Justice Prevails
An Executed Scoundrel (Justice Prevails) • Sermon • Submitted
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· 46 viewsAct justly in every situation.
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Introduction
Introduction
God providentially uses two exiled Israelites to rescue His people from certain doom, without any explicit mention of God or His activity!
A classic story of good versus evil, the Book of Esther is a unique account in the Bible. It gives us a glimpse of the Jews who remained outside their homeland after the Exile, particularly the Jews living in the Persian Empire
God is never absent
God is never absent
Here we see that the author chose a fascinating literary choice - never once is God mentioned in the entire Book. This behind-the-scenes take of God at work is brilliantly displayed throughout Esther's chapters through "coincidences" and "happen chances" that help to save the Jews from Haman's wicked plot to destroy them.
Christians, too, can benefit from reading Esther as it reminds us that even though it appears God is absent, He is still at work in our lives and will not abandon His promises while we are living in a murky and ambiguous world.
Persian King Xerxes banishes Queen Vashti after she refuses to come to his drunken party. Xerxes looks for a new wife and Esther becomes queen.
Mordecai and Haman
Evil Haman becomes powerful but is furious when Mordecai doesn’t bow. He plots to kill every Jew in a single day. The King ordains it.
Esther’s Purpose
Mordecai asks for Esther's help. She can only speak with Xerxes if he summons her, or she dies. Esther prays and enters for her people.
Haman Humiliated
Esther invites Xerxes and Haman to two banquets. Xerxes honors Mordecai and humiliates Haman. Esther exposes Haman’s plot to Xerxes, and he executes Haman.
The Jews Victory
Esther and Mordecai reverse Haman’s evil plan. Xerxes’ decree is irreversible, but he issues a new one allowing Jews to defend themselves. Purim is established.
I. Scheme Explained (Esther 7:1-4)
I. Scheme Explained (Esther 7:1-4)
A. Second Banquet (vv.1,2a)
A. Second Banquet (vv.1,2a)
1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
Esthers invitation to the king and Haman results from Mordecai telling her about Haman’s plan to slaughter the Jews.
7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. 8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.
15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
B. Second Request (v.2b)
B. Second Request (v.2b)
2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
Uh-haz-you-ee-rus once again expresses his willingness to hear Esther’s position.
Having being told to wait He gives her an exaggerated offer of up to half of the kingdom.
C. Second Response (vv. 3,4)
C. Second Response (vv. 3,4)
3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
In ordinary circumstance, Esther may have drawn out the process over more days with more banquets and wine.
Xerxes himself may have expected the process to draw out further, given the custom of multi-day banquets.
5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace;
But for Esther and her people, time is running out.
At least two monthhave elapsed since the kings exterminationorder was issued, leaving less than nine months before it is to be enacted.
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.
9 Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
Therefore Esther doesnt waste any time presenting her request.
She has a history of modesty in her request.
15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
She probably knows that the King will assume she want ask for anything extravagant now.
Esther has been queen for several years at this point, its quite likely that she has developed a sense of when to push the king and when not to.
Lets compare...
16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
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.
What does the timing of Esther’s request with regard to the Kings state of mind teach you about how to time your initiatives?
4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage.
Esther begins to expose Haman’s plot to destroy the jews.
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.
Vs. 4a “For We Are Sold” phrased in the passive voice, avoids implicating the king.
7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
The heaping up of phrases - to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish - emphasized the dire consequences of her people being sold.
4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage.
The second part of Esther statement is difficult to interpret, but either way, this Esther diplomatic way of streesing the extreme importance of the issue.
Where might God be calling you to speak up for justice on behalf of others?
Esther conveys that she has seriously weighed the situation before speaking up.
She may not realize that Haman has witheld the identity of the people he has targeted for destruction.
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.
You would think that the king himself would have asked that identity. The fact that he didn't indicates his absolute trust in Haman. And since the decree has now been sent out over the Persian Empire one wonders if the King is still unaware of the identity of the group being targeted .
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.
8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
Such lack of awareness would indicate the extreme isolation of the King
II. Culprit Exposed (Esther 7:5-8)
II. Culprit Exposed (Esther 7:5-8)
A. King’s Question (v. 5)
A. King’s Question (v. 5)
5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
Why was the King so clueless?
1. it's been several weeks since he was involved in this issue
2. Kings are busy people and therefore delegate tasks to subordinates
3. the King is just now being made aware that Esther is part of the target group . In any case the King is still trying to put together the big picture .
B. Queens Answer (v. 6)
B. Queens Answer (v. 6)
6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
If Esther has been concerned that Ahasuerus would become defensive, here she is probably relieved to be able to point the finger squarely and only at Haman.
She does not identify him as her personal enemy but as adversary and enemy.
Esther has stated her concern with humility and deference following the expected protocol of the Royal Court.
Tact is of utmost importance.
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
Given that Esther is accusing the King's most trusted advisor of treachery that involves misuse of the King's own power.
She is careful to level the accusation at aiming without implicating a The King himself .
6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
Haman's reaction is like that of many who are caught in wrongdoing his wants steely exterior becomes a deer caught in the headlights look.
Interpreters often identify this moment as the climax of the entire story.
Haman knows he is expose the only question is how the King will react.
Esther has completed her speech and speaks no further in this chapter.
C. Culprit’s Arrest (vv. 7,8)
C. Culprit’s Arrest (vv. 7,8)
7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
With his blood boiling compare
12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
the King storms out. He need here no self defense from Haman.
The King has put the pieces together, and Haman's guilt is obvious.
The King's highest official has abused Royal authority, though the King does not know why.
Haman has had his own best interests not the King in mind.
7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
The King's intention toward Haman or clear.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion:
Whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
Haman must do something but he has no good option.
He cannot follow the King outside, nor can he add to his guilt by fleeing.
The warning from the wife and friends, thematic of the book as a whole, should have been heeded:
13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
the words are extremely coming true
8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
Persian Royal banquets involved reclining on beds, like couches, instead of sitting at a table.
6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
Desperate for mercy Haman approaches the Queens bed to plead for his life.
Her silence may have increased his desperation, for he falls onto her couch.
Ironically, Haman was enraged earlier when a Jew would not bow down to him, but now he will find himself at the feet of one of those same Jews
8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
How the King might have handled Haman's treachery before seeing this no longer matters.
The King indict Haman for violating harem protocol and, even worse, appearing to force himself on the Queen.
In the Persian system, the only men allowed near the Queen or the King's other wives and concubines were Eunuchs. (They are referred to in the book of Esther as chamberlains)
An advance on any member of the Harem was considered an affront to the King himself.
The Kings officials thus act on what they recognize as a capital offense. They cover Haman's face because he is no longer worthy to see the King .
III. Scoundrel Executed (Esther 7:9-10)
III. Scoundrel Executed (Esther 7:9-10)
A. Just Idea (v. 9)
A. Just Idea (v. 9)
9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
B. Just Result (v. 10)
B. Just Result (v. 10)
10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.
