Posts
Chapter 5
by Samuel E. Ward
October 13, 2013
View PowerPoint slide presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/esther-5-ss-27180565 or http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/ for more of Pastor Ward's presentations.
Introduction
The book of Esther is an incredibly meaningful book, particularly to those facing persecution. We will see how it is meaningful to Christians, but it has always been a very meaningful book to Jews as well, particularly when they have been faced with those seeking to destroy them as Haman did in Esther's day and as Hitler did in ours.
Because the book of Esther records the deliverance of Jews from persecution in the fourth century B.C., Hitler forbade its reading in the concentration camps where they were imprisoned. What he did not count on was that because so many Jews were well-schooled in their scriptures, Jewish prisoners were able to reconstitute it from memory and then read it in secret. It gave many of them hope in the possibility of deliverance. It came for some but not before millionsof others had been slaughtered.
Christians under persecution find hope in Esther's story, as well. The New Testament gives hope that extends beyond an earthly deliverance to a heavenly one. Paul wrote about his hope even in the face of death.
2 Timothy 4:18 (NIV2011) The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us continue to learn through Esther how . . .
God's hand has prepared our future. God's hand rules in our present.Be reminded that in the previous chapters in Esther we have observed . . .
I. God's Hand Prepares for the Future - The Dethronement of Vashti and Installation of Esther
II. God's Hand Rules in the Present - Mordecai's and Esther's contemporary situation
At some point, we may, like Mordecai, be moved to action. In that case, we must rely on God to guide.
A. Haman's Plot, Esther 3 – to exterminate his enemy Mordecai and Mordecia's people from the empire.
B. Mordecai's Plan, Esther 4 – to save his people from destruction.
Mordecai's plan involves the influence of Esther as queen to gain the aid of King Xerxes in stopping Haman's plot to exterminate the Jews. It begins with . . .
C. Esther's First Banquet, Esther 5:1-5 – the first step in Esther's attempt to have the king intervene in Haman's plot to destroy her people.
1. Preparation for Esther's Approach to the king, Esther 4:15-17
Esther 4:15-17 (NIV2011) 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." 17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions.
a. The purpose of Esther's banquet was to petition clemency for the plight of her people.
b. The risk of Esther's going to the king uninvited to make her request was death.
c. The courage of Esther would mark her as true heroine in Israel's history forever.
Esther's only request from her people was that they fast for three days.
Pastor Mark Copeland reminds us that the Israelites fasted for at least these reasons:
Forgiveness of sin (Moses, Ahab, Daniel) Restoration of loved ones to health (David) Protection of His people from danger (Ezra) Deliverance from enemies (the Israelites)Because they were seeking God's favor, FASTING WOULD ALMOST ALWAYS BE ACCOMPANIED WITH PRAYER.[1]
Though we do not have God mentioned anywhere in the book of Esther, it is in this act of Israel's fasting in the face of national crisis that we do see God's "fingerprints" revealing His presence in the heart of His people.
2. Presentation of Esther before the king, Esther 5:1-5a.
Esther 5:1-5a (NIV2011) 1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 Then the king asked, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you." 4 "If it pleases the king," replied Esther, "let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him." 5a "Bring Haman at once," the king said, "so that we may do what Esther asks."
a. The moment of truth for Esther – Would the king receive her?
b. The response of grace by Xerxes – "Whatever you desire is yours."
c. The invitation to a banquet – "Come to dinner today, and bring your friend, Haman."
3. Protocol for Esther's Request Established, Esther 5:5b-8.
Esther 5:5b-8 (NIV2011) 5b So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. 6 As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, "Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted." 7 Esther replied, "My petition and my request is this: 8 If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king's question."
a. The king's grace was extended to Esther at her first banquet.
b. Esther's invitation to a second banquet was extended to the king and Haman.
D. Haman's Nature Described and Demonstrated, Esther 5:9-14.
Pride violates the first and greatest commandment because pride loves self rather than God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength. Pride is behind every other sin because every sin says to God, "my will be done." Hell's theme song is "I did it my way!"
C.S. Lewis describes pride in his book, Mere Christianity:
There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which everyone in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. … There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others. …
[Pride] is the complete anti-God state of mind. …
Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or cleverer, or better-looking than others. …
[P]ower is what Pride really enjoys: there is nothing that makes a man feel so superior to others as being able to move them about like toy soldiers. … If I am a proud man, then, as long as there is one man in the whole world more powerful, or richer, or cleverer than I, he is my rival and my enemy. …
Pride always means enmity—it is enmity. And not only enmity between man and man, but enmity to God. …
In God you come up against something which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself. …As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you. …
Pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense.[2]
1. Haman's personality-type has a pathology well-described in Proverbs.
A foolish false sense of security, Pro 14:16-17a.Proverbs 14:16-17a (NIV2011) 16 The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure. 17a A quick-tempered person does foolish things.
A set of seven characteristics that are abhorrent to the Lord, Prov 6:16-19.Proverbs 6:16-19 (NIV2011) 16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
A pre-disposition to sin due to pride and arrogance, Prov. 21:24.Proverbs 21:4 (NIV2011) Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
A proneness to persecuting the weak in pursuit of power and adulation, Psa 10:2-3. Psalm 10:2-3 (NIV2011) 2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. 3 He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
2. Haman's actions demonstrate his prideful and arrogant nature, Esther 5:9-14.
Esther 5:9-14 (NIV2011) 9 Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 12 "And that's not all," Haman added. "I'm the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. 13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate." 14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself." This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.
a. Haman's spirits were affected by Mordecai's refusal to show reverence to him. ENRAGED
b. Haman's ego was inflated by the importance he placed in his invitation to Esther's banquet. CONCEITED
c. Haman's satisfaction was unfulfilled as long as Mordecai is still in sight. MALICIOUS
d. Haman's acceptance of the suggestion to cruelly murder Mordecai proves the depth of his wickedness. WICKED
Conclusions
1. Scripture teaches us that pride has many consequences. But those who are wise in their own understanding are not likely to seek God's counsel or hear His warnings. They, in effect, have brought destruction upon themselves. How foolish is that? Consider these consequences of sinful pride:
Proverbs 11:2 (NIV2011) When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 16:18 (NIV2011) Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 29:23 (NIV2011) Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
James 4:6 (NIV2011) But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."
2. Esther chapter five is as much about revenge as it is pride. The Bible also speaks to this:
Revenge is forbidden by God.
Leviticus 19:18 (NIV2011) "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.'"
Proverbs 24:17-18 (NIV2011) 17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, 18 or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.
Proverbs 24:29 (NIV2011) Do not say, "I'll do to them as they have done to me; I'll pay them back for what they did."
Vengeance belongs to God.
Romans 12:17-19 (NIV2011) 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
Forbearance is modeled by Christ.
1 Peter 2:23 (NIV2011) When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
Another way is shown by God.
[1] Mark A. Copeland, http://executableoutlines.com/fa/fa_01.htm, 2011
