Doing what is Right in the Face of Death Many times thru out history men and women of God have had to make choices that have dramatic consequences. Many have decided to obey God even when it might have cost them their lives. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego all made similar choices In our lesson this morning we will learn about a young woman and her cousin that were willing to do the same 1
The Story of Esther begins around 478 bc. It had been close to 60 years since the time that Cyrus had made the decree to let all of the Jews that wanted to return to the land of Israel. As we will see in the study many of the Jews decided not to return home at the end of the 70 years of captivity At this time Ahasuerus was King of the Medo-Persian Empire. The Medo-Persian empire was the 2 nd of the world wide empires that were foretold in Nebuchadnezzar s dream. There would be two more world wide empires to come before the establishment of the Kingdom of God or the Church. The Greek and the Romans The Medo-Persian empire may have been at its greatest strength during the time frame of our lesson 2
Es 1:1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:) It was during the days of great power that Ahasuerus declared a great feast that continued for 6 months At the end of this 6 month feast he proclaimed another to last for one week for the people in the city of Shushan where the kings palace was. It was during the feast that Ahasuerus became drunk and sent for his wife, Queen Vashti so that the others present (most likely drunk as well) might see her beauty It was Vashti s refusal of the kings command to appear before this drunken crowd, that cost her being Queen. The men believed that if other women heard of what she had done that it might lead to some type of revolt among the women 3
Es 1:17 "For the queen's behavior will become known to all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.' 18 "This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king's officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath. Es 1:19 "If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. It is at the is point in the story that we are introduced to Mordecai and Esther The Kings servants decide to hold what we might call a beauty contest to replace Queen Vashti. 4
So they began to seek out the most beautiful young girls in the land of which Esther was one. Es 2:5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; 6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.. Es 2:7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. 8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 5
Es 2:9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her..es 2:15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. 16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. 6
If the story would have ended here it would have been a pretty good story. The orphaned Jewish girl raised by her cousin becomes Queen in the most powerful Kingdom on earth But the story goes on Remember during all of this she has not revealed to the King or anyone else that she is a Jew. Mordecia her cousin continues to daily set at the Kings Gate as his custom was and one day he learns of a conspiracy against the King. Es 2:21 In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king's gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai's name. 23 And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king. 7
Mordecai may have saved the Kings life but as far as we know at this point he received no recognition for it. It is in Esther 3 that we are introduced to the 4 th main character in the book. This was a man by the name of Haman Haman was greatly respected by the King. In fact, the king had promoted him to 2 nd in all of his kingdom. As Haman would go in and out of the king s gate, all of the kings servants would bow and and pay homage to him except one. Es 3:1 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. 8
Es 3:3 Then the king's servants who were within the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's command?" 4 Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai's words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath. Haman actually becomes obsessed with this one man who refuses to bow down to him. Because of his hatred of Mordecai, Haman decides to destroy the people of Moredecai, the Jews. Es 3:6 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. 9
In order to destroy the Jews, Haman approaches the King with an idea he has. Es 3:8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. Es 3:9 "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." 10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, "The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you." 10
This gives a glimpse into the ruthlessness of some of these men. The king was able to be influenced in evidently a short amount of time to allow Haman to destroy thousands of lives The date of their execution was set on the 13 th day of the 12 th Month Es 3:13 And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions. Es 4:1 When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went as far as the front of the king's gate, for no one might enter the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 11
When Esther heard what was happening with Mordecai she sent word to him to see why he was so upset. Es 4:5 Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was. 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the king's gate. 7 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries to destroy the Jews. Es 4:8 He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. 9 So Hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: 12
Es 4:11 "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days." 12 So they told Mordecai Esther's words. 13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. Es 4:14 "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Mordecai lays it out for Esther as plain as plain can be. If you choose to stay silent you will not escape. If you choose to not participate, then deliverance will come from somewhere else. 13
This is a very good lesson for us today. God s Plans will be accomplished whether we have anything to do with them or not. They will be accomplished. We can ignore God s Word, We can disbelieve God s Word, We can even run from God s Word like Jonah did But, it does not change the truth and the judgments contained in it. They will be accomplished. Isa 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. And that is whether we have anything to do with it or not! Be sure, if we don t have anything to do with it, we will suffer the consequences 14
God has always wanted his people to speak up concerning those things that are right and righteous and to warn others of the dangers that lie ahead. God called Ezekiel a watchman several times. A watchman is one who would stand on the wall of the city and watch for danger. When he would see these dangers approach he would blow the warning signal so the people would be prepared. Ezekiel was to warn the people of the dangers of sin Eze 3:18 "When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 "Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. 15
We find ourselves in the position of Ezekiel today. The idea of teaching others is taught all thru the New Testament 2Ti 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Included in this idea of teaching is the warning that should be given by the watchman Ac 20:31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. 1Co 4:14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. Col 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 16
Just as Ezekiel and the early Christians had the responsibility to warn the people, we have the responsibility to warn those around us today. What type of watchman will we be? Esther is now faced with the question of whether or not she will speak up. If she does, it may cost her life Thankfully she was of the type character that she was willing to risk her life to do what was right. Conclusion Esther did go before the king and was able to intercede for the Jews. Hopefully we will have that same type character. When we are warned by others about the way we live. How will we respond to the watchman? How will we respond to those who love us enough to tell us we are endangering our eternal souls by the way we live? 17
Doing what is Right in the Face of Death We began a study of this morning. At this point in our lesson, Esther has become Queen. Mordecai the man who raised her has enraged the King s second in command (Haman) because Mordecai refused to bow down to him. Because of this Haman has gotten the king to agree to destroy all of the Jews. 18
The king was unaware that Queen Esther was Jew. Mordecai has told Esther that she must go and intercede for the Jews with the King. For someone to go into the king uninvited was the death penalty unless the king holds out his golden scepter to them. Esther now must decide if she will speak to the king or if she will remain silent. She decides to do what is right! Es 5:1 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. 19
Es 5:3 And the king said to her, "What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you-up to half 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. Esther seems to be using the idea that the way to a mans heart is thru his stomach. She invites the King and Haman to a banquet and before she will reveal her request she invites them to a second banquet. All of this has left Haman feeling very self important and very much impressed with himself 20
Es 5:9 So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 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. Es 5:12 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. 13 "Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." 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. 21
I m afraid we are a little like Haman sometimes. He certainly by his own account had a lot of good things going for him but one little thing that he didn t like keeps him from enjoying all that he has. How many times do we allow one or two bad things in our life to overshadow all of the good that God has done for us. The next part of the story is a lesson in how quickly things can change for us in this life. Haman is on top of the world with the exception of his enemy Mordecai who he plans to hang in the very near future on a set of specially built gallows He is planning on his second exclusive feast with the king and queen Things are really going his way How quickly things change! 22
Es 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. 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. 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." Es 6:4 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?" 23
Es 6:7 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 has laid out before the King everything he would like to have done for himself. He thought to himself, who else could the King want to honor besides me? Haman had become so self centered and arrogant that of the millions of people in the Kingdom he believed he was the only one the King might want to honor Was he about to be surprised! 24
Es 6:10 Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king's gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken." 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!" 12 Afterward Mordecai went back to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. Haman is not having a good day. Of all the millions in the kingdom the king could have honored besides Haman, it had to be Mordecai the man that Haman hated. But his day is not totally ruined is it? He still has the exclusive feast with the King and Queen Esther to go to doesn t he. Have you ever heard the expression when it rains it pours? 25
Es 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!" 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. Es 7:4 "For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. 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." 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?" 6 And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!" So Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 26
Es 7:7 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. 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. Es 7:9 Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, 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. Haman s demise was no doubt brought on him by God because of his wickedness. 27
Even though this was a punishment from God, there are still a couple of lessons we can learn from it. First of all, earthly wealth and power cannot deliver us from the judgments of God. Many who have these have a tendency to trust in them rather than God Mr 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! The Apostle Paul told Timothy to warn those who were wealthy not to be arrogant and trust in their riches 1Ti 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. The riches and arrogance of Haman certainly did him no good in the life to come. He had to leave all of them here! 28
The second lesson we can learn from Haman is the uncertainty of life. He had big plans for that day but God had other plans for him. As we go thru this life and make our plans for the future, we need to make sure we include God in those plans. Simply because we do not know how much time we will have here. James warns us against this Jas 4:13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 29
This reminds me also of the rich man in Luke 12. His crops did so well he had no where to store them, so he built bigger barns Lu 12:19 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' 20 "But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' We need to remember that we don t know how long we will have on this earth. If there are things we need to do before we meet our maker, then we need to do them now. We may meet Him tonight! What a shame and a waste it would be to know we need to get prepared and then still be caught unprepared 30
With Haman dead we may think that the problems are over for the Jews. The problem is, that once the King signs something into law it cannot be resended. Since that is the case the Jews are still going to be destroyed on the 13 th day of the 12 th month Mordecai and the King have a plan! Es 8:3 Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews. 4 And the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king, 5 and said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all the king's provinces. 31
Es 8:6 "For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?" 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews. 8 "You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for whatever is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring no one can revoke." The King tells them the decree written by Haman can not be revoked but you can write your own decree and I will approve it. So Mordecai wrote his own decree. Es 8:10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king's signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds. 32
Es 8:11 By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives-to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions, 12 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. Es 8:13 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province and published for all people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. Mordecai s decree was very simple. The Jews would be allowed to defend themselves when their enemies came to destroy them. This seems like a pretty simple plan but it worked wonderfully because God was on their side. Es 9:2 The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people. 33
Es 9:5 Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them. As we have seen many times before though out the Old Testament, when God was fighting for the Jews they could not be defeated. We need to always be found on the side of God because His enemies will always suffer defeat Conclusion Ro 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? The only way we can know if we are on the side of God is thru His Word Jesus says: Joh 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. He also tells us how to stay in His Love 34
Coclusion Joh 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. Question: How can we show our love for Christ by keeping his commandments and expect to stay in the Love that he has for us by keeping his commandments, If we don t know what his commandments are? 35