’ ”
Esther 6:6-
His Promise
His Promise
Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.”
So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”
Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to 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.”
While they were yet talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.
Questions we need to ask:
Questions we need to ask:
With whom do I identify in this narrative? With Esther or with Haman?’
With whom do I identify in this narrative? With Esther or with Haman?’
Is God going to have to humble me? Or will he be able to lift me up?
Is God going to have to humble me? Or will he be able to lift me up?