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ESTHER 3-4 TALK INTRO I Think It's Fair to Say EVERYONE

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ESTHER 3-4 TALK INTRO I Think It's Fair to Say EVERYONE ESTHER 3-4 TALK INTRO I think it's fair to say EVERYONE loves a great rivalry, don't they? When 2 arch rivals going head to head. If you're into superheroes you've got Superman and Lex Luther, Batman and the Joker, Optimus Prime and Megatron. For the more more high brow you've got Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty, Capulets and Montegues, Moby Dick and Captain Ahab I was trying to think of a couple romantic arch rivals from Jane Austin or Bronte. But I got to admit Classic literiture's not my thing. Can anyone think of a great arch epically from Jane Austin or Charles Dickens? Everyone loves a great arch rivalry don't they? And today as we turn to the book of Esther, that's exactly what we find. Two great arch rivals going head to head. Today we're going to watch Mordecai go head to head with Haman. But it's not like to equals going head to head. No, this is more like a David and Goliath type rivalry. Like an underdog against Goliath type rivalry. But like a true underdog. No matter how intimidating Haman is, no matter how great the pressure to submit to Haman. Like a true underdog, Mordecai, will refuse to bow before his arch rival. So with that in mind, let's prayer and then dive and watch our two arch enemies go head to head. Let's pray. IN THE BLUE CORNER – A JEW WISE In the blue corner sits Mordecai, a faithful official working for King Xerxes. And In 2:19 the scene opens with him sitting at the kings gates. Again in V21 He's a wise official sitting at the Kings gate. Now in the OT. Whenever you see someone sitting at the gate it means they're a city official. Their jobs to maintain law and order and justice. So Mordecai’s a respected leader working for the King FAITHFUL And he’s faithful! V21 … 21 During 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. To guard the doorway means Bigthana and Teresh’re the last line of defense for the King. But instead of protecting, they’re planning to kill the king. But their plan comes to nothing because our faithful Mordecai now warns the King and saves him. So in the blue corner’s Mordecai, a faithful Jewish leader of great value to the King. IN THE RED CORNER - THE AGAGITE In the red corner stands Haman. Enemy of the Jews! And you know he's the enemy because he's Haman... the Agagite. Just as the line of David rules Israel the Agagites ruled the Amalekites. And the Amalekites were the symbolic arch enemy of Israel because they were the First Nation to tried to destroy Israel as they came out of the wilderness. And they never stopped trying to destroy God’s people. So the Agagites symbolise all the powers that seek to destroy and curse Gods people. Take a look at Deut 25 at God’s attitude towards this great enemy of his people. 17 Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. 18 When 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. 19 When 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! So Haman the Agagite, leader of the Amalekites, represents the powers that’re out to destroy and curse Gods people. And a faithful Jew like Mordecai would not forget this. That's the background, they’re the character’s in today’s passage THE FIGHT STARTS And in 3:1, these historical enemies now meet, and there are fireworks. Take a look at 3:1 1 After 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. 2 All 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. Because … v4 … for he had told them he was a Jew. So Haman’s now 2nd only to the King. He towers over Mordecai. But Mordecai refuses to bow to this Agagite. And when Haman finds out, v5: 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet 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. So like the Agagites of old Haman’s out to curse and destroy all of God’s people. And as they now go head to head it’s interesting to see how they both now establish their plan of attack. Haman’s plan to destroy Gods People is based on hatred, half- truths and bribery. Mordecai’s plan to save God’s people is typically humble and faithful. ROUND 1 – THE FIRST WORD IS THROWN And as we turn to 3:8 we start by watching Haman put his plan into action. 8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws … are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not … to the king's profit … to tolerate them. Notice how his words sound like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, whispering in the Kings ear, spinning the truth into a lie. Yes it's true that God’s people do have a different law, they do live by a different code, but of course they’re of profit to the King. In fact, it’s because they have a different way of life that they’re a profit to the King. That's what makes Gods people everywhere such a blessing to the world. Remember when Esther became Queen, she brought about a subtle but great blessing to the Kingdom. And faithful Mordecai, an official sitting at the Kings gate, saving the Kings life. God’s people so far have been nothing but humble and wise and faithful to the King. So of course they’re of profit to the King, they’re a blessing. So Haman’s Plan is to twist the truth. And to play on the Kings greed through bribery Take a look at v9. He says, they bring you no profit … 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give … ten thousand talents of silver … that’s $250M … to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. And with that... 15 ... The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman then sat down to drink, You see Haman’s plans are based on half-truths and bribery. HIS WORDS can’t be trusted. And as he sits down to now celebrate with a drink he thinks he has had the final say. He thinks his victory is a foregone conclusion. But take a look at Proverbs 16:1. This is something Haman doesn’t understand 1To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. 2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives… are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. 4 The Lord works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked … for a day of disaster. You see Haman doesn’t understand he can make all the plans in the world. He can twist the truth as much as he likes and offer as many bribes as he wants and get the backing of the world’s greatest superpower. He can do all of that. But in the end its God alone who decides the outcome. Not you. Not me. Not Haman. For 4 The Lord is the only one who works out everything to its proper end—Even the wicked for a day of disaster. God alone decides the outcome of our plans. ROUND 2 – MORDECAI RESPONDS And that’s something Mordecai understands. And his actions in 4:1 shows it. Take a look at how Mordecai responds to Hamans plan in a way that acknowledges God’s sovereignty. 1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes,... put on sackcloth and ashes, …and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly … 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. You see God’s name may not be mentioned in the book of Esther but here in these verses God’s people, lead by Mordecai, are clearly calling out to God in a way that shows they understand.
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