well let us turn again to the
portion that we've read in this book of Esther in Esther chapter
3 and really the last words of the chapter but the city Shushan
was perplexed that's the theme I want to take up the city Shushan
was perplexed. We read the whole verse, the
post went out being hastened by the king's commandment the
decree was given in Shushan the palace and the king and Haman
sat down to drink but the city Shushan was perplexed. I'm sure as you're aware Esther
is quite a remarkable book remarkable parts of Holy Scripture Because
although it is the Word of God, we don't have any mention of
the name of God anywhere in this book. And yet when we read it,
we see that it contains a wonderful display of the Divine Providence,
God's overruling hand in all the affairs of men. Alexander Carson, who was a particular
Baptist ministry in the 18th century, says of the book, it
is a book of wonders without a miracle. It's just providence
that we read of here. The way in which God is pleased
to move by second causes. It's a wonderful display of that
overruling hand of God in all the affairs of providence. And here is our text in the city
Shushan was perplexed. And there is much that is so
perplexing when we think of God's providential ways and the dealings
of God with men. We speak often of the mystery
of providence. In fact, last Lord's Day we were
considering something of David's experience there in 1 Samuel
chapter 30 where so much seemed to be against him. Saul was against
him, remember? The Philistines were against
him. The Amalekites were against him. He'd returned to Ziklag. It was In ruin, burned to the
ground, all the women and children had been taken away, captive.
The Amalekites were against him. And then his own men turned against
him and spoke of stoning him because they had sustained such
a tremendous loss whilst David and his men were away from Ziggurat.
David encouraged himself, it says, in the Lord his God. And
we spoke about David was able in many ways to encourage himself
in God's providence. in spite of all those things
that seem to be so contrary to Him. We said something then of
the encouragement of God's providences. But there is that that is so
strange, mysterious and perplexing time and again with the way in
which the Lord deals with us. Well, as we come to Consider
this portion of scripture thinking in particular of the words here
at the end of this 15th verse in chapter 3. The city Shushan
was perplexed. I hope with the Lord's help we
might be able to unravel something of what he said before receiving
the book. In Proverbs 25 2 We're told it
is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings
is to search out a matter. Well, God help us to search out
a matter with regards to what we have here. And three things
I want to mention for a while this morning. View of the delay
with the God Strange Providence just now. We were prevented from
being here on time. We're starting, of course, over
half an hour later than our usual starting time, so I'm going to
be somewhat briefer, I trust, than I would normally be. But
I want to mention three things here. First of all, God's perfect
timing. And then secondly, God's absolute
sovereignty. And in the third place, God's
gracious performance, how God always accomplishes. that that
he had purposed. First of all, though, God's perfect
timing. And we see it here at the beginning
of the chapter, after these things, it says. Obviously, the references
to all those things that are spoken of in the first two chapters. As I mentioned when we read this
third chapter, in the opening chapter we read of how the King
puts away his wife, Ashton. She's more noble really than
the King, but then here are the Jews, they're in captivity, they've
been taken into exile into Babylon. And here is Esther, this beautiful
young Jewess, and she is one of the maidens that is chosen
as a possible substitute for Queen Ashton. but she doesn't
say who she is or what her people are. The instruction of Mudikaihai. She keeps that a secret and she's
chosen. She's chosen to be the Queen. And then at the end of that chapter
We read of how Maudikei exposes some conspiracy against the king. And those who were conspiring
to kill the king are themselves hanged, executed. And it's after
these things, after all these events that you can read up there
in chapters 1 and 2. After these things, And what
is it that the king now does? He promotes Haman, the son of
Hamedatha, the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all
the princes that were with him. This Haman, who is the great
enemy of the Jews. As we saw in the reading there
at verse 5, when Haman saw that Mordecai didn't bow and do him
reverence, Haman is full of wrath. But he thought scorn to lay hands
on Mordecai alone. They had showed him the people
of Mordecai. Wherefore Haman sought to destroy
all the Jews, it says, that were throughout the whole kingdom
of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai." He is spoken of
then here in verse 10 as the Jews' enemy, or as the margin
says, the Jews' oppressor. And this is the man who has been
exalted to this high position. Basically, he is, we might say,
next to the king, the king's first minister, the king's prime
minister. He is a very important man. And yet, God In his perfect timing
has set everything now in place, as I just said, Vashti has been
removed, Esther has been made queen, but they don't know who
really this woman is. There in verse 10 of chapter
2, she had not showed her people nor her kindred, for Mordecai
had charged her that she should not show it. And clearly that is a significant
thing. It's repeated. later in that chapter verse 20
Esther had not yet showed her kindred nor her people as Mordecai
had charged her for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai like
us when she was brought up with it and yet she is the very one
who has been proclaimed and crowned as the Queen Again in that second
chapter, we read at verse 17, The king
loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor
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. After these things, all of these
things have taken place, and none of them have taken place
merely by chance. This is the hand of God, this
is the work of God. And as I also indicated, there's
that significant incident that's spoken of right at the end of the second
chapter, that Mordecai was the one who had discovered this plot. Let's read the verses, we didn't
read the chapter. In those days it said, in verse
21, In those days while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of
the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, those which kept
the door were wroth and sought to lay hand on the king Asuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai,
who told it unto Hester the queen, And Esther certified the king
thereof in Mordecai's name. So he's recognized as the one who has
discovered this. His name is mentioned specifically
by Esther. 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. The significance of all
that comes out later, if we turn to the sixth chapter, and there
in the opening verses. Here is the king, he takes to
his bed, but he cannot sleep. That night could not the king
sleep, Who is it has taken his sleep away? It's the Lord God.
When we can't sleep, when we're tossing on our beds, we need
to recognize the sovereign hand of God in all these details.
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. It was written, remember, we're told at the end of chapter
2, but he'd not read these things. But now In the small hours, he
decides he will have someone read something of the chronicles
of his kingdom. And it was found written that
Mordecai had told Abikthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains,
the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on King Asuerus. And the king said, what honor
and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this? Then said
the king's servants that minuted on to him, there is nothing done
for him. And the king said, who is in
the court? And Haman is there. All the providence of God. And
it's Haman who comes, you see, and the king seeks his counsel,
his advice. The man in whom the king delights,
how should honour be done to him? And this vain man thinks
the king must be speaking of himself. And so he tells the
king that this man is is to be exalted even more and more in
the kingdom not realizing that it is Mordecai that the king
is speaking of. Oh, in all of these things we
see God's hand and we see how remarkable is the timing of God. Everything is to take place just
as the Lord God himself has appointed. We know the words there in Ecclesiastes
chapter 3 To everything there is a season, and a time, to every
purpose, under heaven. Oh yes, a time to be born, a
time to die. But the time, it says, to every
purpose. Nothing ever occurs merely by
chance. First of all, then, we observe
the timing of God after these things. When God had so ordered
matters. But then also in connection with
that we have to recognize the absolute sovereignty of God. God is in the heavens, the psalm
says. He hath done whatsoever he pleased. God is sovereign. How that proud
Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar was brought to acknowledge that
truth. There in the book of Daniel in
chapter 4, his reason is taken from him. He's so full of pride
when he sees the riches of his empire. But God takes reason
from him and he begins to behave as a beast. God restores his
reason in time. And then what is that man brought
to acknowledge? all the inhabitants of the earth are as nothing before
him before God he doeth according to his will among the armies
of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth none can stay his
hand or say unto him what doest thou? all God's sovereignty and
how absolute it is and we see it we see it in this chapter
when this man This great enemy, this oppressor of the Jews is
so enraged against Mordecai, but it's nothing to destroy one
man, he wants to destroy all the people of Mordecai. He wants
to see the end of all the Jews. That's what we're told in verse
6. And then in verse 7, in the first month, the first month
of the year, Nysa, in the twelfth year of King Asuerus they cast
purr, that is the lot, before Haman from day to day and from
month to month to the twelfth month, that is the month Adar. Now, we're not to read that and
imagine what is happening that day after day through all the
days and months of the year they're casting the lots. They didn't
do it that way. the lots are all cast on that
particular day the first day of the month but then we see how the lot as
they cast it falls upon a particular day look at verse 12 it says the king scribes then
were the king scribes called on the 13th day of the first
month They had been casting the lots in
that first month as we see in verse 7. On the thirteenth day
of that first month the scribes are called and there is written
according to all that Hamer had commanded unto the king's lieutenants
and to the governors that were over every province And to the
rulers of every people of every province, according to the writing
thereof, and to every people after their language, in the
name of King Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the
king's ring. And what is it that is written?
Well, we're told what is contained in the letters. There's going to be a terrible
event, but it will not come until the end of the year. Look at
verse 13. The letters were sent by post
unto all the king's provinces to destroy, and to kill, and
to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little children
and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth
month. The thirteenth day of the twelfth
month, which is the month Adar. and to take the spoil of them
for a price. So they've been casting lots
at the beginning of the year. They cast the lots throughout
all the days, throughout all the months of the year, and the
lots had fallen on this particular day. Doubtless, this man Haman
thought that was going to be what he would consider a good
day, a lucky day. Or this was the day when he would
accomplish all that he desired against the Jews. Ah, but the
fictitious powers of chance and fortune we defy. Our life's minutest circumstance
is subject to his eye. It's no chance thing, you see,
that as I go through all the months, the lot actually falls
on the last month of the year. Doesn't that mean something to
the Jews? It means, of course, that they would have some time
now to prepare for all that is being planned throughout all
the ensuing months of the year. And in all of this we see the
sovereignty of God, even in the casting of lots. The lot is cast
into the lap, says the wise man, Proverbs 16.33, the lot is cast
into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. It was God who appointed, God
who ordained that the lot should fall on this particular day at
the end of the year. All God's sovereignty, how remarkable
it is. We know that even the devil himself
is no free agent. The devil is a creature and he
cannot act altogether independent of God. We see that so clearly
in the opening chapters of the book of Job. There in Job 1 at
verse 6 following and again at the beginning of the second chapter.
How the devil comes and appears before God, it says, amongst
the sons of God. Now, God cannot look upon iniquity. We're obviously to understand
that language, not in terms of the devil literally being in
the presence of God and receiving orders from God. It simply reminds
us of God's absolute sovereignty. He cannot touch Job in any sense
except God give him leave to do such a thing and yet God is
not the author of sin. Jude tells us of those angels
which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation.
God hath reserved, it says, God hath reserved in everlasting
chains on the darkness to the judgment of the great day. He's
no free agent. He's reserved in chains. God's
sovereignty. It's an absolute sovereignty. He rules over all things. And
we see his rule here even in the activity of this enemy and
this oppressor of the Jews when he casts the lot. The disposing
of the lot is under the mighty hand of God. And then, the third
thing I want to say concerning God's providence is
the mystery of providence, the perplexity of providence. The
city Shushan, so perplexed. But here, in this history, we
also have to recognize God's gracious performance. God is accomplishing his own
goodwill and pleasure in all of these things. How the matter becomes public
so quickly in that first year as we saw just now referring
to that 12th verse describes a call on the 13th day of the
first month, the whole business is is written according as Haman
commands them. And it's sent throughout the
kingdom, throughout the empire to all the king's lieutenants
and governors in every province. It's sealed with the king's ring.
And then we're told how the letters were sent by post. Verse 15,
the post went out being hastened by the king's commandment. And
the decree was given in Shushan, the palace. It's all done. It's
all settled. right at the beginning of the year. Oh, this is God's
gracious performance on behalf of His people. And how strange
it is, because what is it that is written? Well, we're told there in verse 13, to destroy,
to kill, and to cause to perish All Jews, both young and old,
little children and women, in one day, even upon the 13th day
of the 12th month, which is the month Adar. And as I said, it's
so public, everyone knows. And the Jews are not going to
be inactive. They had 11 months respite. Every
opportunity now to seek to overturn that decree. to seek their own
safety that they might yet be spared. And if you read the rest
of the book, chapters 4 right through to the end, what do we
have in all those chapters? We have the detail of all those
things that occurred during that period of nearly one year. That's
the history that follows this third chapter. But when when these things are
issued oh what perplexity the city Shushan was perplexed what
could be done? what could be done? you see we're not to be fatalistic
before the sovereignty of God we're not to be fatalistic if
we believe in the providence of God and I want to mention
As we begin to draw to a conclusion this morning, I want to mention
three aspects to the response that we see here. There's observation,
there's obedience, and there's action. And that surely is the lesson
that we should learn with regards to our attitude to the providence
of God. First of all, observation. We
should be those who are observing, always observing the ways of
the Lord. When we review our lives, do
we do that? When we come, maybe to the end
of the year. We don't have to wait till the
end of the year, maybe the end of a week, the end of a day.
We should be mostly those who are observing the ways of God. We say we believe in God, We
say, we talk out these verses, well I do. The way of man is
not in himself. It is not in man that walketh
to direct his steps. If God is directing our lives
and our every step, will he not be profitable to observe things
at the end of the day, to think over things? Remember the language
of the psalmist there, at the end of the 107th Psalm, who so
is wise and will observe these things? Even they shall understand
the loving kindness of the Lord. I'm sure we want to understand
the loving kindness of the Lord, those covenant mercies of God,
that sovereign grace of God. We want to have an understanding
in God's wondrous ways. But we have to be observant.
Oh yes, there's much that is strange. Thy way is in the sight,
says the psalmist. thy path in the deep waters thy
footsteps are not known. We can't always fathom what God
is doing. But that doesn't mean we're not
to be an observant people. If we really are believers, if
we're those who are living our lives under the eye of God, surely
we want to observe the ways of God and examine those ways of God in
the light of the words of God. Comparing, as Paul says, spiritual
things with spiritual. Comparing God's ways with God's
words, bringing God's word to bear upon our lives and the events
of before us. Observance is important. And
isn't that why this remarkable book is written? It is a book
of wonders. And we do well to observe what
is recorded here concerning the sovereign providence of God in
his dealings with Esther and with Mordecai and with the Jews.
And learn from that that God will so deal with us if we are
those who are the true Israel of God. Remember, he is not a
Jew which is one outwardly. Neither is that circumcision
which is outward in the flesh, but he is a Jew which is one
inwardly. And circumcision is that of the
heart, in the spirit, not in the letter. God dealt with his
ancient people. They were typical people, the
Jews. They were a type of the true Israel of God. And so we
can learn. These things are written for
our learning, says Paul, that we through patience or endurance,
that's the real significance of the word endurance and patience
of the scriptures might have hope there is to be an observance
then but then also there must be obedience now we know that God's providence
is secret to himself We have those words at the end of Deuteronomy
29, the secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those
things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever
that we may do all the words of this Lord it says. Interesting
verse there at the end of that 29th chapter. The secret things
belong to the Lord. What are the things that are
revealed? Well the things that are revealed are those that are
spoken of at the end of the verse that we may do all the words
of this law we're not to be partial in the word of God we're to consider
the the great precepts of God those gospel precepts, we have
gospel promises, yes we love the promises they're such a comfort
to us, such an encouragement to us But what are the precepts? Oh, let us not be partial. We
should desire to walk in the way of obedience. And we see
that, we see obedience here, in the way in which this man
Mordecai behaves at this time. Remember after these things,
we're told in the opening verse, King Ahasuerus promotes Haman, He's above all the princes. And
what happens in verse 2? All the king's servants that
were in the king's gate bowed and reverenced Haman, for the
king had so commanded concerning him. It was the king's command,
this man is to be reverenced. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did
him reverence. Now why? This is the obedience
of this man Mordecai. Why? Why was Mordecai ready to
take this action which was so dangerous he was going contrary
to the command of the king the king had commanded that Haman
was to be reverenced and the word that's used suggests worship
really treated like a god but of course Haman would never
do such a thing. He would refuse all idolatry.
He would refuse all idolatry. You see how Haman speaks against
Mordecai and the Jews in verse 8. He says, There is a certain people
scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces
of thy kingdom. Their laws are diverse from all
people, neither keep they the king's laws. or they're different
to everyone else, they don't have any regard for your traditions
and your ways, King Ahasuerus, they have their own laws it's
the same spirit that we see in the book of Daniel with regards
to the three Hebrew children Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
Remember how they are cast into the fiery furnace? And why was it? Because they
would not worship the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They
refused to worship that image. And much is said of them as he
said concerning Mordecai. There in Daniel 3, verse 12,
there are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of
the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, these
men, O king, have not regarded thee. They serve not thy gods,
nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." And
then in his rage Nebuchadnezzar commands them to be brought in
a cask into the fiery furnace. It's a wonderful chapter because
they're not consumed by the flames When the king looks into the
furnace, he says, I see four men loose walking in the midst
of the fire, they have no herd, and the form of the fourth is
like the Son of God. Oh, they're obedient. And where
there is obedience, there is the Son of God, there is the
Lord Jesus Christ. But it's not only the case with
those three, also with With Daniel later there in Daniel chapter
6, we have Daniel cast into the lion's den. And why so? Because he refuses to do what the other presidents
had persuaded the king, this time Darius, to decree. that all prayer was only to be
addressed to Darius and to no other God, to no other man. Look at what they say there in
Daniel 6. Verse 7, all the presidents of the kingdom, the governors
and the princes, the counselors and the captains have consulted
together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree
that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty
days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of
lions. Now O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing,
that he be not changed according to the law of the Medes and Persians,
which altereth not. Wherefore king Darius signed
the writing and the decree. Now when Daniel knew that the
writing was signed, he went into his house, And his windows being
opened in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his
knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks before his God
as he did aforetime. He will not be guilty of any
idolatry. He will still address his prayers
unto the Lord his God. And it's the same with Mordecai.
He will not reverence a man. He will not do the bidding of
a man. He will be obedient to the word, to the commandment
of God. But also there's this here. Haman was an Amalekite. Now, remember back in 1 Samuel
chapter 15 we're told how King Saul was disobedient. He spared
Agag an Amalekite when he was commanded
to slay the Amalekites. He spared him. He disobeyed the commandment
of God. But why did God command the destruction of those Amalekites? Well, back in Exodus. Exodus
17, 16, the Lord hath sworn that he will have war with Amalek
from generation to generation. And there was a reason. It was because of the way in
which they had treated the children of Israel as they came forth
out of Egypt. In Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 25, verse 17, remember what Amalek
did unto thee by the way when you would come forth out of Egypt?
how He met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even
of all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and
weary, and he feared not God. Therefore it shall be, when the
Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round
about, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, for
an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the
remembrance of Amalek from under heaven, thou shalt not forget
it. and Mordecai didn't forget it
he remembered the Word of God his concern then is to be obedient
to the Word of God no matter what the cost Mordecai bowed
not nor did Haman reverence nor there's to be observation of
God's providences but what is all our watching of these things observing the hand of God if
we are not obedient to the mouth of God God has spoken and God
has spoken in His words and we must seek to live our lives in
accordance with God's commandments and all those blessed precepts
of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and then finally this
morning there must be action all God is active here the gracious
performance of God we have in all these events. And thou, God's
people, also art to be active. Look at what Mordecai says to
Esther. The end of chapter 4, verse 13.
Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself
that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the
Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time,
Then shall their enlargement and deliverance arise to the
Jews from another place. But thou and thy father's house
shall be destroyed. And who knoweth whether thou
art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? What he wants
her to do is to go and plead the cause of the Jews before
the king. That's his answer to her. She must go and sue the king
on behalf of the Jews. Who knoweth whether thou art
come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return
Mordecai this answer, 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, and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according
to the law, and if I perish, I perish. This is the man, you
see, It's a whim really to put away his wife Ashton. He could
just as likely put away Esther. If she does that which is not
according to the law, but she says if I perish, I perish. All these people are not inactive.
And we see how Esther does the very thing that Mordecai had
commanded her to do and she had agreed to do. There in chapter
8, verse 3, Esther spake yet again
before the king and fell down at his feet and besought him
with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite and his
device that he had devised against the Jews. Then the King held
out the golden scepter toward Esther. Oh, that was the sign,
you see, the holding forth of the scepter. She was accepted,
her plea was accepted. So Esther arose and stood before
the King. But it's our privilege, of course,
to come with our prayers before Him who is the King of kings
and the Lord of lords. And how He holds before us our
blessed scepter that symbol of His authority. He is the one who has all authority,
the Lord Jesus. All power, all authority in heaven
and in earth. And we can come and we can pray
to Him and we can plead with Him. And surely that's what God's
providences should move us to. Oh the Lord, help us then that
we might understand something of these things. Oh the strange,
mysterious, wondrous ways of God. The city Shushan was perplexed. But God was accomplishing His
own eternal purpose. May the Lord be pleased to bless
His word to us. Let us conclude our worship this morning
by singing from the Metrical Psalm, it would have been our
second praise, Psalm 107. We refer to the final verse of
this Psalm just now. We'll sing from the opening verses
and the closing verses of Psalm 107. Praise ye the Lord for he
is good, his mercies lasting good, that he is redeemed redeemed
say so whom he from hand of foes did free. We'll sing the verses
1 and 2 and then from verse 40 through to the end. Psalm 107
verses 1 and 2 and then from verse 40. Praise ye the Lord for His good,
His mercies lasting, Let His redeeming soul Amid the
foes be free. Unprincess, heed the poor content,
And causeth them to stray. in a wilderness wherein there
is no way. Yet settled in a poor and even like unto a flock in
naked animist. They that are righteous shall rejoice
when they The soul is wise and will these
things observe, in they shall understand the
love and kindness of the Lord. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you
all. Amen.