THROUGH THE BIBLE (Esther)

By Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD

LESSON NOTES:

I.                  THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THE ENTIRE BIBLE. If you understand that the Bible is written to show us how humanity was created for God, fell into sin, was reconciled through Christ (who was the product of a family) and God will restore everything through His sacrifice on the Cross; then you have the message of the entire Bible.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 ¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ¹⁸And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. ²¹For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

                                           A.                  JESUS AND THE EARLY CHURCH TAUGHT THAT THE ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHES ABOUT JESUS. You can preach the Gospel from ANY Old Testament book; just as well as you can the New Testament.

John 5:39-40 ³⁹You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Luke 24:44-47 ⁴⁴He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Acts 18:24-28 ²⁴Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵He had been instructed in the way of the LORD, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. ²⁷When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

Acts 13:13-39 New International Version

¹³ From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. ¹⁵ After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”

¹⁶ Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! ¹⁷ The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; ¹⁸ for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; ¹⁹ and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. ²⁰ All this took about 450 years.

“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. ²¹ Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. ²² After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

²³ “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. ²⁴ Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

²⁶ “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. ²⁷ The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. ²⁸ Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. ²⁹ When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. ³⁰ But God raised him from the dead, ³¹ and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.

³² “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors ³³ he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:

“‘You are my son;
    today I have become your father.’

³⁴ God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,

“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’

³⁵ So it is also stated elsewhere:

“‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’

³⁶ “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. ³⁷ But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

³⁸ “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. ³⁹ Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.

II.                  THE AUTHOR OF ESTHER. It is believed that Mordecai wrote the book. Whether he did or did not, we believe that it is the inspired Word of God; even though we do not know who the earthly writer was. Mordechai was Esther’s older cousin. He raised her, because she was an orphan.

2 Timothy 3:16 ¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Esther 2:7 ⁷Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.

III.            WHAT IS THE THEME AND PURPOSE OF ESTHER? This book shows how God is faithful to His covenant and promise to send humanity a Redeemer was to come from the nation of Judah. Here is Esther there is a plot to wipe out the Jews (a person either from the tribe or nation of Judah or both) completely. If the Jews were wiped out, we would not have our Redeemer. Even though the name of God is not mentioned in the book of Esther; God is behind the scenes making ensuring that the Messiah would come from the Jewish people.

Psalm 121:4 ⁴indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Isaiah 41:8-10 ⁸"But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, ⁹I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. ¹⁰So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:11-12 

Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.

Isaiah 43:1-7 ¹But now, this is what the LORD says- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. ²When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. ³For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. ⁴Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. ⁵Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. ⁶I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth- ⁷everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

Zechariah 2:8 

For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:

Malachi 3:6 

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

IV.            WHAT DOES THE NAME ESTHER MEAN?  Her Jewish name was Hadassah, which means, “myrtle or bride.” Her Persian name was Esther, which also means, “myrtle, or bride.”

                   A.                  JESUS IS IN THE NAME. The plan of salvation is found in the name Hadassah/Esther. The myrtle tree was very symbolic in ancient Israel.

1.               IT IS SYMBOLIC OF ETERNAL LIFE. Eternal life can only be found in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 55:13 ¹³Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever."

                                                                           a.            IT IS SYMBOLIC OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS. God is faithful to restore His people; because the Messiah must come through Judah!

Zechariah 1:7-17 New International Version

⁷ On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo.

⁸ During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.

⁹ I asked, “What are these, my lord?”

The angel who was talking with me answered, “I will show you what they are.”

¹⁰ Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.”

¹¹ And they reported to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.”

¹² Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” ¹³ So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

¹⁴ Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, ¹⁵ and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.’

¹⁶ “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.

¹⁷ “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”

V.                  THE BOOK OF ESTHER’S PLACE IN SCRIPTURE. Esther is the last of your historical books in the Bible.

                         A.            YOUR FIRST SECTION WAS THE BOOKS OF MOSES. Genesis through Deuteronomy, which covers: the creation of humanity, the fall of humanity, the promise of a redeemer and the selection of Abraham’s family to be the lineage to produce Messiah.

                         B.            YOUR SECOND SECTION IS THE HISTORICAL BOOKS. Joshua to Esther. It describes the nation of Israel conquering the Promised Land, advancing through obedience to God, regressing through disobedience to God, being overtaken by enemies; yet being sustained so that a remnant could produce Messiah.

                         C.            THE NEXT SECTION AFTER THIS IS POETRY. Psalms to Song of Solomon. 

                         D.            THE FINAL SECTION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IS THE PROPHETS. Isaiah to Malachi.

VI.                  ESTHER LIVES IN PERSIA; WAS CHRISTIANITY BIRTHED OUT OF PERSIA?

                         A.            REMEMBER THE BABYLONIANS RANSACKED JUDAH AND JERUSALEM.

Ezra 5:12 ¹²But because our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.

                         B.            THE PERSIANS EVENTUALLY OVERTOOK THE BABYLONIANS AND THE SUPERPOWER OF THE REGION.

Daniel 5:30-31 ³⁰That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, ³¹and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.

                         C.            MANY OF THE JEWS HAD HIGH RANKING POSITIONS WITH BOTH THE BABYLONIANS AND THE PERSIANS. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king of Persia (a high ranking and trusted position). And, in this lesson Esther becomes Queen of the Empire. That’s about as high as you could go.

                         D.            DID THE PERSIAN TEACHING INFLUENCE THE JEWS (THROUGH INFLUENTIAL JEWS THAT WERE STEEPED IN PERSIAN CULTURE)?

1.               THE CONCEPTS YOU SEE EMPHASIZED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ARE NOT EMPHASIZED IN THE OLD TESTMANT. While these things are mentioned or alluded to; they do not get the attention like you see in the New Testament. In the Old Testament the concern was the expansion, protection and restoration of the nation of Israel.

                                                                     a.                  THE AFTERLIFE. You do not see a heavy emphasis on dying and going to Heaven or Hell. People just die (good and bad) and there is no emphasis on where they went or what they will be doing through eternity.

                                                                     b.                  THE DEVIL. Depending on how you interpret Hebrew, he is mentioned either around 20 times or not at all. Because the English word used for Satan, many times, really just means, “an opponent or adversary,” which could be anyone. As a fundamentalist, however, I do believe he is mentioned in the Old Testament. However, he definitely does not have any place of prominence at all; compared to the many time he is mentioned in the New Testament, regarded as the arch opponent to all that is good.

                                                                      c.                  DEMONS. In the New Testament Jesus breaks on the scene casting out demons left and right. You do not see that practice widespread in the Old Testament.

                                                                     d.                  ANGELS. You rarely see angels at work in the books of Moses. In many of the historical books, it’s referring to an Old Testament manifestation of the Word of God (Jesus the Christ). However, in the New Testament angels are busily at work at the birth of Christ, with the apostles and in the book of Revelation.

                                                                      e.                  THE RESURRECTION. This is the central message of the New Testament: Jesus arose and we will arise. However, though resurrections occur in the Old Testament; the subject of a resurrection does not appear to be priority or focus in the Old Testament.

2.               ZOROASTRIANISM IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE OLDEST MAJOR RELIGION IN THE WORLD.

                                                                     a.                  ZOROASTRIANISM STARTED IN WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS PERSIA, ABOUT 1,500 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST. It was started by Zoroaster, who is considered by the religion to be a prophet. The Jews in Persia (including Esther) would have been familiar with the religion.

                                                                     b.                  ZOROAASTRIANISM BELIEVES IN ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED. Plus it also has the concept of.

                                                                                                      i.            Zoroaster believed in one god.

                                                                                                  ii.            Zoroaster was born of a virgin.

                                                                                               iii.            As a child, Zoroaster astonished the people with his wisdom

                                                                                                iv.            Zoroaster was baptized in a river.

                                                                                                    v.            Zoroaster started his ministry at 30.

                                                                                                vi.            Zoroaster was tempted in the wilderness.

                                                                                             vii.            Zoroaster cast out demons and worked miracles.

                                                                                         viii.            Zoroaster taught about the afterlife of Heaven (for the righteous and Hell (for the wicked). He taught about Judgment day and the final war between good and evil.

                                                                                                ix.            His religion has something similar to communion.

                                                                                                   x.            He was slain.

                                                                                                xi.            He is expected to come back again.

3.               THE ANSWER IS THAT THE NEW TESTAMENT IS THE INCEPTION OF THE NEW COVENANT. While those similarities are striking, to me all it does is confirm that what is taught of Jesus is true and not vice versa. It is good to know that history. But, the Bible has already taught that the New Covenant would be superior; thus it will obviously be more detailed and have different emphasis from the Old Covenant.

Jeremiah 31:31-33 ³¹"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. ³²It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. ³³"This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Hebrews 8:6-7 ⁶But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. ⁷For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.

VII.                  GOD PROTECTS HIS PEOPLE FROM TOTAL DESTRUCTION. He protects the lineage from which Christ would be born.

                         A.            FORMER QUEEN WAS REMOVED FOR INSUBORDINATION.

Esther 1:10-19 ¹⁰On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him-Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas- ¹¹to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. ¹²But when the attendants delivered the king's command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger. ¹³Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times ¹⁴and were closest to the king-Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom. ¹⁵"According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?" he asked. "She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her." ¹⁶Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, "Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. ¹⁷For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, 'King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.' ¹⁸This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen's conduct will respond to all the king's nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord. ¹⁹"Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.

                         B.            ESTHER SELECTED AS QUEEN. There is a search for a new Queen and Esther (at the encouragement of Mordecai wins the contest).

Esther 2:8-10 ⁸When the king's order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king's palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. ⁹She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king's palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem. ¹⁰Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.

Esther 2:16-17 ¹⁶She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. ¹⁷Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

                         C.            ATTEMPT ON THE KING’S LIFE. But, Mordecai was able to stop it.

Esther 2:21-23 ²¹During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. ²²But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. ²³And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

                         D.            HAMAN PLOTS TO KILL MORDECAI. Haman was one of the King’s high officials.

1.               HAMAN HATED MORDECAI BECAUSE HE WAS NOT INTIMIDATED BY HIM.

Esther 3:1-5 ¹After 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. ²All 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. ³Then the royal officials at the king's gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's command?" ⁴Day 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. ⁵When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.

                         E.            HAMAN SEEKS TO DESTROY ALL JEWS TO GET AT ONE MAN.

Esther 3:6 ⁶Yet 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.

1.            ONE MAN’S DISOBEDIENCE ALMOST LET TO THE ANNIHILATION OF GOD’S PEOPLE. The Amalekites were to be completely destroyed. Because they were not, Haman, an Amalekite, was about to destroy God’s people.

Deuteronomy 25:17-19 ¹⁷Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. ¹⁸When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. ¹⁹When the LORD your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!

 

1 Samuel 15:20-23

²⁰ “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. ²¹ The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”

²² But Samuel replied:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
    as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
    and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
    he has rejected you as king.”

1 Samuel 15:32-33

³² Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.”

Agag came to him in chains. And he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”

³³ But Samuel said,

“As your sword has made women childless,
    so will your mother be childless among women.”

And Samuel put Agag to death before the Lord at Gilgal.

                          F.            HAMAN’S PLOT COMES BACK ON HIM.

1.               MORDECAI APPEALS FOR ESTHER’ HELP.

 

Esther 4:11-16

¹¹ “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

¹² When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, ¹³ he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

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.”

2.               HAMAN PLOTS MORDECAI’S EXECUTION.

Esther 5:14 ¹⁴His 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.

3.               MORDECAI’S GOOD DEED REMEMBERED.

 

Esther 6:1-3

6 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. ² It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

³ “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.

“Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.

4.               MORDECAI TO BE HONORED. Haman furious.

Esther 6:6-10

⁶ When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” ⁷ So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, ⁸ have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. ⁹ Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’”

¹⁰ “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”

5.               HAMAN EXPOSED AND EXECUTED.

Esther 7

7 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, ² and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

³ Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. ⁴ For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”

⁵ King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”

⁶ Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”

Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. ⁷ The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.

⁸ Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.

The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”

As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. ⁹ Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”

The king said, “Impale him on it!” ¹⁰ So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.

                        G.            GOD’S PEOPLE RECEIVE ROYAL PROTECTION. They receive the right to fight and be blessed. Thus, the lineage is protected to bring us our Redeemer.

Esther 8:11-15

¹¹ The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children,and to plunder the property of their enemies. ¹² The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. ¹³ 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 that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

¹⁴ The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa.

¹⁵ When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.

X.               PRAYER FOR SALVATION. As we close, if you have not received this Jesus pray this simple prayer:

"Father, I know that I have sinned against You. Please forgive me. Wash me clean. I promise to trust in Jesus, Your Son. I believe that He died for me—He took my sin upon Himself when He died on the cross. I believe that He was raised from the dead. I surrender my life to Jesus today.

"Thank You, Father, for Your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Please help me to live for you. In Jesus' name, Amen."