Esther 6 Sleepless in Susa July 10, 2016am

Transcription

1 Because the story of Esther is rarely broken up into segments, we usually have the misconception that the whole story took place in about a week s time. While it may not seem like it, the book of Esther encompasses about a decade of Persian history. During our time in the book, we have seen Esther go from a victim of circumstance who will do whatever to get out a head to a bold defender of her people. Last week, we left off with Esther courageously risking her life, going before the queen and begging for an audience with him. Ahasuerus heard her request, and he and Haman were sat at a banqueting table that Esther had prepared for them. At the end of the luncheon, Ahasuerus asked Esther what her request is, but Esther, calculating the exact right time to plead for her people, asked that the king and Haman join her the next day for another banquet that she would prepare for them. Haman has never had such a great day. He rushes home to tell his wife and friends of all that had happened. He has planned a party where he will talk about how rich he is, how many kids he has, how powerful he is. As he is clocking out for the day, he passes by the king s gate where he sees Mordecai unmoved and unshaken by his rise to power. Mordecai, the Jew, is the cause for all of Haman s misery. Not only do their families have a centuries long feud, but Mordecai refuses to pay homage to Haman. He will not bow, and now, he will not even stand and recognize his presence. Haman gets home, starts the party, tells everyone of his successes, but is overcome with the disrespect that Mordecai has paid him. Zeresh, his wife, basically tells him to stop whining and do something about it. The 1 of 13

2 wholesale slaughter of the Jews 11 months from now is too easy for Mordecai. He needs to be made an example of in order to cause fear leading up to that day of the Jewish purge. Build a gallows 75 feet high and hang Mordecai on it! Zeresh urges. That night, Haman begins construction on the pole that he will empale Mordecai on for all the world to see. He only needs to get the king s permission to carry out his plan and that would be easy. Meanwhile, in the palace, Ahasuerus cannot sleep. Maybe he was given to fits of insomnia. Maybe the pressures of the monarchy laid heavily on his shoulders. Maybe just maybe he cannot sleep because he is so puzzled by his wife s actions that day risking her life to invite he and Haman to a banquet and then inviting them to another tomorrow instead of just telling them what she wanted. That is what I tend to believe. Maybe Esther s plan was not so halfbaked and reckless. Everything the dramatic throne room entrance, the banquets all kept him up wondering what troubled her. While he is restless, God is productive. 6:1 That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. God can use any number of things to get our attention. I think, sometimes, we are too quick to fix the thing that God has put in our path in order to slow us down. That is a whole other subject though. I had a professor in college that was famous for his habit of beginning his day super early. He never set an alarm clock. He went to 2 of 13

3 bed at a responsible time, took quick power naps throughout the day, never set an alarm clock and woke up every morning at very latest at 3. Often times, he would wake much earlier, only getting a couple hours of sleep. When I asked him about his habit, he said, that he felt like whenever God woke him up in the middle of the night it was for one of two reasons: to read about Him or talk to Him. Ahasuerus does not turn to prayer or to the Scriptures, he turns to the most mind-numbing thing in all of the world. He did not have the golf channel to turn to like we do on a Sunday afternoon. (The best naps in the world come while watching golf). He calls for the books of records to be brought and read to him C-SPAN, basically. The books of records were the minutes of the court. They held all of the mundane records of taxes and gifts, punishments and raises that happened in Susa. They were not adventure novels. They were not spellbinding tales of Ahasuerus s greatness. They were meant for information purposes only -or tonight, as a sedative. However, God has a greater plan for Ahasuerus than his getting a solid eight hours of sleep that night. Within the pages of the chronicles, Ahasuerus is reminded of one of the many foiled assassination plots against him. 2 And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. He is reminded of Bigthan (here called Bigthana) and Teresh, two eunuchs whom he had made his personal body guards. They were the 3 of 13

4 ones who watched the door of the throne room. Chapter 2:21-23 tells us that these two had contrived a plot to kill Ahasuerus, but Mordecai overheard the plan and relayed the scheme to Esther, thus saving the king s life. It is an account that is just three verses long. It ends with Bigthan and Teresh being killed and hanged on a pole for all to see as an example. However, chapter three ironically opens with After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman. It seems as though, Ahasueurs should have promoted Mordecai after these things, but Mordecai falls off into anonymity in Ahasuerus s mind. 3 Then the king said, What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this? And the king's servants who attended him said, Nothing has been done for him. Perhaps because the reader just skipped down to the next record or because Ahasuerus wanted to revel in how great a king he was by how he rewarded his subjects, he asked for the record of reward to be read for Mordecai. However, he received horrible news that his conduct had gone unrewarded. That was not good news at all. t was important to reward those nearest to him who saved him from such plots lest they become dissatisfied and plan to help with the next assassination. Again, history tells us that this king would later be murdered in a very similar assassination as was plotted by Bigthan and Teresh. The fact that nothing had been done for him made Ahasuerus look aloof, disconnected with his people. 4 of 13

5 He began to ponder what reward he should bestow upon Mordecai for his faithfulness to the throne when he heard someone in the courtyard. Haman had been up all night building the gallows for Mordecai. Haman came into the office early that morning, trying to get everything in order for Mordecai s death. All that night he had been plotting Mordecai s downfall, but Ahasuerus had been troubled that he had never rewarded him. 4 So the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 The king's servants said to him, Haman is there, standing in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 6 So Haman came in, and the king asked him, What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman thought in his heart, Whom would the king delight to honor more than me. This is where most people find their love for the book of Esther. It is true that God s name has not and will not be mentioned in the text, but His behind the scenes artistry is undeniable. Many scholars have spoken this line when speaking of the book of Esther, Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous. However, I do not think that is the case. Leonardo da Vinci is perhaps the standard for all works of art, yet he never signed any his pieces. There comes a point for grandmasters that their touch, their style is so undeniable that signing it even 5 of 13

6 inconspicuously defaces the beauty of it. But no one refutes their authorship. If I can humanize the God just a little bit for our understanding, it is as if He steps back from the story, debating whether to sign it or not, and falls on the conclusion No one will refute my handiwork. No one should refute His hand, yet how many of us feel as though we are the masters of our fate, the captains of our souls? What shall be done for the man in whom the king delights to honor, Haman? Haman thinks, Aw shucks king just come out and say it. You want to reward me again. The unquestionable trust, the promotions, personal banquets with you and Esther were not enough to show your appreciation for all I have done for you. Haman s ego-imagination is about to run wild 7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor. Haman is pretty good at thinking up rewards for himself. Give the man an original Ahasuerus suit and one of your war horses decorated with 6 of 13

7 your crest. Let the most powerful advisor walk him around as his herald proclaiming his greatness! 10 Then the king said to Haman, Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, I have always read this as if Haman was so eager to set up his parade that he is halfway out of the throne room when he hears the rest of the king s statement over his shoulder and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king's gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken. What?!?! Mordecai?!?! This reward had to have come out of left field for him. Why would the king want to honor him?!? Just think of how embarrassing this was for Haman. He had been running his mouth off to his friends about how disrespectful Mordecai was to him. They were all there when he and Zeresh had planned out Mordecai s public humiliation and death. Now, he has to choose the robe, adorn the horse and walk him through the streets of Susa yelling that stupid statement: Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor. 11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor! All of Susa knew of Haman s disdain for Mordecai. It was not a secret that a battle had been going on between these two for quite some time. I would give just about anything to see this scene. If I was Mordecai, it would take everything in me to not gloat. 7 of 13

8 Thus shall it be done for the man What s that Haman? I couldn t hear you Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor! Maybe even a heel kick to the horse when Haman seemed to just be shrinking into the shadows Really, none of that is recorded in Scripture. In fact, we see the character of these two men best laid out in one verse: 12 Afterward Mordecai went back to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. Mordecai went back to work. There is a lot to say about the person who just goes back to work after some king of award. When Haman was promoted, he goes home and throws a party for himself. Haman hurries to his house with his head covered, mourning the loss of his prestige, but Mordecai mourns the soon coming death of all of his friends and family. To add insult to injury, the tide of public opinion has turned against Haman at home, too. He had probably told all of his friends to meet him back at the house for another party after Ahasuerus gave him permission to hang Mordecai. 13 When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, (in her most comforting way, like only wives can do, Zeresh leans in, pats his back and says, You re toast, Haman. ) If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him. 8 of 13

9 14 While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs came, and hastened to bring Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared. Haman probably shrugged off the momentary embarrassment. His day was coming. Mordecai would pay for his disrespect he and all of his kinsmen. Haman would just have to wait for the day of the edict to get here before he could get at him. Now, onto his second feast with the king and queen! 7:1 So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther. 2 And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done. That question that had kept Ahasuerus up all night still nagged at him, and he finally asked Esther again, What is your petition? I want us to focus in on Esther s request: 3 Then Queen Esther answered and said, If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. She could have asked for anything, but she asks for mercy. She does not want half the kingdom; she wants life. The planning and scheming of Mordecai and Esther had brought them to a point where all they wanted was life not prestige, not power but life. Haman and Ahasuerus must have really leaned in. Who in the world would dare try and kill Esther?! This is where it gets interesting 9 of 13

10 4 For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated That was direct quote from the edict that Haman had written against the Jews. Haman s ears perk up that sounds familiar. Is she no she couldn t be Esther continues, now probably staring right at Haman. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king's loss. The king is furious! How could this have slipped by his secret service? Who was plotting such a thing? 5 So King Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, Who is he, and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing? Esther steps up like she never has. She has gone from a victim of circumstance, willing to do whatever to advance, to a spiritual leader for all of the Jews asking them to pray and fast for her, to a bold/calculated defender of the oppressed. She does not pull any punches. 6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman! So Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7 Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king. 10 of 13

11 Ahasuerus must be feeling dumb. How could he have been so stupid to give Haman all of that authority to abuse his kingdom. He is pacing in the garden, deciding what he should do to Haman, maybe even wondering if he has been caught in some intricate plan to overthrow the throne itself. He walks back into the palace to get some more answers before his judgment is dispensed. 8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house? As the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. Haman is not having a good day. What started out so promising has ended in shame, disgrace and now his very life is on the line. Haman is begging for his life, thrown across the lap of Esther, but all Ahasuerus sees is Haman lying on top of his wife not good While he is yelling at Haman, guards come and cover Haman s face. Most believe that phrase to be a euphemism for beheading. 9 Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, (you ve got to love this guy) said to the king, Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king's behalf, is standing at the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him on it! 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath subsided. 11 of 13

12 There is still a lot of work to be done. Haman may not be a problem anymore, but the Jews are still in danger. The edict of their destruction has been extensively circulated. Even if Ahasuerus could change his mind and the law (which he cannot), it is possible that the ora would not spread in time. Sure, Mordecai and Esther will be safe, but what about the Jews at the farthest corner of the Persian Empire? What about the common Jew in the streets of Susa? Esther s job is far from over. The danger in preaching through exciting narratives in the Old Testament is that the sermon may be informative, the story may be exciting, yet there is no plea. All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable to us, and I believe the story of Esther calls out to each of us to (1) know this amazing God and (2) know who we are. This awesome God has his finger on the pulse of the king. He is able to cause a case of insomnia when He wants to get our attention. He moves on the hearts of queens and middle-class Americans. No matter the chaos that fills the news stream, He promises order and peace. When all seems hopeless, He reminds us to come to Him His yoke is easy, His burden is light. We love this part of the story of Esther because justice was served. Haman got what was coming to him. Poetically, he is hanged upon the very tree that he had prepared for the innocent Jew. I hope you see the parallel, because that is not the story of Christ. He, the Innocent, was hanged upon the tree prepared for the guilty. Who is the guilty? You do not have to plot the downfall of an entire people-group like Haman did in order to be deemed guilty. All have sinned and come short of God s glory. 12 of 13

13 We love the story of Esther for its justice, but we love the cross because of Christ s mercy. This amazing God Who sets up kings and throws down tyrants wants to mercifully save you from the tyranny that you have set up in your own life. 13 of 13