Now if a person has committed a sin carrying a sentence of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body is not to be left overnight on the tree, but you shall certainly bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is cursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. - Deuteronomy 21:22-23
Before we begin this morning’s message, let’s take a moment to remember what’s going on. Esther still hasn’t made her appeal to the king on behalf of the Jewish people. According to the law, they are still scheduled to be destroyed. She has, however, invited the king and Haman to another feast which she’s prepared especially for them. Perhaps this will be the occasion she finally speaks up.
The king has just finished granting a great honor to Mordecai and doesn’t show any apparent animosity toward the Jews. Meanwhile Haman, who wanted to execute Mordecai but was forced to pay tribute to him instead, is likely fuming with bitterness on the inside. The stage is set for a climactic event. Turn to Esther chapter 7 and let’s get started!
I. ESTHER MAKES HER PLEA (v1-4)
The king and Haman came to Esther’s 2nd feast. While he was drinking wine at the banquet, the king asked Esther to make her request. He assured her that it would be done for her - up to half the kingdom. She answered, “If it pleases the king and I have found favor in your sight, please spare the lives of me and my people (the Jews). It has been determined that we all be eliminated.” She went on to say that had the Jews only been sold into slavery, she would have kept silent.
The king originally asked Esther to state her request in the throne room when she approached him, but she waited. He asked her a second time during Esther’s first feat, but again she put it off. When he asked her the third time, during her second feast, Esther finally stated her request. As we’ve emphasized in the previous messages, she seemed to be waiting for the opportune moment, perhaps discerning the leading of God’s Spirit.
Remember that Esther had, in obedience to Mordecai’s command, been keeping her Jewish identity secret. When she voiced her plea she also revealed to the king and Haman that she was Jewish. While they both already knew Mordecai was a Jew, neither knew that Esther was also until she made her request. Had Haman known about this earlier, he might have approached this situation differently.
II. THE KING BECOMES ANGRY (v5-6)
King Ahasuerus became extremely upset that someone would presume to kill all of the Jews living in the Persian Empire. He asked Esther who it was that was plotting such an evil thing? Esther answered, “A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!” Haman’s murderous scheme had been exposed and he became terrified before the king and queen.
The king seemed inclined to grant Esther’s request all 3 times he spoke with her about it. When she finally made it, he not only agreed with her but became angry with Haman. Haman had taken advantage of the king’s naivety and trust. Now that he knew what was actually going on, King Ahasuerus realized that he’d been duped by someone he thought was a friend. Such betrayal is difficult to get over (Psalm 41:9).
King Ahasuerus’ behavior in this chapter is starkly different from back in chapter 1 when he ordered Queen Vasthi to appear before him and his drunken buddies. I am not saying that he’s a great guy now, but he seems to have matured some. I would like to think that Esther had something to do with that. By this point, she had been his wife and queen for around 5 years. Perhaps her moral influence softened his rough edges a bit and made him more thoughtful. The Bible encourages Christian wives to remain faithful to their unbelieving husbands so that they might be won over by their godly virtue (1 Peter 3:1-2).
III. HAMAN BEGS FOR HIS LIFE (v7-8)
In his anger, the king walked out of the banquet and into the palace garden. Meanwhile Haman stayed behind to beg Esther for his life because the king was planning to do him harm. When the king returned, Haman had thrown himself on Esther’s couch. The king mistakenly thought that Haman was attempting to assault her. The king’s men immediately seized Haman and covered his face.
In last week’s message, we highlighted that the enemies of God will be shamed and humiliated. We saw this illustrated when the king ordered Haman to lead Mordecai around the city honoring him. Now we see another punishment of the wicked. They will beg the righteous for mercy, but it will not come (Jeremiah 15:11). This reminds me of the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus when the Rich Man begs for mercy (Luke 16:19-31).
IV. HAMAN IS HANGED (v9-10)
Harbonah, a eunuch of the king (mentioned previously in Esther 1:10), pointed out that Haman had commissioned the building of wooden gallows upon which to kill Mordecai, the man the king had just honored. In an epic twist, King Ahasuerus ordered that Haman be hanged on those very gallows and he immediately was. After Haman’s death, the king’s anger subsided.
There are many similarities between the story of Esther and the story of Joseph. In both cases it is evident that God is orchestrating the various events of the characters lives in order to accomplish His purposes. Through a series of unexpected and challenging circumstances, both Joseph and Esther are elevated to positions of authority where they act on behalf of God’s people. And in both cases, that which was intended for evil actually ends up working for good (Genesis 50:20).
CONCLUSION
We have made a few different observations during today's message that I’ll quickly review:
When you're making a request and you're not certain how it will be answered, be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Let Him guide you in the timing and wording of your petition.
When someone you thought was a friend betrays you, it's especially hurtful.
Godly spouses can have a positive influence over their nonbelieving spouses.
The LORD’s enemies will beg for mercy during the day of judgment.
God can turn that which was meant for evil into something good.
For example, the Devil and His demons thought that the crucifixion of Christ would be their ultimate victory. However, it turned out to be the means through which He forgave mankind’s sin. Then, 3 days later, He was raised from the dead, conquering the penalty of death!
As we come to the end of today’s sermon, Esther has finally and courageously intervened to deliver her people. The wicked Haman is dead. His scheme to destroy the Jews had been discovered. Still, the king has not yet rescinded the law calling for their destruction. Will he do that? Join us next week as we continue our study of the story of Esther. God bless you.
Before we begin this morning’s message, let’s take a moment to remember what’s going on. Esther still hasn’t made her appeal to the king on behalf of the Jewish people. According to the law, they are still scheduled to be destroyed. She has, however, invited the king and Haman to another feast which she’s prepared especially for them. Perhaps this will be the occasion she finally speaks up.
The king has just finished granting a great honor to Mordecai and doesn’t show any apparent animosity toward the Jews. Meanwhile Haman, who wanted to execute Mordecai but was forced to pay tribute to him instead, is likely fuming with bitterness on the inside. The stage is set for a climactic event. Turn to Esther chapter 7 and let’s get started!
I. ESTHER MAKES HER PLEA (v1-4)
The king and Haman came to Esther’s 2nd feast. While he was drinking wine at the banquet, the king asked Esther to make her request. He assured her that it would be done for her - up to half the kingdom. She answered, “If it pleases the king and I have found favor in your sight, please spare the lives of me and my people (the Jews). It has been determined that we all be eliminated.” She went on to say that had the Jews only been sold into slavery, she would have kept silent.
The king originally asked Esther to state her request in the throne room when she approached him, but she waited. He asked her a second time during Esther’s first feat, but again she put it off. When he asked her the third time, during her second feast, Esther finally stated her request. As we’ve emphasized in the previous messages, she seemed to be waiting for the opportune moment, perhaps discerning the leading of God’s Spirit.
Remember that Esther had, in obedience to Mordecai’s command, been keeping her Jewish identity secret. When she voiced her plea she also revealed to the king and Haman that she was Jewish. While they both already knew Mordecai was a Jew, neither knew that Esther was also until she made her request. Had Haman known about this earlier, he might have approached this situation differently.
II. THE KING BECOMES ANGRY (v5-6)
King Ahasuerus became extremely upset that someone would presume to kill all of the Jews living in the Persian Empire. He asked Esther who it was that was plotting such an evil thing? Esther answered, “A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!” Haman’s murderous scheme had been exposed and he became terrified before the king and queen.
The king seemed inclined to grant Esther’s request all 3 times he spoke with her about it. When she finally made it, he not only agreed with her but became angry with Haman. Haman had taken advantage of the king’s naivety and trust. Now that he knew what was actually going on, King Ahasuerus realized that he’d been duped by someone he thought was a friend. Such betrayal is difficult to get over (Psalm 41:9).
King Ahasuerus’ behavior in this chapter is starkly different from back in chapter 1 when he ordered Queen Vasthi to appear before him and his drunken buddies. I am not saying that he’s a great guy now, but he seems to have matured some. I would like to think that Esther had something to do with that. By this point, she had been his wife and queen for around 5 years. Perhaps her moral influence softened his rough edges a bit and made him more thoughtful. The Bible encourages Christian wives to remain faithful to their unbelieving husbands so that they might be won over by their godly virtue (1 Peter 3:1-2).
III. HAMAN BEGS FOR HIS LIFE (v7-8)
In his anger, the king walked out of the banquet and into the palace garden. Meanwhile Haman stayed behind to beg Esther for his life because the king was planning to do him harm. When the king returned, Haman had thrown himself on Esther’s couch. The king mistakenly thought that Haman was attempting to assault her. The king’s men immediately seized Haman and covered his face.
In last week’s message, we highlighted that the enemies of God will be shamed and humiliated. We saw this illustrated when the king ordered Haman to lead Mordecai around the city honoring him. Now we see another punishment of the wicked. They will beg the righteous for mercy, but it will not come (Jeremiah 15:11). This reminds me of the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus when the Rich Man begs for mercy (Luke 16:19-31).
IV. HAMAN IS HANGED (v9-10)
Harbonah, a eunuch of the king (mentioned previously in Esther 1:10), pointed out that Haman had commissioned the building of wooden gallows upon which to kill Mordecai, the man the king had just honored. In an epic twist, King Ahasuerus ordered that Haman be hanged on those very gallows and he immediately was. After Haman’s death, the king’s anger subsided.
There are many similarities between the story of Esther and the story of Joseph. In both cases it is evident that God is orchestrating the various events of the characters lives in order to accomplish His purposes. Through a series of unexpected and challenging circumstances, both Joseph and Esther are elevated to positions of authority where they act on behalf of God’s people. And in both cases, that which was intended for evil actually ends up working for good (Genesis 50:20).
CONCLUSION
We have made a few different observations during today's message that I’ll quickly review:
When you're making a request and you're not certain how it will be answered, be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Let Him guide you in the timing and wording of your petition.
When someone you thought was a friend betrays you, it's especially hurtful.
Godly spouses can have a positive influence over their nonbelieving spouses.
The LORD’s enemies will beg for mercy during the day of judgment.
God can turn that which was meant for evil into something good.
For example, the Devil and His demons thought that the crucifixion of Christ would be their ultimate victory. However, it turned out to be the means through which He forgave mankind’s sin. Then, 3 days later, He was raised from the dead, conquering the penalty of death!
As we come to the end of today’s sermon, Esther has finally and courageously intervened to deliver her people. The wicked Haman is dead. His scheme to destroy the Jews had been discovered. Still, the king has not yet rescinded the law calling for their destruction. Will he do that? Join us next week as we continue our study of the story of Esther. God bless you.