A Death Letter

God at Work Behind the Scenes: Message Five of Esther Series

Esther 3:10-15.

ETS: A letter was sent with King A’s stamp of approval warning the Jews of their coming death.

ESS: Each of us have been warned of our destiny of death because of our sin.

OSS: [MO: Evangelistic] {SO: I want the hearers to repent of their sin and believe in the Gospel.} Cognitive: I want the hearers to know about the death letter sent to the Jews and to be reminded of our own death letter in Romans 3:23. Affective: I want the hearers to feel the great weight the Jews must have felt as they received the letter warning of their death. Psycho-Motor: I want the hearers to repent of their sin and believe in the Gospel.

PQ: What is the connection between this text and our story?

UW: Connections

Intro.: [AGS]: Have you ever received a letter that caused you to immediately drop your head in disappointment, sadness, disbelief, or grief? Perhaps it is a letter from a school denying your acceptance or awarding of a scholarship; maybe it is a letter to inform you of the passing away of a loved one; it could be a letter from a doctor’s office explaining a recent diagnosis; Do you remember how you felt in that moment? Broken? Emboldened? Compassionate? Infuriated? [TS] Today’s text details a letter sent out with the King’s stamp of approval detailing and warning the Jews of their certain death to come. [RS] Each of us has received a similar letter warning of our certain death. We are all sinners (Rom. 3:23) deserving of eternal death (Rom. 6:23).

TS: Let us observe a few connections together, now.

King Ahasuerus approved the death of the Jews. (vv. 10-12)

The king removed his signet ring thus sealing his approval upon Haman’s request to destroy the Jews.

CONNECTION: God, the Ruler of the universe, approves the death of all unrepentant sinners. (Rom. 6:23a, Heb. 9:27)

A letter was sent to inform the Jews of their coming death. (vv. 12-15)

Orders were given to the officials in all provinces to kill the Jews. (v. 13)

Death letters were sent out to all Jews throughout King Ahasuerus’ Kingdom. (v. 14)

CONNECTION: God, the Ruler of the universe, sent a letter to all of humanity informing them of their death- the Bible. (same verses from last thought block)

The story took a turn. (chs. 4-10)

Chapters 4-10 record the turn of events in the story.

CONNECTION: The New Testament records the turn of events for our story. Our story can take a turn through Jesus Christ. You may have walked in headed to Hell, but you can walk out headed to Heaven. (Rom. 6:23b, Heb. 9:28, Jn. 20:31)

CONCLUSION:

[1] Each of us have received a death letter detailing our death if we do not repent of our sin and believe in Jesus.

[2] Have you taken this step in your life?

[3] The death letter is for you and me alike- unrepentant sin is not acceptable by God and is punishable unto to eternal death. What will you do about this?