Esther 6:1-13[1]
As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, May 15th, 2011
I hope you're enjoying this wonderful book of Esther as much as I am. I pray that you're learning, despite no overt mention of our Creator, about God's work in history, and about God's faithfulness to His people. I pray that seeing God's faithfulness to the Jews in the great Persian Empire centuries ago will strengthen your faith that God is faithful to His people in the United States of America today. Let's review our series focus…
The story of Esther: Providence, Courage, and Commemoration.
The Providence of God.
The Courage of man.
The Commemoration of God's work by God's people.
Let's read Esther 6:1-13
1 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.
2 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.
3 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."
4 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.
5 And the king's young men told him, "Haman is there, standing in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in."
6 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?"
7 And Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king delights to honor,
8 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.
9 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.'"
10 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."
11 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."
12 Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
13 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."
God's hand is almost visible here!
Last week we saw how God controls the heart of a king (Prov 21:1): he also controls the sleep of the king! Throughout this book I've focused on God's providence, which is God's preserving and governing of all things by means of second causes. God's invisible hand is readily visible to those who believe that He exists, and that He rewards all those who diligently seek Him. This is incredible: God's hand is almost visible here…
In the insomnia of King Ahasuerus.
In the reading choice of this king.
In the timing of Haman's arrival.
In the question of the King.
In the life of Mordecai, the faithful Jew.
I believe, reading this good story, that it's good to remember these three things:
How unstable our position with man is. Fickle is an understatement, but
Joseph from favored son to prisoner; from prison to prince.
Moses from prince of Egypt to fugitive; from palaces to shepherding sheep in the desert.
Bernie Madoff from respected, wealthy investor to hated prisoner.
J.K. Rowling from single-parent welfare recipient to 12th richest woman in Britain.
Brett Favre from greatest QB in Green and Gold to tiresome narcissist in Purple.
One can rise and fall quickly in the hands of men; but God is faithful, and thinks eternally. When Haman walked into that court that morning his day was planned out! He was whistling on his way to get a quick writ to hang Mordecai, smile at his swinging corpse, and then go enjoy a sumptuous feast with the King and Queen of Persia! Not exactly how the day turned out, was it?
When Mordecai woke that morning and went to work in the palace, I'm certain that he had no idea how his day would turn out any more than Haman did! From very burdened person facing a death sentence to 'most honored by the king' being touted by his great enemy around the city square! Our station with man is very unstable. On the other hand…
How stable our position with God is. By 'our' I mean all who have believed God's gospel enough to repent of sin and throw their lives on Him in complete faith. He is faithful to His covenant, to His people, to His children, to His church. While one can't always see the hand of God at work, we must believe that He IS at work on behalf of His great Name, His glory, and His people. God was at work while the king read and Haman plotted: He was busy keeping His covenant with Abraham, Moses, David, and with Jesus His Son – to save all who believe in the Messiah of God, the 2nd Adam, the Son who fulfilled all of God's law that Adam could not! God will not turn His face from His children; He will never forsake His inheritance! He poured out His wrath on His Son so He could pour out His love, mercy, protection, and good grace on His people! We are safe with God. You must hold to this!
How unwise personal vengeance is. God is not mocked; He brings justice. His laws of nature are in action, and His justice never rests. People are prone to say, "What goes around comes around." It's a good observation; but that leaves the work to fate, chance, or some other nebulous force. I prefer to credit God with bringing punishment to the wicked, the abusive strong, and mercy to the weak, the needy. It's the principle of The Rolling Stone.
Proverbs 26:27. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
I wonder if Mordecai was singing this song while he rode around town on the king's horse…
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts-- the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! (Psalm 57)
Folks, we are wise to let God handle revenge for us; He will repay our enemies.
I'm not saying we should never defend ourselves; I'm not saying we shouldn't be grateful for the fall of our enemy.
I am saying we should seek God's justice and protection, and not let hatred and revenge grow in our heart.
Don't trust in man; your position with man is unstable.
Trust in God; your position with Him is stable.
Make room for God: personal vengeance is unwise.
Let's rejoice that God is at work in this story for His people, and let's it take heart that God is still at work on behalf of His people, whether we see it or not!
[1] All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved. I paste them in red for distinction.
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