Esther: When God Seems Absent (6)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Destiny in the Darkest Days
Esther 6:1-14
We live a life on a horizontal line. Time for us is kind of like that - We are born, and at some point we may decide that we need God in our lives— someone may have helped us with that, taught us, modeled it for us, explained what Jesus did— pointed us to scripture, etc.
For many others of us— we may not have even thought about God until something really bad happened. It was a tragedy, or a loss, and we looked to something or someone bigger than us— we needed God to intervene. Some of you are waiting on a pathology report right now. Some of you husbands and wives are having some issues and troubles, some of you have children that are breaking your heart right now. Some of us have financial issues, losses, or other stress that weigh us down - some of you may be facing lawsuits or mistakes that you made. This is real life stuff— and it disrupts that horizontal line— its really hard, and it’s really dark sometimes. That’s when we really want God to step in! WHERE ARE YOU?
I may be over simplifying this— but often times, when I meet people and try to help support them in a time of trouble— they are viewing life in either an experiential way, or a theological way. Two ways to understand what’s happening in their lives— they usually fall into one of the two camps we’ve been mentioning in several of our messages:
Experiential— it’s all about me, my effort, my skills, my experience.
The problem here is that we are limited— we are sinful, we are incomplete, we are broken.
Theological— It’s all about God, His work, His power, His will.
The problem here is that we do place God as all-powerful, all-knowing, which is a very good thing— but we forget that He is all-present with us, and loves us. We believe that we can’t do anything about it-- He desires us to be close to him.
How can we really understand the blending of these two conceptual camps? We experience the world, and we do have choices. But we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, God’s providence and His power is within us— to act in cooperation with Him.
The book of Esther is really all about the blending of these concepts— Matt did a great job last week to take us through the critical and careful actions of two of the characters in the story— one being led by God- (Esther, prayed up, fasted up, dressed up)— and Haman, led by our enemy deeper into his hatred and rage to destroy Mordecai. It was a part of the story where the actions and the will of these two were explained and featured. This week, now in Chapter 6 we will see a bit more of God’s working behind the scenes— working His providence and plan in the darkest of nights, literally for the redemption and rescue of his people.
The first part of chapter 6 :
The King’s bout with insomnia.
The King’s bout with insomnia.
1 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.
Xerxes asks for the royal records to be read.
Here’s one of those “experiential” things kind of playing out… The King can’t sleep. He has the Persian chronicles brought to him and read. This is actually sort of like the “Congressional Record of the United States” being read to you.
Why can’t he sleep? Perhaps the weight of the kingdom was troubling him— perhaps he was just wondering really hard what it was that Esther was going to ask him. But none the less, he can’t sleep— but instead of just lying there— he does something very interesting, and starts to ask some interesting questions:
2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 3 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.
No music, or a warm cup of milk, —not even a little drink of more wine, these things could have been the choice for the king — something to calm him down and help him rest. He calls up the records of the kingdom, the chronicles of everything that has been happening— and it just so happens that the story of Mordecai’s protection and faithful service to the king and the kingdom--is read by the attendant. Now if you or I were having a hard time sleeping at night, and we decide to have a story read to us— and within that story we hear about a couple guys conspiring to KILL us— I’m not sure that would help me fall asleep— I suspect the King was fully awake after that!
Now what are the chances that this would be the exact part of the kingdom records that this guy would read? Once again, we see no mention of God in the text, but we see his actions and providence to guide and direct.
“What has been done to reward this Mordecai for protecting me, and saving the kingdom?”
“Nothing has been done for him.”
Mordecai’s faithful service is revealed.
Interesting. Most of the time in this world, humility, modesty, and self-denial are hindrances for us to advance in this world. Doing the right thing, and not telling anyone about it - is often never rewarded. Modest Mordecai ascends no higher than a job at the King’s gate— Haman, the audacious, boisterous, self-promoting braggart— ascends to the Kings right hand man. Matthew Henry in his commentary on this :
“While the proud rise fast… the humble stand fast.”- Matthew Henry’s Bible commentary
SO the king is pretty motivated to correct this apparent oversight— and to acknowledge and thank the person who saved his life. He’s pretty anxious to get this rectified, so we read that this is probably the first thing on his “to-do” list : Who’s around here to help me get this done?
Xerxes wishes to thank Mordecai.
4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.
Haman is at the front door— waiting for the king to wake up and call him in. He’s anxious also— to put Mordecai to death!
5 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” the king ordered.
You gotta love the way this is written right?
6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?”
The irony here is just too thick! We can’t stand the guy, but man— we see what is about to happen right? I sort of feel sorry for him at this point.
Remember back to chapter 5 verse 13? Haman is bragging about all that he has, all that he has accomplished, yet he stated this;
13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”
Talk about childish- talk about foolish and immature. He is the second in command of the entire Persian empire. He’s got everything anyone could ever imagine— and one guy drives him mad. Which is basically why all his friends and his wife say “Build a big stake, and kill the guy”. Get rid of him. Get him off the radar. One little fly in your ointment? Kill him.
There’s a whole other sermon here on identity and where we place our focus and where we draw our “self” worth from… But we don’t have time for that… I think you get the picture. If you are finding your identity in things that you can lose— when you lose them, because you will lose them, you’re only going to get more angry, and more twisted and broken— losing everything that you find your identity in— I want my identity to be in something that I would never lose. Jesus Christ and him crucified and resurrected. That’s where I find my self-worth, who I really am.
Haman actually thinks that the King is about to honor him above everyone else.. And the king asks him the question, without telling him the whole story— can you imagine if the King would have said— Ah Haman, do you know this Mordecai guy?> He saved my life, I want to thank him— how should I do it? He didn’t though— he simply asks “what should I do to honor someone that I really want to thank?”
7 So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head.
9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’ ”
So basically, he suggests that this person should be dressed like a king, riding on a king’s horse, paraded around by the kings’ nobles. He wants to be honored like a king for a day!
Mordecai is honored.
Mordecai is honored.
10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
Haman plotted Mordecai’s death, God planned his honor.
Haman must honor Mordecai.
11 So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”
Can you imagine? All in the city would have known the hatred that Haman had for Mordecai and all the Jews. Why this weird celebration now? What about the giant stake, Haman?
This is really the ultimate disgrace to Haman— think about it. This is Mordecai, whom Haman hated— why? Because he wouldn’t honor him! The trap was set for Haman’s pride.
Haman is humiliated.
Haman is humiliated.
Haman returns home in grief.
Esther 6:12–13 (NIV)
12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, 13 and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.”
Everybody has a constituency, right? We all have an “entourage’” so to speak. But do we really have people that we can trust, and hear from? Haman is a real jerk of a person. But he has friends, and a wife, and people who he retreats back to. And these people just tell him what he wants to hear.
Who do you surround yourself with?
David mentions something like this in Psalm 101— this is his first Psalm after becoming King. He is setting up who he will hang with— who will give him advice. We need to take note of that— I want people around me that will tell me the truth.
6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.
I have a handful of people in my life that are very close- and I trust them. The Elders group here at church are like that. These are guys who know my soul— they know my goals, they know my dreams and my weaknesses--they are trustworthy and can and should tell me when I’m wrong— and they hopefully can tell me when I’m on the right track. You need a couple people like that in your life.
This may be a really tough question— and I don’t really want to offend anyone—but… Do you have someone, or a couple people, who really know you— and that you really trust to tell you what’s real? Like— someone that can speak the TRUTH in LOVE to your soul, and you can hear it from them? You each love each other so deeply— that you are willing to hear something painful— because you KNOW that they have your best in mind. This is a real problem for some of you. I would suggest to you, that if you don’t have at least one who can really let you have it when you’re wrong— I’m not sure you really have any true friends at all. Trust me, I know it’s easier to just be a little distant— a little displaced—I have been there... but that will get lonely, and you’ll probably get yourself down some really deep holes that you didn’t need to be in.
Unfortunately, Haman hears from some in this group now— and it’s not good news.
Haman’s wife and friends predict his demise.
Esther 6:12–13 (NIV)
(cont) His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!”
I love the way this mirrors the new testament record of Satan’s attempt to destroy Jesus.
It has the gallows, (or cross), the enemy has schemed to set up the trial, the conviction, the beatings, the death of Jesus. There’s a powerful connection between Jesus receiving that punishment. What Satan had intended for evil— actually becomes his own demise. Next week, we will have a powerful opportunity to explore this “ironic reversal” once again through taking communion together.
Haman is the very picture of evil—he is evil personified. We see him as a picture or type of the evil one who opposes God’s people, willing to do anything to destroy them. We ought to be aware of the evil one’s sinister, deadly strategy. His aim is to destroy our faith in Christ . The reversal of fortunes in Esther foreshadows God’s ultimate reversal of evil, when his people will at last be vindicated and his enemies forever destroyed (Rev 20:7–10).
Our enemy the devil knows, just like Haman is realizing at this point in the story— that their fate is sealed and their ruin is eminent. The Apostle John writes of Satan’s defeat in Revelation:
10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.
There isn’t any time for Haman now— The plan and the trap have been laid— by his own hand.
Encouragement for today: “But God”
Haman planned for Mordecai’s death, but God planned for Mordecai’s honor.
The Enemy planned for Jesus’ death also, but God planned for Jesus’ honor.
The Enemy planned for our death too, but God plans for the honor of those who love and honor Him.
Haman harbored evil pride and hatred in his heart, and he ends up being forced to bow to Mordecai.
Satan harbored evil pride and hatred in his heart as well, and he will be forced to bow to Jesus.
Philippians 2:9–11 (NIV)
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
“Trust in God’s timing. It’s better to wait a while and have things fall into place than to rush into something and have things fall apart.”- Adam Cappa
Let’s pray.