Title: Insomnia is by God’s Hand
Text: Esther 10: 3
Date:
September 26, 2013
Place:
SGBC, New Jersey
Esther 10: 3: For Mordecai the Jew was next
unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of
his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his
seed.
Does
God really work all things together for good for believers? Scriptures says he does.
Romans 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.
Psalms 135:6: Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did
he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
Proposition: The book of Esther shows us that God sovereignly works
all things together for the salvation of his people by Christ and in Christ.
Let’s go back to chapter 1 and see it.
I. FIRST, LET ME GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE
CHARACTERS AND THE STORY.
Characters and Their Types
Ahasuerus
the King of Persia—his name means “Venerable Father.” Though a sinner, and not
in regard of his sinful deeds, but in his office, power and relation to others
in the story—we will see some things that reminds us of God our Father.
Mordecai—“Little
Man” —At first, he was viewed by his enemies as unimportant—Christ hast no form
that made us desire him. Yet Mordecai was the one who brought about God’s will
of saving his people—so was Christ. At last, he was highly exalted above all
others to the right hand of King Ahasuerus, the venerable father—that is where
Christ sits today.
A
beautiful woman named Esther—she was
the cousin of Mordecai, who he adopted. Esther
means “Star”—Esther becomes the new queen—the Star beside the King—that is what
Christ is at Gods’ right hand. Her name
was also Haddassah (Myrtle Tree)—which is a symbol of peace and blessing—Is 55:
3: “Instead of the thorn shall come up the myrtle tree.” Just as great peace
and blessings came to God’s people through Esther’s intercession in the inner
court in the presence of the King—likewise great peace and blessing come to
God’s people by Christ’s intercession in the inner court of God.
Haman —means
“Magnificent” —for that is how he saw himself and what he sought. He was an
Amalakite, a son of Agag—God’s sworn enemy.
Haman wanted to kill all God’s people. Yet, he was brought to nothing by
the King, by Mordecai and by Esther. Haman reminds us of all our enemies: our
old man of sin, every sinner, even the devil himself. Though our old man attempts to exalt
himself—though sinners and the devil attempt to exalt themselves—at last our
great God and Savior, shall bring our old man and every sinner to nothing,
including the devil himself.
The Story
Here is
the story. King Ahasuerus threw an
extravagant party for the princes and rulers throughout his empire. He sent an order for his wife, Vashti, to come
to his party to show her off. When she
refused, the king and his cabinet were furious—so the king divorced her. They
proposed a law in
Esther
1: 19:...let the king give her royal
estate unto another that is better than she.
In
chapter 2, Mordecai and Esther come into the story. As we begin reading in verse 5, consider all
the things that had happened to this man and to Esther.
Esther 2: 5: Now in Shushan the palace
there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the
son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; 6: Who had been carried away from
Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of
Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7: And he
brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had
neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom
Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
Do you
suppose when Mordecai was taken captive that he considered it great sorrow and
sadness? Surely, when Esther’s mother and father died, that was a sad
time. It was probably difficult for
Mordecai to add this girl to his responsibilities, to adopt her and raise her. Yet,
in all of this, God was putting them both right where he would have them to be.
Next,
King Ashaeurus seeks out the most beautiful woman in the kingdom of Persia to
be his new Queen. Esther won.
Esther 2:17: And the king loved Esther above
all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the
virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen
instead of Vashti. 18: Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes
and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces,
and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
In
Vashti’s disobedience and the fact she was replaced by one highly favored of
the king above all—I think of Adam. Adam
rebelled against God and was replaced by Christ the last Adam—the favored of
the Father, who has a crown on his head, and a feast of fat things prepared for
him and through Christ’s feast—he made a
release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king—so
God does to his people through the gospel of Christ and him crucified.
At this
time, Mordecai—still unknown to the people as Esther’s adopted Father—yet
probably through her influence—he was promoted to a position in the kings court—he
sat in the kings gate. Then while Esther
is being showered with gifts in the Kings house, Mordecai thwarts an
assassination attempt on the King.
Esther 2: 21: In those days, while Mordecai
sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of
those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king
Ahasuerus. 22: And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto
Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s
name. 23: And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out;
therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of
the chronicles before the king.
Then
evil Haman, the Magnificent, the Amalekite, enters the story in chapter 3. The
king promoted Haman so he was over all the princes in the kingdom. Everybody
bowed before Haman.
Esther 3: 2:…for the king had so commanded
concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him
reverence….6: And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone;
for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to
destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even
the people of Mordecai.
So
Haman brought the matter before the king-- Haman is a great picture of Satan
who is the accuser of the brethren, and of the self-righteous Pharisee in each
of our sinful flesh.
Esther 3: 8: And Haman said unto king
Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the
people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse
from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not
for the king’s profit to suffer them. 9: If it please the king, let it be
written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of
silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it
into the king’s treasuries. 10: And the king took his ring from his hand, and
gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. 11: And
the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also,
to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
Letters
were sent out to all the people with the kings signet—with the command—destroy
the Jews, receive a reward. The Jews became sorrowful, so did Mordecai and so
did Esther the queen. So in chapter 5,
Esther put on her royal apparel and approached the king on his royal throne.
Esther 5: 2:…she obtained favour in his
sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in
his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. 3: Then said
the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy
request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. [she asked the king and Haman to a banquet of wine] 6 And the king said unto Esther at the
banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and
what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be
performed. [she tells them both to attend her banquet the next day and she
would make her request known] Esther 5:
9: Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman
saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he
was full of indignation against Mordecai. 10: Nevertheless Haman refrained
himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh
his wife. 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. 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. 13: Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I
see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate. 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.
Do you
realize what will happen if Haman’s plan is carried out? The Jews would be
eliminated. God’s promise that Christ was coming through the seed of Abraham
would not be fulfilled. God’s eternal purpose would not be carried out. Christ would not come into
the world. God’s holy law would not be
magnified and fulfilled by Christ for his people. None of God’s elect would be redeemed. You and I would be forever
lost. Do you think there is a
remote possibility that Haman will succeed?
Not even the slightest.
II.
LET’S LOOK AT SEVEN LESSONS NEEDFUL FOR US TO LEARN.
Right
Where We Need to Be
First, God sovereignly rules all, putting
everyone in the position we need to be in to promote his glory and our good. He
put each of these people in place to bring about his will, and also, to glorify
his Son, Christ Jesus.
Here we have a Jewish woman, promoted to
Queen of Persia because God put her there to make intercession on behalf of his
people and to glorify his great name. What
a type of Christ she is. Her parents had
died. Her people had been carried away into captivity. And a great enemy is set
on destroying all the children of Israel, her brethren. That is why she emerges. Adam and Eve died in
sin. All Christ’s people were carried
away into captivity. Satan and all our enemies sought to utterly destroy
us. That is why Christ came forth.
She represented God’s people in the inner
court where the King resided. Christ is at God’s right hand where “he everlives
to make intercession for his people.” When
Mordecai mourned out in the street in sackcloth. Esther
4: 4:…”the
queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take
away his sackcloth from him:” Christ is “touched with the feeling of our
infirmities.” When God brings his child
to mourn over our sin, over God’s sorrowful providence or to repent in
sackcloth, Christ sends forth his robe—the robe of righteousness to clothe us,
he comforts us in all our sorrow in this world.
Esther was willing to lay down her life for
her people. The king holding forth his golden scepter was a token of acceptance
in his presence. But 30 days went by and Esther received no such beckoning from
the King to approach him. Esther 4: 6:…so
will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish,
I perish. In her willingness to stand in the place of a
lawbreaker and perish for her people we see Christ’s willingness to take our
sin and willing to take our place before God’s wrath. God puts his people where
he will to glorify him.
Then we have Mordecai in the gate among the
people, among his brethren—he is a wonderful picture of Christ dwelling in our
midst. Christ has a work to do in the presence of the Father—pictured by
Esther. And he has a work to do among
his people in the earth pictured in Mordecai.
Esther
4: 16: [Esther
told Mordecai] Go, gather together all
the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor
drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise;…17:
So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded
him.
As Christ is making intercession in glory, he
is separating his people in the earth unto himself. When born of God we begin a fast from this
world and from our flesh, as we feed upon Christ and await the 3rd
day when he shall arise as the Daystar in his return.
Brethren, God overruled everything sorrowful
in Esthers life and Mordecais’ life to put them there to save his people and
show forth this wonderful picture of his Son: from her parents dying, to their
captivity, to all the details in being exalted to this position to Haman who sought
his astrologers. They cast lots on which would be the best day—the lot was cast
but God disposed of the whole matter—they gave him a day 12 months out—which
allowed for all this salvation to come to pass.
So it is that God rules everything in our lives to put us where he would
have us to be.
So serve God where he has put you. Maybe it is a dark place of captivity. Maybe it is in the presence of royalty. Maybe
it is in the company of paupers
1 Corinthians 7: 20: Let every man abide in the same
calling wherein he was called. 21: Art thou called being a servant? care
not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22: For he
that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman:
likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23: Ye
are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24: Brethren, let every
man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
Lose
Your Life to Save Your Life
Secondly, stand ready to lose your life, by
speaking up for God and his people, when you have opportunity, rather than
trying to save your life by being silent. Notice what Mordecai tells Esther.
Esther
4:14: For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall
there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place;
Mordecai was a man who believed God. He told Esther, if you hold your peace, God
still will use someone else to deliver us—that is true. Either we will be willing to lay down our
lives for Christ or he will use someone else.
Esther
4: 14: but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: Christ said, Lu 9:24: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:
but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same
shall save it. But get this lesson
Esther 4: 14:…and who knoweth whether
thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Next, time we have opportunity to speak the
gospel or keep our mouths shut to save ourselves, we ought to say this to
ourselves, “who knoweth whether thou art
come to the kingdom for such a time
as this?”
Come
to God in the Royal Apparel of Christ’s Righteousness
Thirdly, know that if we approach God’s
throne of grace, with the royal apparel of Christ’s righteousness, we shall be
received and our petition granted.
Esther
5: 1: Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal
apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the
king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over
against the gate of the house. 2: And it was so, when the king saw Esther the
queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the
king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew
near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
None
ever perished confessing his sin and seeking God’s forgiveness at the footstool
of mercy. The sinner who approaches God
with nothing on but the royal apparel provided by Christ our King—shall be
received with favor. God is faithful to his promises and just to his Son “to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Hebrews 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.
God
Rules Even the Smallest Details
Fourthly, remember that God is ruling the
smallest details, as well as the big things, for the exaltation of Christ and
of his child in Christ. After Esther
told the King and Haman that she would let her request be known the next day at
a banquet
Esther 6: 1:
On that night could not the king sleep,…
Even Insomina is by God’s Hand
Matthew 10:30: But the very
hairs of your head are all numbered.
Esther 6: 1:…and he commanded to bring the
book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 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.
This
was not luck or chance—but God’s sovereign hand that the king found this info
at just this moment.
Esther 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.”[Right at the time, the king hears a noise from
without—because God is ruling everything going on.]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… 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? 7: And Haman answered the king, For the man whom
the king delighteth to honour, 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:
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. 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. 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.
You can
count it—thus shall it be done unto the GodMan, Christ Jesus, whom God
delighteth to honour. And for you in
Christ—thus shall it be done for the sake of Christ.
God Shall Destroy our Enemies
Fifthly,
God is ruling all things to destroy our enemies. So Haman comes to Esther’s feast the next day
to see what her petition to the King is.
Esther 7: 3: Then Esther the queen answered…let
my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: 4: For we are
sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish….5: Then the
king Ahasuerus answered…Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his
heart to do so? 6: And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this
wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen…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. 10: So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for
Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.
Acts 4: 26 The
kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the
Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of
a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and
Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered
together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy
hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and
grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and
that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Christ is Doing it All
Sixthly,
the reason all things are working for our good is because the God who is doing
it is our Savior, Christ Jesus the Mediator, at God’s right Hand.
Esther 8: 1: On that day did the king
Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai
came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. 2 And the king took off his ring, which he had
taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the
house of Haman.
Christ
is over the house of all our enemies. He wears God the Father’s ring so that he
can do what he pleases over all.
Esther 8:8: Write ye also for the Jews, as it
liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the
writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may
no man reverse….10: And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it
with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on
mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
As
Esther petitioned the king to reverse all the accusations against her people so
Christ petitions the Father on behalf of his people to erase all Satan’s
accusations. So here I am as a post sent of God to you tonight to tell you of
this good news that what Christ has accomplished for us can never be reversed.
Christ Shall Receive All Glory
Esther 8: 15: And Mordecai went out from the
presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown
of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan
rejoiced and was glad. 16 The Jews had
light, and gladness, and joy, and honour….9: 4: For Mordecai was great in the
king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man
Mordecai waxed greater and greater. 5: Thus the Jews smote all their enemies
with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they
would unto those that hated them….10: 3: For Mordecai the Jew was next unto
king Ahasuerus, [Christ is at God’s right hand] and great among the Jews, and accepted of
the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking
peace to all his seed.
Amen!