INTERNET BIBLE STUDIES Esther Lesson 06

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Esther - Lesson 06   

Esther Chapters 6 - 7

Distributed by:  Internet Bible Studies

Website: www.internetbible.net
e-mail:  mail@internetbible.net
 
Lesson Outline on Esther by: E. L. Bynum

Memory verses for this week: Isa 4:2  In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

Introduction:   We continue our study on the book of Esther this week as we see God's justice at work as we try to cover both chapters 6 and 7 in one lesson.

GOD'S JUSTICE AT WORK

In these two chapters we see the hand of God at work, as He vindicates His people, and punishes their enemies. When we are suffering rejection by our enemies, let us be reminded how that God can make the wrath of man to praise Him.

I. THE HERO EXALTED

Est 6:1  On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
Est 6:2  And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
Est 6:3  And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

When we know Christ as Lord and Savior, we sleep through almost any kind of trial because of our confidence in the Heavenly Father and the promises we know in the Word of God.  But on this night, God caused the king not to sleep.    Always keep in mind that it is God that gives sleep.

Psa. 127:2, "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep."

Eccl. 5:12, "The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep."

If we cannot sleep, God may be trying to reveal something to us.   Being alert to the leading of the Holy Spirit is something that every child of God needs to focus on.    During his sleepless night, the king calls for something worthwhile to be read.  If you cannot sleep try reading the Bible and pray, and I have jokingly said, "the devil may put you to sleep."   That is a joke, but believe me, Satan does not want us to know and read the Word of God.  We can be thankful that God never sleeps.

Psa. 121:3-4, "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."

The old conspiracy is brought to light in verse 2.    While a great deed has not been rewarded to Mordecai, we can see Scripture being fulfilled.

Rom. 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Est 6:4  And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Est 6:5  And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.

 

Haman is there in a timely fashion so he can carry out his plan.  No doubt, Haman shows his ambition.   He wants to be the one to wear the fancy apparel and ride the king's horse.    In his plan, others will look up to him and be desirous of his promotion and power.   

Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.


Est 6:6  So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
Est 6:7  And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,
Est 6:8  Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:
Est 6:9  And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

Haman just knows he is the man that the king desires to honor.   A false conclusion is reached about this by Haman.

Prov. 21:30, "There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD."

Rom. 8:31, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"

In verse 9, Haman pictures himself in all this splendor.   He sees himself riding the king's horse and being one of the highly arrayed noble princes.

Est 6:10  Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.

What a shock this must have been to Haman.   The king tells him to make haste and do all those honorable things mentioned to Mordecai.   Remember, God is able to exalt whom He chooses.

I Sam. 2:8, "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them."

When God chooses one to serve him, it probably won't be the one with all the great capabilities and attributes adored by the world.

1Co 1:25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Example after example proves this in the bible.   God exalted Moses to be the son of a princess.   He exalted Joseph to be a ruler in Egypt.   God exalted Daniel to be prime minister in Babylon and in our lesson exalted Mordecai in Persia.   And greatest of all, one day God will exalt His rejected Son to be King over the whole earth.

Zech. 14:9, "And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one."

Rev. 19:16, "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

 

Est 6:11  Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

What a strange twist of fate for Haman.  One of those he despised was to be honored and placed on the king's horse.   Mordecai the hated Jew was to be honored.    Things had looked so gloomy to Mordecai and all the Jews just a day before this.

S. B. Masterman had a quote that I think is very good.

God often comforts us, not by changing the circumstances of our lives, but by changing our attitude towards them.

This time, the circumstances definitely changed for Mordecai, but God can help us even if things are looking bleak when we trust the Heavenly Father with all our hearts.

Prov. 11:8, "The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead."

Verse 11 says Mordecai was publicly acclaimed.

Prov. 29:23, "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit."

II.   Haman is Humiliated

Est 6:12  And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
Est 6:13  And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
Est 6:14  And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Things did not go according to the plan of Haman.    Now, he is in complete sorrow.   This reminds us of some of the examples of others brought low.

II Sam. 17:23, "And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father."
 

It also reminds us of a dreadful day for sinners.

Matt. 7:22-23, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Psa. 9:17, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

Not only is Haman grieved, but he gets a sad report from his family.   Contrast 6:13 with 5:11-14.

Est 5:11  And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
Est 5:12  Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
Est 5:13  Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
Est 5:14  Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

Just a day or two before, Haman was so proud and full of his pride and arrogance.  God can change things very quickly.

Prov. 28:18, "Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once."

Hos. 14:9, "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein."

In sorrow he is brought to the banquet of Esther.

Deut. 32:35, "To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste."

 

III.  HAMAN IS HANGED .

Est 7:1  So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
Est 7:2  And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

Haman heads to the banquet with the king.   Had he known that Esther was a Jewess, he could not have been dragged to the banquet.

Prov. 16:5, "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished."

Eccl. 8:11, "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."

The king was ready for the queen's petition.  God's ear us always open and ready for our petitions.

1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 

Est 7:3  Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
Est 7:4  For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.


Queen Esther presents her petition.    She petitions not only for herself, but also for her people, the Jews. It is doubtful that the king had any idea that she was a Jewess.   But she comes boldly to the king and petitions for her people.   God tells us to do the same thing in our time of need.

Psa. 122:6, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee."

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

Est 7:5  Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
Est 7:6  And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

The king wanted to know the source of this death sentence.    Esther spares no time in identifying the wicked Haman as the man who was their adversary and enemy.

Job 18:8-10, "For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare. The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him. The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way."

 

Est 7:7  And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
Est 7:8  Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

Haman sees his predicament and makes a request for his life to the queen.   But she was not in the mood to pacify the one who wanted to destroy her and her people.   Rather, Haman now faces the wrath of the king.

John Gill said this about verse 7.

Est 7:7  And the king, arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath, went into the palace garden,.... Not being able to bear the sight of Haman, who had done such an injury both to himself and to the queen; as also that his wrath might subside, and he become more composed and sedate, and be able coolly to deliberate what was fitting to be done in the present case:

and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; hoping that her tender heart might be wrought upon to show mercy to him, and be prevailed on to entreat the king to spare his life; and this request he made in the most submissive manner:

for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king; he perceived it both by the king's countenance, by the rage he went out in, and by the threatening words which he very probably uttered as he went out.

Prov. 19:12, "The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass."

Prov. 16:14, "The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it."

Prov. 20:2, "The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul."

The plea of Haman fell on deaf ears.    It is now too late to seek mercy.    So sad is it that many will come to the end of their life and never accept Christ as their Savior.   A day is coming also when the Lord comes back and the world will face a horrible time of tribulation.

Rev. 6:16, "And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb."

Luke 23:30, "Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us."

Funny how things change very quickly.   A day before, Haman had been enraged when a Jew would not bow to him, but he now falls prostrate before a Jewish woman.   The king misinterprets the action of Haman when he petitions Esther.   The covering over Haman's head, indicated that he was about to die.  

Est 7:9  And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
Est 7:10  So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.


Haman is sentenced to be hanged on the gallows he had made.    His intention was to hang Mordecai, but now he suffers the gallows himself.

Psa. 7:15, "He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made."

Prov. 11:5, "The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness."

Prov. 11:8, "The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead."

Verse 10 says that Haman was hanged, and this pacified the wrath of the king.

Psa. 37:35-36, "I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found."

Prov. 13:15, "Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard."

Prov. 15:10, "Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die."

I think there is a lot to learn from this story.   If things are going really good for you and you are involved in evil, judgment is likely at the door or will be soon coming.   However, if you are doing good and living righteously, and things are not going well, God can change it for you overnight.   Here the hated enemy of the Jews is brought to justice when it appeared all the Jews would soon be put to death.   King Solomon sort of summed it up in Ecclesiastes Ch. 8.


Ecc 8:11  Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Ecc 8:12  Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
Ecc 8:13  But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

 

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

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