Esther 5-7

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INTRODUCTION
We are picking up our study of the book of Esther in chapter 5. In our last lesson, we saw that Haman was given a high position in the kingdom of Persia by King Xerxes, and an edict was made that all were to honor Haman. As Haman would pass by, everyone would bow before him, everyone except for one person… Mordecai, Esther’s cousin/adoptive father.
So Haman, being infuriated about Mordecai not bowing before him, he decided that he not only wanted to punish Mordecai, but he also wanted to exterminate all of Mordecai’s people – the Jews. He persuades the king to make an edict that would have all of the Jews exterminated.
Mordecai, in chapter 4, comes to the king’s gate in mourning. He reaches out to Esther for help. He wanted her to go to the king and get the king to reverse the decree that Haman made. She decides to trust in God’s providence in putting her in this position, and decides, at the risk of her own life to go to the king. The 1st queen (Vashti) risked her life by refusing to come into king Xerxes, and Esther risks her life by coming into the king unsummoned.
So in chapter 5, We have the climax of the book. What is going to happen? Esther goes into the king, and by God’s mercy, the king holds out his scepter to her and her life is spared. Clearly, the king knows she wouldn't do this on a whim...there must be some urgent reason why she did this, so he asks her what she wants and what does she want?
Her answer is not what you would expect… she does not right away ask for the king to do something about the edict. She instead requests that the king and Haman to come to a banquet.
Maybe she thinks the King's acceptance of this request and her hospitality may make it more likely he would be willing to listen to her request… or maybe she has realized that the king is easily persuaded when he is feasting. In any event, he agrees and they come.
At the banquet, the king realizes she still hasn't made her request... she didn't risk her life just to ask the king and Haman over for dinner… And so, he asks again, what do you want and I'll give it to you, up to half my kingdom! This seems to be a standard response for kings.... Herod did the same thing to Herodias’ daughter… And what does she request? Come to another banquet…
She is saying in vs. 8 that tomorrow she will tell him what her real request is. How do you suppose the king is feeling right now? Probably pretty curious... she is the queen, and he is interested in her, and the king is drawn into this... This is like a TV show that ends on a cliffhanger… It just keeps you interested and wanting to come back for more…
So, the king and Haman are to be at the Queen's banquet the next day, and she will finally make her request then…
But why would she want Haman there? I would not have wanted Haman to be there. That would be intimidating… however, maybe she wants the king to have to deal with Haman in her presence... perhaps even neutralize what Haman might say in his defense by her being there.... Or maybe she just wanted to see how Haman responds when the tides are turned… It is even possible that she fears that the king is such a pushover, that if he talked to Haman later, he might change his mind... Either way, it is better to have the king talk to Haman in her presence.
Then in verse 9… this is amazing. Haman is just overjoyed until, he sees Mordecai.... Mordecai just makes him miserable; Mordecai won't bow down to him and won't show him respect… Mordecai basically has control over Haman's mind and is robbing Haman of all pleasure he would have had from his high position and the special invitations he is getting from the queen.
What does that tell you about Haman? That he's so vain… He is proud and wants all the glory. He wants everyone to honor him no matter what the cost…
A really great man is not worried about receiving honor and glory. A truly great man is not so sensitive and worried about getting his due recognition, but that is all Haman is about...notice in what comes before the number of his sons ... the glory of his riches…
Haman has been so busy plotting this grandiose scheme of revenge on all the Jews that he hasn't even solved this immediate problem of Mordecai not respecting him. What's he going to do about this… Someone speaks up to help him solve this problem… Haman’s wife... remember how this whole book began? With the unenforceable decree that every man should be master in his own house... It sure seems like the women are the backbone in Persia at this time!!
Who does she remind you of? Don't pout, don't throw a temper tantrum...just build these gallows very high... We want to see this guy dead. Let’s hang him for all to see and learn what happens when you do not honor Haman! This reminds you of Jezebel… when Ahab was pouting over being rejected when he asked to buy a field, Jezebel concocted a plan to have the man who denied Ahab the land to be put to death so Ahab could take position of the field… We have the same thing going on here…
He is obsessed with Mordecai and seeing him dead now… just because he won’t bow before him… So now he is not going to wait for the rest of the Jews to be killed. He is going to get Mordecai punished NOW!
This is the low point of the book… But there is an incredible turn of events.... if you didn't know the story, you'd be really surprised at what happens
We see in ch6 that the king can't sleep. Often times the Lord communicates to people through dreams, but here God works through insomnia to turn the circumstances around. The king can't sleep, and at this time, what could he have requested? Warm milk? Concubines? Or knowing this king, he could have chosen to call his advisors to make a decree that the King must sleep!
But instead of all of these things, he chooses to have a book read for him… and not just any book. The one most likely to put you to sleep... the book of memorable deeds/the chronicles. This is a book that includes accounts of things that are done in the kingdom that are good and noble, especially good deeds for the king. There are no doubt hundreds of pages in this book and it just so happens that what part is read? The part about Mordecai saving his life by revealing to Esther a conspiracy to assassinate the king.
And the king immediately wants to know what was done to honor Mordecai? Nothing... Well that must be corrected immediately, even at this hour of night! This whole thing turns around by a king not being able to sleep one night and having a book read to him... God is so great that He can work without miracles through even ordinary events to accomplish His great promises…
All throughout out this story, any of this could have happened through a natural process...but they all happen in such an unlikely sequence... clearly the Lord's hand is in this...but it is so subtle…
So, the king thinks, we have to honor this guy, and then he thinks, “Who can tell me how?” Once again, he cannot make the decision himself. He needs help. And behold, who is out in the court – who can he call to help him out? Haman... he wants to be first in line to see the king... he, too has probably also spent a sleepless night due to the gallows construction... he can't wait to put Mordecai to death…
Both of them have something on their mind that they want to talk to the other about...so when you have the king and the vice-king with something to say...who goes first? Of course, the King! So the King asks Haman what should be done for the person the king wants to honor? What does the King omit? The name...does that remind you of something? Haman didn't tell the King who he wanted to exterminate! Oh how the tides turn! Of course, Haman thinks the king wants to honor him, the ego-maniac… And so, Haman responds in terms of what he would want... he probably describes his greatest dream. If you could ask the king for anything, what would you want? Here is how Haman answers…
(ESV) 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.’”
Haman's appetite for recognition and glory is insatiable--this is his highest dream. To be treated like the King! It is so ironic, he doesn't realize who he is suggesting this for. This is funny for us, because we realize, oh the king is thinking this and Haman is thinking that. So, in , the king loves the idea... So take quickly and do all of these things for Mordecai the Jew!
Whoa...I would have loved to have seen Haman's face. It's amazing that he did it! I would have thought he would have committed suicide before he did this! But he decides to obey the king. Can you imagine riding Mordecai through the streets of the city saying this is the one the king wants to honor. He has to tell others basically to do for Mordecai the one thing Mordecai would not do for Haman...give him honor...isn't that ironic!
In eleven verses this whole story has been turned on its head and now Haman’s greatest enemy is being rewarded by the king. All of the work invested into building the gallows, wasted!
The pace of the book is picking up quickly here… Haman returns home in mourning. He is doing what he led Mordecai and the Jews to do… And Mrs. Haman is like, you are in trouble now... She says in vs. 13..."If Mordecai before whom you have begun to fall"... the very thing Mordecai won't do for Haman… Then Haman is whisked off for his dinner with the king and queen…
Banquet # 2 and the king says, okay, Esther what do you really want... I'll give you half the kingdom and Esther tells him what she wants and she drops the bombshell…
(ESV) 3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. 4 For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated.”
But she is omitting some information here. She is saying it has been done...using the passive voice...she is getting the king upset and angry before he directs it at an object.... she thought out exactly how she was going to say this…
So, the king says, well who is this? Who would put his queen’s life in danger? It doesn’t strike him that he gave his signet ring to Haman when Haman requested that a whole nation be exterminated…
So, Esther points the finger at Haman...there he is right there! Things go from bad to worse for Haman… He is terrified and the king is furious... what is he going to do now? Who is he going to get advice from?
Haman pleads for his life from Esther… and what does he do? He falls on the couch before her...that is ironic...his wife said you have begun to fall and he keeps falling... he wanted to kill all the Jews because Mordecai won't fall before him and now Haman is falling before a Jew!
Just as Haman is falling before Esther, the king returns and accuses Haman of what? Wanting to assault the queen! Was Haman trying to do that? Certainly not… But he certainly could not punish Haman for what was the kings fault right? He gave Haman his signet ring… He was responsible for this also… But this accusation… a desire to assault the queen… that is something he can punish Haman for!!!
The one who wanted to kill a Jew for not falling down before him is killed, and his final act, was to bow before the adoptive daughter of Mordecai!!! And Haman is executed on the gallows that he had built for Mordecai!!!
CONCLUSION
God makes plans and has purposes that cannot be thwarted and God's Will is going to be done...God often acts in very subtle ways... invisible ways. As we have said a couple times, there is no reference to God in this book. He works behind the scenes...
Just look at all the things God orchestrated...things that can easily be marked off as “coincidences” in the book… Vashti doesn't come in and they have to get another Queen and Esther is the very one selected and Mordecai finds out about this plot and it gets recorded and he doesn't get rewarded for it and the lot falls on the last month of the year and the king holds out the golden scepter for Esther and the King's sleepless night and the form of entertainment he chooses and where they happen to read in the book… who was in the courtyard… On and on and on...what are the chances this would all happen by coincidence… Slim to none…
Clearly this is God's hand, but you only see it if you are looking for it because His name isn't there...
He never forces himself into your field of vision... This is how it is for us today. We don't see God in this life.... He doesn't whisper in your ear or show up in front of your face and yet He is there... His hand is there... behind the scenes coordinating all the events… God knows what He is doing… even when the circumstances of His people seem dim… when the circumstances are at their worst… He is still working to keep his promise… This is a good lesson for us to keep in mind even when our circumstances of life are not what we would prefer them to be… God is still working… He is good, even when the circumstances do not seem so… and He is still going to fulfill his promises… to conform us to the image of Christ and to reward us with His presence in glory…
One final lesson that could especially out so clear in this text we studied today is what happens when we are self-centered and filled with pride... the lengths that it can take you to in order to make things happen the way you want them... pride can lead us to hurt others with impatience, outbursts of wrath, hatred, and a number of other sins. When we want things our way it doesn't matter who gets in the way and who we need to knock down, we will do whatever it takes to please us... that is the downward spiral that pride takes you down, until it destroys you and leads you to lose your soul.
We know that God opposes the proud... He abhors pride... This is why we as God's people need to cut it out of our lives by the roots by humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God.
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