This is a part of a sermon series in the book of Esther. You can watch more here.
We are covering a lot of Scripture over a short period so let me give you quick recap. In
chapters 1-2 Esther becomes Queen. In chapter 3 we meet this guy Haman that threatens a
mass genocide. In Chapter 4 Queen Esther commits to going before the Persian King to
help the Israelites. Last Sunday, chapter 5 we see the tension between Esther and Haman,
so that the book of Esther could come across like a telenovela.
But, we need to remember these are real people, real places, real historical events, and as
we get into the story we see the same types of challenges we see today. The book of Esther
was written 2500 years ago, but their struggles are just like our struggles today.
We still see people chasing after power and position today just like we see in the book of
Esther, we still see people wrestling with their faith today just like in the book of Esther, we
still see people chasing after favor and acceptance today just like in the book of Esther.
We’re not reading a story with magical wizards and dragons that takes place in Middle
Earth.
This is a real location in modern day Iran, and God’s Word is still speaking into our life
today. Let’s look at verses 1-2:
Esther 6:1-2, “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. 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.”
Back in chapter 2 there is a side comment, two little verses where Mordecai exposes a
threat against the Persian King, and in chapter 6, verse 2 the remembers the story about
Mordecai’s loyalty to the king, therefore, the king wants to honor Mordecai, and it sets the
stage for a bit of drama. Jump down to verse:
Esther 6:4, “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.”
Well, that’s going to be awkward! Haman wants to hang Mordecai in front of everyone.
Haman has told all his friends he is going to hang Mordecai. Haman is in the middle of
hanging Mordecai and then Haman finds out that the king loves Mordecai! Doh! Skip down
to verses 6-8:
Esther 6:6-8, “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.’”
Just for context, at this point in history, the robes were a symbol of authority and power. It
was a symbol of position. It isn’t just to honor someone but to delight in someone. It is
saying, “This person is the captain now!”
And to make it even more awkward, Haman is thinking the king wanted to honor Haman!
Haman is thinking, “If everyone saw how much the king loved me, that would make me
more important. Back in chapter 2 the king had ordered everyone to bow down and show
respect to Haman. But, that wasn’t enough for Haman because in chapter 6 Haman
basically wants the king bowing down and showing respect to him. Look at verse 10:
Esther 6:10, “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 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.”
In verse 12 Haman is devastated. First, Esther is elevated to queen and now Mordecai is
elevated to the king’s best friend! And, Haman is about to go to a banquet that Esther
prepared for him and the king back in chapter 5, so that all the scheming and planning in
Haman’s life is starting to come to the surface. Look at chapter 7, verses 1-2:
Esther 7:1-2, “1 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 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.”
Remember, Mordecai wouldn’t bow down to show respect toward Haman. As a result,
Haman doesn’t just want to kill Mordecai, but all the Israelites in the Persian Empire.
Esther steps into the challenge to reverse Haman’s order. The suspense is building. What’s
going to happen? Look at verses 3-6:
Esther 7:3-6, “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 trouble
would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king.” 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.”
At this point, Haman has to be thinking, “Are you kidding me?” Like 24-hours earlier
Haman was the second in command. 24-hours earlier Haman was fantasizing about how
he would be in charge with the royal robes, and now he is coming face to face with death.
Look at verses 7-10:
Esther 7:7-10, “7 The king arose in his anger from 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 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 gallows which he
had prepared for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.”
In verse 7 the king gets up in anger, because he is in a difficult place. The king has aligned
himself with the queen, the king has aligned himself with Haman, and, now Haman and
Esther are against one another! The king is in a place where he either has to turn on
Haman or turn on Esther, and look foolish. It’s a lose-lose-lose for the king!
In addition, in verse 7, when the king leaves, Haman should exit the room, because no man
should be with Queen Esther by himself. This is a move of desperation by Haman! Haman
not only stays with the queen but in verse 8 Haman is on the couch with the queen! That’s
not good!
Then, the final blow, in verse 9 even the servants turn on Haman and recommend that
Haman be hung on the gallows that Haman created for Mordecai and by verse 10 it’s all
done. Isn’t that wild!
Again, at this point, it would be easy to look down on Haman and elevate Esther, but the
purpose of God’s Word isn’t to draw out moral lessons for how we can be better people.
The purpose of God’s Word, Genesis to Revelation, is to point us to our need for a Savior
made known in Jesus, therefore, we want to focus on our three questions; what does the
passage teach about the character of God? What does the passage teach about humanity?
How does the passage point me to Jesus? Let’s take the first one:
What does the passage teach us about the character of God? There are several
attributes we could pull out of our two chapters, but one of the primary attributes we see in
our passage this morning is God is just; evil and wickedness doesn’t go on forever. That
which is done in darkness, will come to the light!
Haman is demonstrating patterns of pride, so deeply imbedded that Haman is willing to
chase down people and murder them if necessary. Haman is consumed with insecurity.
Haman is constantly whining about the one person who didn’t show him respect. Haman is
willing to manipulate for his gain, so that it is clear Haman is sowing seeds of injustice over
and over and over, and by the end of chapter 7 there is the justice of God being put on
display as Haman is put to death.
Second, what does the passage teach us about humanity? Injustice isn’t just in the life
of Haman, but there are layers of injustice in all people, and all places, throughout all of
time. Amen?
I wish I could tell you injustice was just Haman in the Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, but
we see injustice today. We see injustice with governments, corporations, politicians, state
level, and local level. Our culture wants to tell us this is because men are horrible, but we
see injustice in women, we see injustice in children. You ever seen a child ask to share a
toy, or play with someone they don’t want to play with. It’s scary! Injustice is a pattern in
all of humanity.
Even on a personal level, if we took the time we could share stories of pain and trauma,
physical abuse, verbal abuse, and it’s because people hurt people. It happens at the macro
and the micro. People use one another. Lie to one another. Ignore and avoid one another.
It’s horrible!
The last question, how does our passage point us to Jesus? In the context of our
passage, we see humanity fighting against injustice over and over, trying to survive, trying
to find a moment of peace and rest, and then Jesus, God in the flesh, enters into humanity.
When we look at the life of Jesus we see the assumption that Jesus is going to lead the
attack against the Roman Empire. Elijah reigned down fire from heaven, let’s get ‘em Jesus!
That’s the assumption! But Jesus rebukes them and says, “No, we’re going to love our
enemies, forgive our enemies, give the coat off our back for our enemies!” What?
It’s because Jesus knows He is about to take care of injustice at the cross! Jesus didn’t come
to bring justice for a season, or an empire, or single offense. He came to bring justice for
eternity!
It is at the cross Jesus destroys death for eternity! He conquered sin for eternity! He
became the curse of humanity. He was hung on a tree. He paid the price as the wrath of
God against all injustice was poured out on Him! That’s the gospel!
Think about it practically, if I drive my car into your car, you don’t want an apology. You
want to be made whole. You want your car fixed. An apology doesn’t do anything. Even if
the accident happens on a day where you are particularly kind, you still drive away with a
huge dent in your car. Even if you pay to make the repair, the money comes out of your
account. There is a price to pay for the accident!
It is in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection where Jesus takes the repairs of our brokenness
out of His account. The accident wasn’t even His fault, but He’s the One who fixes the
problem. He makes us whole. He takes our injustices upon Himself and He gives us His
righteousness. Isn’t that amazing?
It’s possible you are thinking, “Pastor Michael, that’s great, but how does this shape my life
today?” This is so important. Jesus didn’t just come so that we can go to heaven. Jesus
comes to bring heaven to earth. Jesus’ makes you a citizen of His Kingdom on earth as it is
in heaven. Let me just give you a couple of ways:
When you believe Jesus’ died for your sin at the cross and conquered your sin in His
resurrection it means you believe you are a sinner. Believing you’re a sinner means you
believe you have sinned against the holiness of God. Some of y’all are thinking, “How’s this
good news?” Stay with me!
Believing you have sinned against the holiness of God means the God of creation created
you to know Him and you said, “Nah, I think I can do better without you.” Take that in for a
second! Every time we give our heart, our words, our time to someone or something else,
we’re saying “The glory of God wasn’t that great.” The glory of this world is better! That’s
offensive! It’s called sin!
Therefore, what can a anyone ever do, say or think that is worse than our sin against the
holiness of God? Every time that voice pops in our head, “I can’t believe I did this or that.”
We can say to that voice, “Oh, wait, I have done so much worse! I have turned my back on
the glory of God.
The good news is that Jesus, God in the flesh, has come to call me His!” Jesus comes to take
our offenses, the worst offenses we could imagine, and Jesus takes the penalty that we
deserved at the cross, and Jesus conquers that sin at the resurrection.”
That’s why the Apostle Paul says of the resurrection, “Death, where is your sting?” There is
now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because Jesus has taken our
condemnation and conquered our condemnation and then gives us His righteousness, so
that we can walk in His strength and His power. It’s heaven on earth!
Here’s one more! Not only do we do offensive things to others, but every person in here
knows that people have done offensive things to us. Maybe it was that kid at school?
Maybe it was a trusted person like a parent or a coach? Maybe it was the injustice of this
world?
When someone or something offends us we are so quick to overlook the offensive things
we do to others and we say of that person, “How could you?” The same judgment we cast
on to ourselves we are casting onto others. We get angry. We can get bitter. We might
even say in our heart, “I would NEVER do something like that.”
But the gospel is that you’re a sinner! The gospel says, “Oh, yeah, I am no better than that
person.” Maybe I didn’t do this or that? But I have done the worst offense imaginable. I
took the gifts and grace of God and I said in my heart, “You’re not that big of a deal. Instead
of giving Him honor and thanks, we will chase after man-made idols of this world.”
Therefore, there’s no offense someone has done toward us that is greater than the offense
we’ve done toward God.
Listen to me, if that doesn’t soften your heart toward the Lord, if that truth doesn’t make
you want to stand to your feet during worship and belt out praise, I say this in the most
loving way, it’s possible the gospel hasn’t penetrated your soul!
You might know the information in your head. You might even say, “I believe in God, I love
Jesus!” But information and words don’t pierce your soul. Information and words about
God can make us arrogant because we think we know, but the gospel brings humility to our
soul to know we are forgiven, we are loved, we are secure, so that we are walking in the joy
of His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
In our passage, Mordecai was rescued because Haman took his place, but it was
involuntarily. Right? Haman took the place of Mordecai and Haman was a broken man
filled with pride and insecurity. But, Jesus willingly lays down His life at the cross. Jesus
goes to the cross innocent of sin, so that He doesn’t come to abolish the law but fulfill the
law as the ultimate king!
And you know what, when you believe that Jesus, God in the flesh, came to give His life for
you, take your sin, take your judgment, give you eternal life, abundant life, give you His
righteousness, and seat you at His table, then you just stepped into the greatest value,
worth and purpose we can ever imagine.
In every place in life we have to prove our worth. Everything else in this world makes you
work and sweat to attain. We live in fear that we might lose it one day. Our career, our
health, our possessions. We’re so fearful, we get insurance to make us feel safe, but only
Jesus works and sweats for you, so that He might come for you, and be with you. What’s
better than Jesus? He brings heaven on earth!
In Christ, the fears of this world can’t touch you! In Christ, there is peace that surpasses all
understanding! In Christ, we have eternal rest! In Christ, you’re before the King of Kings.
In Christ, He calls out to you and says, “Ask and it will be given!” Just sit in that truth for a
second. Do you know anything like that in this world besides Jesus?
North Village Church
This sermon is brought to you by North Village Church, a non-denominational church in Austin. established in 2009 and built around Jesus and Bible teaching.
Are you looking for a church in Austin? At North Village Church we put Jesus at the center of our church family. We worship together every Sunday at 10:30am, encourage Christ centered fellowship through groups, and host special events such as Bible studies and Theological Training, to ensure that we are rooted in in God’s Word. We also serve our local community in association with several Austin based organizations.
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