Oct 29 2023 Esther - How to Appeal to Authority
29th October 2023
Esther 6
6 During that night [a]the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 It was found written what Mordecai had reported concerning Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 The king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 4 So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him. 5 The king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman is standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?” And Haman said [b]to himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?” 7 Then Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor, 8 let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed; 9 and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.’”
Haman Must Honor Mordecai
10 Then the king said to Haman, “Take quickly the robes and the horse as you have said, and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate; do not fall short in anything of all that you have said.” 11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.”
12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried home, mourning, with his head covered. 13 Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is [c]of Jewish origin, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him.”
14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hastily brought Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.
7 Now the king and Haman came to drink wine with Esther the queen. 2 And the king said to Esther on the second day also [a]as they drank their wine at the banquet, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” 3 Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request; 4 for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the [b]trouble would not be commensurate with the [c]annoyance to the king.” 5 Then King Ahasuerus [d]asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, [e]who would presume to do thus?” 6 Esther said, “A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!” Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen.
Haman Is Hanged
7 The king arose in his anger from [f]drinking wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm had been determined against him by the king. 8 Now when the king returned from the palace garden into the [g]place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he even assault the queen with me in the house?” As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were before the king said, “Behold indeed, the gallows standing at Haman’s house fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai who spoke good on behalf of the king!” And the king said, “Hang him on it.” 10 So they hanged Haman on the [h]gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.
Esther 6-7 – the focus is on “Divine Coincidence” – the unseen providence of God fills these passages. As you look at some of the other versions – “It just so happened” occurs a lot.
It just so happened – after the first banquet – Haman comes up with a plot to kill Mordecai – and the king can’t sleep – and it just so happens – that they turn to the section of the Books of the Chronicles of the King (must be used to put people to sleep?) – and the king realizes that Mordecai has never been honored for saving his life.
And it just so happens that Haman was so excited about killing Mordecai that HE couldn’t sleep and he rushes over to the palace…
This passage is meant to encourage our faith. For the people of Israel, who were often oppressed, this passage is read every year, especially when it seems the He is nowhere to be found.
And we have times like that in our lives where it feels like God is nowhere – but in those times He is active and present.
What I have found – usually – not always – but usually – we don’t see Divine Coincidences until after they have happened.
Often, they are backwards looking – you only see them in the rear-view mirror. Therefore, we should make it a practice to look back and see the activity of God. Do you have a regular, consistent practice of that?
It is so important to do that – where might God have been working here?
This is especially true when we go through difficult times. In the midst of difficult times we are just in survival mode – that is normal – but when we start to get to the other side – we need to look back – Did I see God there? If we don’t have a practice like this – we will miss a lot of God’s work in our lives.
If we do this, it will strengthen and encourage our faith continually. God IS alive in my life.
Third – doing a practice like this – for me – it is the simple practice of reviewing – how did God work in my life today? It will teach us how to be aware of God’s presence and activity in the current situation – so we are quicker to realize.
FIND A PRACTICE LIKE THAT!
Sometimes coincidences are just coincidences. And I think it is hard for us to not read our desires into a coincidence – it is used in confirmation bias all the time.
And God wants us to live by wisdom and discernment – to make decisions based on God-given Holy Spirit wisdom. Sure – coincidences can play a role in that – but God wants us to use His wisdom.
Esther has these coincidences happen all around her – but does she realize it? But she makes tremendous decisions.
Esther 6:1 During that night the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
4 So the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him.
6 So Haman came in and the king said to him, "What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?" And Haman said to himself, "Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?" 7 Then Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king desires to honor, 8 let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed; 9 and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, 'Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.'"
The man whom the king desires to honor –
The king asks Haman – and he is so giddy – he repeats the kings phrase to himself – Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?
The repetition is important – it says – Pay attention!
This reveals Haman’s true character – and it is a cautionary tale to all of us –
Don’t think more of ourselves
Don’t have delusions of grandeur
Don’t be proud.
God opposes the proud.
Pride comes before destruction or the fall.
Haman’s life begins to unwind. This is the beginning of the Great Reversal. It is a constant theme throughout the Bible. The last become first.
10 Then the king said to Haman, "Take quickly the robes and the horse as you have said, and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king's gate;… "Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor."
… and it wasn’t me…
In this line, there is ANOTHER PHRASE – that you don’t see coming.
Mordecai “The Jew”
The king has known all along that Mordecai is a Jew.
There is a lot of irony and dark humor in this story.
The king is oblivious to the fact that a decree has gone out in his name to the entire empire that all the Jews are to be killed.
Let’s go back to chapter 3 – and how Esther leads the king through his mistakes without making him feel bad, but allowing him to come up with the answers himself.
Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him."
Interesting theme throughout the Old Testament – and the gospels – those who are outsiders sometimes know Yahweh better than His people.
Think of Rahab – when they go into the land – We have heard of you – the whole land is in terror of you! And the Jews are like – where did that come from?!
The Philistines – the Ark of the Covenant – Oh no! The God of Israel is here! They push the cow! Leave!
The Roman Centurion – I haven’t seen so much faith in Israel
The Canaanite woman –
Some nonChristians today have a better understanding of the character and power of God than some Christians do today.
Here is how you appeal to an authority that has done something drastically wrong:
Esther 7: 3 Then Queen Esther replied, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king,
She will stick the knife in and twist it – but it comes across as grace!
Esther continues: “let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request; 4 for we have been sold,
This comes back to chapter 3 – she will show the king that he has been played by Haman. There are certain people, Haman said – who are really bad and need to be dealt with… Destroyed – I don’t speak ancient Hebrew – but I read – and the word Haman uses – destroyed – sounds almost exactly like the Hebrew word for ENSLAVE – and Haman had all this money – like Jeff Bezos/Warren Buffett money – that he offered the king – and the king allowed himself to be manipulated. Here, take my signet ring! Like – take my credit card, you thirteen year old!
Esther then uses the language of the decree – and this is all new to the king. When Haman spoke to the king in person – it was all in general terms…
Esther’s approach is so diplomatic. She is not accusing the king of anything – but allowing the king to understand – and to come to the conclusion on his own of what has actually happened. That is so lacking today.
We like to yell. We like to argue and insult. What she does is really amazing here.
She continues, “I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king."
That is a weird thing to say – but if the king had no idea what was going on…
As a diplomatic person, we need to learn to engage with authorities. Our oldest son is a diplomat. Like Esther – that is ironic and humorous – and it is not lost on any of us. About a year ago, we were at a gathering – and there were some who were just getting to know him – “What exactly do you do?” My job is to represent the policies and positions of the USA in the context of my counterparts in the host country.
Wow! I bet they teach him to say that.
Back in high school, his opinions were to represent himself and his agenda. Now he has a much larger representation and agenda.
We need to remember: We represent Jesus. We do not represent our opinion or agenda.
Remember a few things – being gracious and wise in engaging with people who we think are doing wrong – it is not about just using clever phrases – that has no value. But everything Esther does – she shows concern for the king’s reputation.
There is this loyalty to this king! It is unreal! But she is able to do that and yet speak truth to power. That is an art that is lacking.
She knows he is clueless, but she doesn’t say that! She had the king’s best interest at heart – and we need to have other’s best interest at heart.
Second – if we had just been sold into slavery – I wouldn’t have bothered the king. She is willing to lay aside her rights and privileges.
Phil 2 – Have this attitude in yourself – although Jesus existed in the equality with God, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave – He humbled Himself – obedient even to death on the cross. And Esther is the picture of that. This is a picture of the gospel.
Then she allows the king to come to his own conclusion. She is not manipulative or controlling – but gently guides him to what is right.
5 Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?" 6 Esther said, "A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!" Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen.
But what Esther does – she says – King – this person is not just the enemy of the Jews – he is your enemy – he is after you – he is out to destroy you.
8 Now when the king returned from the palace garden into the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, "Will he even assault the queen with me in the house?"
Yet one last 'coincidence' for Haman...