Esther (5)
Notes
Transcript
Recap:
Queen Esther finds out, through Mordecai, the plan Haman devised to destroy both Mordecai as well as all the Jews
Therefor, her and all the Jewish people begin to Pray and fast for Gods deliverance.
15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
Queen Esther had come to the realization that the need was far greater and far more important than her own safety and well being.
that whether she die or live, was willing to stand in the gap for Mordecai and her people.
While it is good for a person to go to God in times of distress (I believe God desires to do a work in the lives of his people)… I believe that more significant than that, Is when we:
Present ourselves children of God continually
when we have a day to day commitment
Our continual giving of ourselves whether during distress or good times.
This is what separates the true believer from the casual believer (if there is such a thing)
No life can surpass that of a man who quietly continues to serve God in the place where providence has placed him.
Enoch, Volume 22, Sermon #1307 - Genesis 5:21-24, Hebrews 11:5, 6, Jude 1:14, 15
Charles Spurgeon
wheresoever the spirit of God leads me, there will I follow with joy and contentment
similarly when Joseph was sold into slavery in the house of Potiphar.
20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
We serve a God that continually works all thing for our good.
Queen Esther's Plan
Queen Esther's Plan
The plan of Esther was not just her plan, but was divinely ordained by God to save and deliver his people
Esther found favor and divine direction through their earnest prayer and fasting.
1 Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.
2 So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.
Now that three days of fasting had been accomplished, Queen Esther prepares to approach the king with her request.
We recall, that she had not been called of the king in over a month.
The last news of Haman, was him indulging with the king in wine
revelling in his position and his plan against Mordecai and the Jewish people
The last from Queen Esther was her in a state of prayer and fasting with the Jewish people.
all to often, we see the success of the wicked or the power and influence of the same.
the bible tells us that these condition are short lived and even unsatisfying
4 Do you not know from of old, since the time that man was placed on the earth,
5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless and defiled is but for a moment?
It may seem sometimes that the prosperity and the victory of the enemy is conquering all, but according to the word of God....it is but for a short time.
all to often, we lack patience in our lives, to see the plan of God fulfilled
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
19 By your steadfastness and patient endurance you shall win the true life of your souls.
In this, we realize that in patient servitude, we will in time, see the magnificent plan of God come to fruition
We will see the defeat of our enemies and enjoy the victories in Christ.
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
So we see, that king Ahasuerus, rather than rejecting the approach of the Queen…he held out the golden scepter.
Queen Esther found favor with the king...
I believe that Queen Esther found favor with the king that day, because she found favor with God first....
She was in the will of God and fulfilling the divine plan of God first in her life.
At any moment, we can say no or refuse the leading of God....but if it is the divine plan of God for a deeper purpose, it will be realized either through us or in another way.
the bible says....seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
So we find that the king asked Esther what her request was and that it would be given her to the half of the kingdom.
4 So Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!”
7 Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this:
8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”
The king was giving Esther the guarantee that what she requested would be granted....
I believe that the delay in the Queens request was by divine plan of God.....the queen didn’t, at that time, know what would happen that night to the king.
this whole time, Haman had misunderstood Esther's plan.
The bible says upon leaving Haman saw Mordecai sitting in the gate and he refused to bow or move which infuriated Haman but did nothing at the time.
Haman then returned home but could not enjoy his new found glory until his enemy, Mordecai, was dealt with.
11 Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.
12 Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king.
Haman is on cloud 9…gloating and bragging about his position
there was but one problem....Mordecai.
14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made.
The purpose in suggesting such a tall gallo, was so it would be a lesson to all who saw it.
The person on the gallo would be visible from all directions, since he would be higher than all the trees.
This spectacle would solemnly emphasize that Haman was in control (cf. 3:1) and that no one should try to stand in his way
Matthew Henry puts it this way:
Many poor cottagers feel far less uneasiness than the rich, with all their fancied advantages around them. The man who knows not Christ, is poor though he be rich, because he is utterly destitute of that which alone is true riches.
Mankind continually seeks after the riches of this world and misses the source of true wealth that is afforded to us by God through Christ Jesus.
20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
From this point on things would begin to change, little by little through circumstances that had already been set in motion.
As the events unfold, we are reminded of seemingly insignificant or forgotten events that had been previously written but also forgotten.
God was sovereignly at work behind even such a hateful act as building a gallows
We see that Haman will soon find out that the evil plan he had in store would indeed be fulfilled, but not in the way he had planned.