Part 6 - Esther 6-7:10Part 6 - Esther 6-7:10Victims, Abusers and VictorsVictims, Abusers and Victors

• Through the book of Esther Through the book of Esther we see life as we know it; we see life as we know it; God’s God’s perfectperfect workwork through through imperfectimperfect peoplepeople. .

•God's intervention on behalf God's intervention on behalf of His people though is of His people though is accomplished not by the accomplished not by the miraculousmiraculous, but by the more , but by the more mundanemundane. .

The King has The King has insomniainsomnia

•He is He is disturbeddisturbed (v.1a) (v.1a)On that night the king could not On that night the king could not sleep.sleep.

•He has a He has a planplan (v.1b) (v.1b)And he gave orders to bring the book And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the kingand they were read before the king

Mordecai gets Mordecai gets rememberedremembered

• The book just happens to open up to The book just happens to open up to an event that happened an event that happened fivefive years ago years agoAnd it was found written how Mordecai And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. (6:2)Ahasuerus. (6:2)

Mordecai gets Mordecai gets rememberedremembered

• Mordecai just happened to Mordecai just happened to notnot saysay anythinganything for five years for five yearsAnd the king said, “What honor or And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” (6:3)has been done for him.” (6:3)

Haman also has Haman also has insomniainsomnia

• And the king said, “Who is in the And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.(6:4)he had prepared for him.(6:4)

• Haman is either Haman is either arrogantarrogant or so filled or so filled with rage he is with rage he is irrationalirrational. (v.4). (v.4)

Haman also has Haman also has insomniainsomnia

•Haman understands Haman understands protocolprotocol And the king's young men told And the king's young men told him, “Haman is there, him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come the king said, “Let him come in.” (6:5)in.” (6:5)

Haman also has Haman also has insomniainsomnia

• Haman reveals his true obsession is Haman reveals his true obsession is himselfhimself (vv.6-9) (vv.6-9)So Haman came in, and the king said So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the to him, “What should be done to the man whom man whom the king delights to the king delights to honorhonor?” And Haman said to himself, ?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would “Whom would the king delight to the king delight to honorhonor more than me?” more than me?”

Haman also has Haman also has insomniainsomnia

• Haman reveals his true obsession is Haman reveals his true obsession is himselfhimself (vv.6-9) (vv.6-9)And Haman said to the king, “For the And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom man whom the king delights to honorthe king delights to honor, , let royal robes be brought, which the let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set. royal crown is set.

Haman also has Haman also has insomniainsomnia

•Haman reveals his true Haman reveals his true obsession is obsession is himselfhimself (vv.6-9) (vv.6-9)And let the robes and the horse And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom them dress the man whom the the king delights to honorking delights to honor,,

Haman also has Haman also has insomniainsomnia

• Haman reveals his true obsession is Haman reveals his true obsession is himselfhimself (vv.6-9) (vv.6-9)and let them lead him on the horse and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom it be done to the man whom the the king delights to honor.king delights to honor.’”(6:6-9)’”(6:6-9)

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

•PridePride ain’t so sweet ain’t so sweetThen the king said to Haman, Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.”  you have mentioned.”  

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

• PridePride ain’t so sweet ain’t so sweetSo Haman took the robes and the So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”(6:10-11)king delights to honor.”(6:10-11)

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

• Refusing to Refusing to ownown your your junkjunk will will taketake you you downdown Then Mordecai returned to the king's Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head house, mourning and with his head covered. And Haman told his wife covered. And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything Zeresh and all his friends everything

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

• Refusing to Refusing to ownown your your junkjunk will will taketake you you downdown that had happened to him. Then his wise that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”(6:12-13)before him.”(6:12-13)

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

• The queen The queen ratsrats himhim outoutWhile they were yet talking While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.Esther had prepared.

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

• The queen The queen ratsrats himhim outout So the king and Haman went in to So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. And on the feast with Queen Esther. And on the second day, as they were drinking wine second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. Esther? It shall be granted you.

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

• The queen The queen ratsrats himhim outout And what is your request? Even to the And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” Then Queen Esther fulfilled.” Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. wish, and my people for my request.

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

• The queen The queen ratsrats himhim outout For we have been sold, I and my For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” (6:14-7:4)with the loss to the king.” (6:14-7:4)

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

• The queen The queen ratsrats himhim outout we have been sold, I and my we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilatedkilled, and to be annihilated

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

• The king The king sputterssputters Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?” And Esther who has dared to do this?” And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.before the king and the queen.

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

• The king The king sputterssputters And the king arose in his wrath from And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king.(7:5-8)against him by the king.(7:5-8)

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

• Begging for Begging for lifelife brings brings deathdeath And the king returned from the palace And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, “Will he even assault the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own the queen in my presence, in my own house?” As the word left the mouth of house?” As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face.the king, they covered Haman's face.

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

• Begging for Begging for lifelife brings brings deathdeath And the king returned from the palace And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, “Will he even assault the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own the queen in my presence, in my own house?” As the word left the mouth of house?” As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face.the king, they covered Haman's face.

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

• Begging for Begging for lifelife brings brings deathdeath Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, in attendance on the king, said, “Moreover, the gallows that Haman “Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high.”Haman's house, fifty cubits high.”

A good plan goes very badA good plan goes very bad

•Begging for Begging for lifelife brings brings deathdeath And the king said, “Hang him on And the king said, “Hang him on that.” So they hanged Haman on that.” So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated. (7:8-10)the king abated. (7:8-10)

Bottom Line:Bottom Line:

•God is at God is at workwork – even in the – even in the mundanemundane! !

For anyone checking out the For anyone checking out the

Jesus-centered lifeJesus-centered life• If you have been led to If you have been led to

believe that being a Jesus-believe that being a Jesus-centered disciple removes centered disciple removes you from the mundane – you from the mundane – rethinkrethink thatthat!!

For anyone living a Jesus-For anyone living a Jesus-centered lifecentered life

• Pay attention to the Pay attention to the mundanemundane things things – God’s – God’s providenceprovidence is usually is usually displayed there.displayed there.

• Do the Do the hardhard workwork; let the Holy Spirit ; let the Holy Spirit go go deepdeep!!

• You only need You only need couragecourage when you when you attempt something attempt something courageouscourageous!!