Esther (3)
Notes
Transcript
The divine providence of God requires actions: it demands action.
the question is: why does that providence not effect every one the same?
while some: it propels them to give it all they have…to walk with boldness knowing that God goes before us and is making a way. they proceed by faith.
while others: they seemingly sit around and do nothing saying, “the plan of God will be fulfilled so there is nothing i can do to change that”
it sometimes leads to spiritual laziness.
We sometimes have to remind ourselves that the divine providence and plan of God involved US
the essence of Godly providence lies in our perspective and perception or interpretation of what God is telling us or wanting from us.
The fear of failure or the misunderstanding of God can stifle the divine work of God in our lives
Where did Jonathan find the courage to attack an army with only his armor-bearer at his side? Providence:
when he said: “Come, . . . it may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6).
How did Esther muster the courage to risk the king’s fury? Providence:
this was her attitude: “....and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish”.
“Mordecai encouraged her by saying: “Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this”
Why did David step toward Goliath with only a sling and five stones? Providence:
He said: “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37).
what was the attitude of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego say?
“we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.....If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
he didn’t stop there: “But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up
these men didn’t wait for God to push them into action rather, they willingly stepped into action....they simply moved by faith…believing.
The bible says”the just shall live by faith”
David’s only justification was: “is there not a cause”
Recap:
In our previous bible study in the series on “Esther”, we learned how and why Esther became queen
Again, the divine providence of God at work to preserve the Jewish people.
28 We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.
It is when we decide to do things on our own and in our own way…choosing rather to ignore the will of God and his divine direction…that we loose our way and fall short of the glory of God.
In the lives of Esther, Mordecai and the Jewish people, God’s hand was moving and putting things in place long before the need ever presented itself.
Important things we wanted to remember:
1: The commandment, of the prior king Cyrus, the permission for the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.
This being the proclamation that was on record (in writing) by king Cyrus.
2: The revealing of the conspiracy against king Ahasuerus’s life by Mordecai.
this was, when Mordecai overheard a plot by Bigthan and Teresh, to lay hand on the king and he let it be know to Esther....then to the king.
Haman and the Plot
Haman and the Plot
1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.
2 And all the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.
So all the people where to bow to, and honor, Haman
not only where they to do this, but it was commanded by the king himself.
The religion of a Jew forbade him to give honours to any mortal man which savoured of idolatry, especially to so wicked a man as Haman.
So the kings servants that where in the kings gate, questioned Mordecai of the reason he would not bow and why he transgressed the kings commandment but the bible tells us that Mordecai would not hearken to them
The word hearken means to not listen to or to not give respectful attention to.
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath.
6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.
So Haman thought to lay hands on Mordecai until he found out that he was a Jew.
Haman then hatched a plan that he was really going to punish Mordecai....he purposed to come against all the Jews.
perhaps Haman refused to make Mordecai a martyr....but rather he would hit him where it really hurts....
he would punish all of Mordecai’s people (the Jews as a whole)
therefor, they cast lots, or pur in order to ascertain a right time to put his scheme of plan into play.
So Haman goes to the king with his plan (in part) to gain the kings approval.
8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from every other people, neither do they keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not for the king’s profit to tolerate them.
not only did Haman propose this plan, he sweetened it by offering to cover all cost and probably them some into the kings coffers.
9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.”
Haman had a way of presenting things but not giving all the details of who it was he was talking about.
he was giving just enough information to make it sound beneficial to the king and the kingdom…but not enough to make a real informed decision.
This sum of money, reckoning by the Babylonish talent, would be about $10,000,000 in our money; but estimated according to the Jewish talent, it would considerably exceed $15,000,000
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.
upon establishing a date and getting the approval of the King....the King took his signet ring and gave it unto Haman.
There was a seal or signet in the ring. The bestowment of the ring, with the king’s name and that of his kingdom engraven on it, was given with much ceremony, and it was equivalent to putting the sign manual to a royal edict.
what the king was doing, was giving the authority to Haman to execute his plan as he saw fit.
a decree was drafted and delivered unto all the regions that an approval had been authorized by Haman and the king, that all Jews should be annihilated on a particular day.
Haman was afraid lest the king’s conscience should smite him for what he had done; to prevent which, he kept him drinking. This cursed method many often take to drown convictions, and to harden their own hearts, and the hearts of others, in sin.
Isn’t it just like the world....
To keep us from and to pull us away from such a dogmatic relationship with God
To overt our attention and our efforts away from God, the bible and prayer.
they attempt to involve us in things that they know can side track us…things that will pull us away from a life style like that... towards a lifestyle contrary to God’s purpose.
creating that separation of sin…that distant walk with God if any walk at all.
The divine providence of God requires actions: it demands action.
the question is: why does that providence not effect every one the same?
while some: it propels them to give it all they have…to walk with boldness knowing that God goes before us and is making a way. they proceed by faith.
while others: they seemingly sit around and do nothing saying, “the plan of God will be fulfilled so there is nothing i can do to change that”
it sometimes leads to spiritual laziness.
this is why some people choose ignorance rather than true knowledge. because....with knowledge comes responsibility.
We often have to remind ourselves that the divine providence and plan of God involved US
the essence of Godly providence lies in our perspective and perception or interpretation of what God is telling us or wanting from us.
The fear of failure or the misunderstanding of God can stifle the divine work of God in our lives
Where did Jonathan find the courage to attack an army with only his armor-bearer at his side? Providence:
6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”
How did Esther muster the courage to risk the king’s fury? Providence:
this was her attitude:
“......And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
“Mordecai encouraged her by saying: “Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this”
Why did David stand against the mighty Goliath with only a sling and five stones? Providence:
“The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.
what was the attitude of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego say?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
these men didn’t wait for God to push them into action rather, they willingly stepped into action....they simply moved by faith…believing.
The bible says”the just shall live by faith”
David’s only justification was: “is there not a cause”
The awesome thing about our God is this:
What is impossible with man is possible with God. He can take our wrong turns, wrong choices, and wrong decisions, and bring right out of it.
He takes our mountains and turns them into mole hills.
He calms the storms of our lives by that still small voice when he says....peace be still
our next bible study on “Esther” will be: “Queen Esther Learns of the Plot”