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by Samuel E. Ward
September 29, 2013
View PowerPoint slide presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/esther-3-ss or http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/ for all of Pastor Ward's presentations.
Introduction
We have examined the events of the first and second chapters which included . . .
I. God's Hand Prepares for the Future, Esther 1-2.
A. The Great Banquets of Xerxes and Queen Vashti, Esther 1:1-9 (483 B.C.)
B. Vashti's Dethronement, Esther1:10-22
C. The Choice of a New Queen, Esther 2:1-23
Now see how . . .
II. God's Hand Rules in the Present, Esther 3-8.
The events that threatened God's people, begin to unfold in this chapter. However, God had providentially prepared for these events. Throughout the rest of this book are several evidences that God still watches over His people Israel, even those who live in far distant lands. The situation is reminiscent of the pleas of God's people in the days just prior to the Exodus.
(Exo 3:7 NIV) The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.
He is about to hear the cries of His people again as indicated by their "fasting, weeping, and wailing." The rest of the story is about how He accomplishes it. See the evidence of God's hand acting through the events that begin in Esther 3.
We begin by taking note of . . .
A. Haman's Plot to Exterminate the Jews– Plot #1, Esther 3.
1. Instigated by Mordecai's refusal to bow to Haman, Esther 3:1-2.
Esther 3:1-2 (NIV2011) 1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king's gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
It is hard to imagine, from what we observe of Haman's character, that his arrogance and pride had gone unnoticed by Xerxes. Yet it pleased Xerxes, for some unexplained reason to honor him. Unbelievers are at such a disadvantage because they have no connection to God or His wisdom. Consequently, this will be a decision Xerxes will deeply regret because . . .
Proverbs 26:1 (NIV2011) Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
And Haman will prove the proverb.
Stupid Choice # 3: Xerxes gave the place of honor to an arrogant and ambitious fool.
There is a reason why God established guidelines for the selection of leaders within His church. It is unwise to give positions of authority and leadership just to fill vacant positions or without regard to examination of character and Christlikeness.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 (NIV2011) 1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
1 Timothy 3:8-10, 12 (NIV2011) 8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. . . 12 (NIV2011) A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.
2. Exacerbated by others' sharing gossip and testing of Haman's tolerance concerning Mordecai, a Jew, Esther 3:3-4.
Esther 3:3-4 (NIV2011) 3 Then the royal officials at the king's gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's command?" 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai's behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
Why do people gossip?
a. To separate good friends from each other, Proverbs 17:9.
Proverbs 17:9 (NIV2011) Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
b. To fill their idle time and to be disruptive, 2 Thessalonians 3:11.
2 Thessalonians 3:11 (NIV2011) We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.
c. To spread inappropriate and often untrue things about others, 1 Timothy 5:13.
1 Timothy 5:13 (NIV2011) Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.
To be sure, there are many more.
3. Intensified by Haman's hatred for the whole of Mordecai's people
Esther 3:5-6 (NIV2011) 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
Proverbs 16:27 (NIV2011) A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.
The literature suggests two reasons why Mordecai would not bow before Haman with scholars usually favoring #1, #2, or both of the following:
a. Mordecai considered bowing before Haman an act of sacrilege that should be reserved for God alone although bowing before kings and authorities not claiming deity was done by Abraham, David, woman from Tekoa, Bathseba.[1]
b. Mordecai remembered the history of Israel with Haman's people (the Amalekites ambushed Israel when they departed Egypt). See Exo 17-8-16;1 Sam 15:1-2.[2]
4. Scheduled by the casting of lots (the pur), Esther 3:7
Esther 3:7 (NIV2011) In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
Early in April, 474 b.c., Haman had the astrologers and magicians cast the lot to determine which day of the year would bring destruction to Israel (Pur is an Old Persian word meaning "lot"). The ancients placed great confidence in astrology and divination, but little did they realize that when "the lot is cast into the lap... the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord" (Prov 16:33). God's overruling was particularly evident in this case, for as they cast the lot concerning each subsequent day of the year, it fell upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth and last month, allowing time for Haman's plot to be overcome and a counter-decree to be issued![3]
One thing Haman was not aware of is the fact that it was not his prerogative to decide when a nation ceases to be, only God. God may use other nations to bring about the rise and fall of nations, but this by the work and permission of God only. Fifteen centuries later the Apostle Paul would preach on Mars Hill about a God unknown to them Who was the true Master of the universe. It was His decision concerning the appointed times and boundaries of nations.
Acts 17:26 (NIV2011) From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
5. Sought by Haman through the offer of a bribe, Esther 3:8-9.
Esther 3:8-9 (NIV2011) 8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, "There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king's laws; it is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king's administrators for the royal treasury."
The fact that Haman felt comfortable about offering money to Xerxes in order to influence a favorable response to his request, indicates the depth of corruption in the empire. When a nation becomes corrupt in its application of justice and the robbing its people, it can expect two things:
a. A curse from God, Deuteronomy 27:25
Deuteronomy 27:25 (NIV2011) "Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
b. A path laid to destruction, Proverbs 29:4
Proverbs 29:4 (NIV2011) By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.
From the time of Xerxes to the conquest of the Persian empire by Alexander the Great, Persia was ruled by weak and ineffective leaders. The United States has already outlasted the duration of the Persian empire which marked its beginning with Cyrus. How long can America stand given its present lack of moral compass?
6. Financed freely by Xerxes without question, Esther 3:10-11.
Esther 3:10-11 (NIV2011) 10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 "Keep the money," the king said to Haman, "and do with the people as you please."
Though Xerxes accepted no bribe for the use of his signet ring to certify Haman's decree to destroy the Jews, Xerxes' willingness to take the word of one man concerning a whole nation of people stands as an extreme example of a ruler out of touch with his country. We might even characterize Xerxes' decision to grant Haman's request as almost flip and casual. It certainly did not receive the attention it deserved before its implementation.
For an example from Israel's own history of a king out of touch with his people, we need only turn to Rehoboam's decision to make the labor and tax burden on the people even heavier than that imposed by his father, Solomon. The immediate result was the split of Israel into two kingdoms—Israel to the north and Judah to the south. The audacity of Rehoboam is seen in the counsel he took from his young advisors.
1 Kings 12:10-11 (NIV2011) 10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, "These people have said to you, 'Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.' Now tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.' "
7. Activated with orders sanctioned by Xerxes and sent by Haman to all officials of the empire, Esther 3:12-14.
Esther 3:12-14 (NIV2011) 12 Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman's orders to the king's satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. 13 Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.
8. Became a matter of celebration for the king and Haman but bewilderment for the citizens of Susa, Esther 3:15.
Esther 3:15 (NIV2011) The couriers went out, spurred on by the king's command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.
Conclusions
1. Leadership is a stewardship from God for the benefit of those being lead, not a domain from which leaders seek to be served by others to pursue their own personal plans and ambitions.
(1 Cor 10:24 NIV) Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
2. God has not forgotten His promise to Israel concerning her enemies.
(Gen 12:3 NIV) I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
3. God is always watching the nations and so the nations should be careful when choosing to oppose Him. No one can frustrate God's plans for the world and His people.
(Psa 66:7 NIV) He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations-- let not the rebellious rise up against him. Selah
(Isa 46:10 NIV) I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
The Book of Esther is a testament to God's commitment to the promises He makes to His people that they shall be kept. We can all sleep well tonight.
[1] The - The Expositor's Bible Commentary – Volume 4: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job.
[2] Ibid.
[3] The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Esther, "III. Haman's Plot Against the Jews," 3:11-15.
