from the Book of Esther and Chapter
8. The Book of Esther and Chapter
8 and reading into Chapter 9. This morning we read Chapters
3 and part of Chapter 4 and in the intervening chapters we have
Esther coming in to King Ahasuerus, seeking for him that he'd come
to a banquet with her and Haman, him coming to the first banquet,
then she requesting him to come to a second banquet. And in the
meantime, then we have Haman coming to the king to seek that
he would hang Morikei. but that gets overthrown and
instead Mordecai gets honored. And then in chapter 7 we have
Esther coming and speaking on the second banquet to the king
and telling him that it was Haman that was behind this wicked plot
to kill all the Jews and Haman ends up being hanged at the end
of chapter 7. So this is chapter eight of Esther. And we're really going to read
this chapter looking at the second writing that was written, which
was such a blessing to the Jews and reverses that first edict
that we read about this morning. Chapter 8 of Esther. On that
day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman, the Jew's
enemy, to Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the
king, for Esther had told what he was unto her. That's the fact
that he was her cousin. 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. And 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 sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood
before the king, and said, If it please the king, and if I
have found favour in his sight, and the things seem right before
the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to
reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hamadathan
the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in
all the king's provinces. For how can I endure to see the
evil that shall come unto my people? Or how can I endure to
see the destruction of my kindred? Then the king Ahasuerus said
unto Esther the queen, and to Mordecai the Jew, behold, I have
given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon
the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. 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. Then were the king's scribes
called at that time, in the third month, that is the month Sivan,
remember the first decree was written in the first month, so
this is two months later. On the three and twentieth day
thereof, and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded
unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and to the deputies, and to the
rulers of the provinces, which are from India unto Ethiopia,
and hundred and twenty and seven provinces, unto every province
according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their
language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according
to their language. And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus'
name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters
by post on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries,
wherein the king granted the Jews, which were in every city,
to gather themselves together and to stand for their life,
to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish all the people, the
power of the people and province that would assault them, both
little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a
prey, upon one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus,
namely upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is
the month Adar. The copy of the writing for a
commandment to be given in every province was published unto all
people, and that the Jews should be ready against the day to avenge
themselves on their enemies. So the posts that rode upon mules
and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's
commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan
the palace, 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. The Jews had light
and gladness and joy and honor and in every province And in
every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree
came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many
of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews
fell upon them." Chapter nine. Now, in the twelfth month, that
is, the month Adar on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's
commandment and his decree drew near to be put into execution,
in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power
over them, although it was turned to the contrary that the Jews
had rule over them that hated them, the Jews gathered themselves
together to their cities, throughout all the provinces of the king
Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt, and no
man could withstand them, for the fear of them fell upon all
people. And all the rulers of the provinces
and the lieutenants and the deputies and the officers of the king
helped the Jews because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them, 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. I'll leave the reading of God's
word there. May the Lord help us now to draw
near to him in prayer, let us pray. Kind and gracious and eternal
Lord God, we thank Thee, Lord, for bringing us around Thy word
this evening, and we do pray for Thy blessing and Thy help
as we, Lord, are together this evening. Lord, we need Thee to
draw nigh and to go with us. We need Thy Holy Spirit, Lord,
to take of the things of Jesus and to reveal them unto us. Lord,
we need the application of the truths of the Gospel to bless
us this day, that we may truly know what it is that, as the
hymn writer puts it, for we have reason to rejoice. Lord, there is a reason. And
we pray, Lord Jesus, in our lives that we may rejoice in the Lord
always. And again I say rejoice, that
we may be thankful that we have such a great and an almighty
and a powerful King, a King that ruleth the ragings of the sea,
a King that is a glorious King. Lord, we thank Thee, then, for
Thy greatness, and we thank Thee for the Gospel of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, and for all the plan of salvation, and
for all that there has left on record in Thy Word that we may
read and be instructed in the things
of God. We pray, Lord, for each that
have gathered this evening in their various pathways, We pray
for those, Lord, that are not well enough to be here. We think
of Audrey. Lord, as she's not so well this
evening, Lord, we pray thy blessing on her, Lord. And Lord, do give
her that help. And if it is thy will that she
may be able to once again be able to regularly meet with us,
Lord, in thy house, that it may be to her a place of feeding
and a place of real nourishment. We pray, Lord, for those that
have in bereavement, we think of the Stephens, Lord, in the
loss of Esther's mother, Lord, and we pray for journeying mercies
as, Lord, for those that need to travel tomorrow, Lord, to
the funeral, we do pray, watch over them and keep them and go
before them. And Lord, may these things be,
Lord, sanctified to the spiritual good of each, for Lord, We all
are fast hastening to a never-ending eternity. We cannot keep, Lord,
what we have here below. It is passing away. Our lives
are passing away. Lord, whatever inheritance we
have is, in earthly terms, is passing away. Lord, we look to
one who is able to give us eternal life. Lord, help us then to value
the things of God. We live in a world which puts
a very high value on the fleeting things of time. Lord, and it
was so from the beginning of time really that man gloried
in the things of this world and the things of God were set at
naught. And Lord, we pray then, Lord
today, we may know thy blessing and guidance, Lord, in our lives,
that we may not be left to go the way of the world, but that
we may be given grace to seek first the kingdom of our God. Lord, we pray then thy blessing
and thy help, restoring mercies to those amongst us that are
poorly. Do grant restoring mercies and strength sufficient for the
day, and Lord, help them and each one to cope with their daily
lot, Lord, that they may be given strength to look to Thee and
to be saved, and Lord, to truly realise that there is a God in
heaven. Lord, we pray for Thy blessing
then in all our pathways, we pray for our pastor this evening,
Lord, we thank Thee that he has been willing to preach at Attleborough
today, and Lord, so that we could be at home, Lord. We do pray
thy blessing upon these things, Lord. Thou art in control of
everything. Lord, our times are in thy hand. Lord, may it prove that, Lord,
there was a purpose, Lord, at Attleborough and at Redhill.
Lord, we pray for thy blessing then to rest upon the labours
of this day, the labours of all thy dear servants. We pray for
James at Wibblesfield, Do help him as he seeks to preach the
unsearchable riches of Christ there. And Lord, that there may
be much fruit. Herein is my Father glorified,
that ye bear much fruit. We pray for those at home with
their children, Lord, looking after their little ones. Do be
with them and bless them. And Lord, do encourage them in
their pathway, that they may feel thy presence and help amongst
them in their pathway. We do pray thy blessing then
on each, and Lord, do crown thy gospel here, we pray, with success. Lord, keep us from evil that
it may not grieve us. Leave us not to ourselves. Lord,
we confess that we are sinners. We come short of the glory of
God, but Lord, do Bless us with thy presence and thy grace, that
we may know what it is to be sinners saved by grace. Do be with those away from us,
Lord, on holiday. Be with them where they are.
And Lord, we pray for thy blessing on them. And Lord, bring them
back in due time in peace and in safety. And Lord, those that
gather with us from time to time, We thank Thee that we do have
people come and gather with us, Lord, from, Lord, outside our
normal group of people. We do pray for them, that they
may truly find it to be a house of bread, a time when their souls
are fed. Lord, we think also of the ministry,
Lord, that goes forth over sermon audio, Lord, as the sermons preached
here are put onto the internet, and Lord, We understand that
in the last month, there was something like 500 downloads.
Lord, we do pray that, Lord, that there may be blessing attending
the word heard in this way. Lord, we do not know what will
prosper, this or that, but Lord, we do pray that thy gospel may
be precious, and Lord, In a sense, it matters not that we know not
the people who benefit from the sermons, but Lord, it will be
for the good of Zion, the good of thy church. And Lord, we pray
that we may be amongst those who love Zion, love the building
up of the church, though we do not know the individuals Yet
we're thankful we know some of the individuals. And Lord, we
pray that thou wouldst truly yet, Lord, bring in many people,
Lord, from all over the world to truly rejoice in something
that is worthy to be rejoiced in. something that when they
pass from time into eternity, they will not have to say goodbye
to, but that they will be able to embrace and to lean upon and
to truly find a very present help in all their times of need. Lord, do then bless us, we pray
then, and we think of the various ministries, we think of the Lord,
those connections that we have in Ghana, Lord, we pray for those,
watch over them and keep them, Lord, and bless them in all their
labours, and Lord, the savannah and all the great work that goes
on there, Lord, we do pray. Thy blessing upon that work,
that it may truly, Lord, continue to prosper. And Lord, that there
may yet be, Lord, those signs following. Lord, that there may
be those who will come and declare how the Lord has blessed the
teaching and the preaching, Lord, to the salvation of their souls. And Lord, we pray for our churches
here, Lord, we know the churches that we are connected with and
love, we do pray thy blessing on them, but all thy people,
Lord, we pray that they may prosper, and that there may be a building
up of thy church rather than a breaking down, and that there
may be godly standards, and that there may be thy word as a lamp
unto our feet and a light unto our path. Help us then in our
lives, Lord, to see Christ as precious and to truly, Lord,
dwell upon those things which have substance. And guide the
children and young people, Lord, in all the many decisions that
they need to make in their lives. Lord, we pray that thou wouldst
graciously provide for them suitable education, suitable places of
employment, Lord. And Lord, do grant them also,
Lord. Lord, husbands and wives, after
thine own heart. Lord, those which will be a true
help meet to them. And Lord, those which will encourage
them. in serving the Lord, those which
will be, they can form a bond, which is a threefold bond, which
cannot easily be broken between the husband, the wife, and the
Lord Jesus Christ, that threefold bond and cord. Lord, please,
Lord, bind them together and we pray in this day, Lord, when
marriage is so despised for the most part and, Lord, many do
not see the point of it, we do pray that we may realise, Lord,
this God-given institution and that we may, Lord, truly realise
the preciousness of it and the rightness of it and that we may
be kept, Lord, from the immorality which is so prevalent in our
day. We pray, Lord, for each one. Lord, for those of us that
are married, we pray, Lord, that thou wouldest keep us and enable
us, Lord, to love our wives and our husbands respectively, and,
Lord, to work together and to walk together. and to truly love
one another and to truly, Lord, be though that faint reflection
of that love of Christ to his church and that true love of
the church to Christ. Lord, we pray to be kept from
immorality, kept from flirting with others and, Lord, flirting
with the world and all that it calls good or great. Keep us,
Lord, truly dedicated and keep us, Lord, close to Thee. Lord, do be with then our young
people, provide for them in this way, Lord, Lord, we look to Thee. Lord, it is a great thing in
their lives to know what they must do. Give them guidance and
give them help and provide for them, we pray, and bless them
together. And Lord, that they may prove
to be a blessing, Lord, to the churches as they have that true
building block, that family block, Lord, which has been such a blessing
down the generations. But Lord, help us each then.
keep us from evil, how Satan would take all these beautiful
institutions and would debaunch them and ruin them and trivialize
them and cheapen them. Lord, we pray that we may truly
be amongst those who, Lord, hearken to thy word, realize thy word
is a lamp unto our feet, that righteousness exalteth a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people, Lord, please help us
to realise these truths and to walk in them. Please be with
us, then, and bless us as a church and people meeting here. Please
help us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and help us to walk humbly before
Thee. Forgive us, we pray, of our many sins. Help us each,
Lord, and we thank Thee for Thy many mercies. For Christ's sake,
amen. God willing, we hold the following
meetings this week. On Tuesday, our pastor is expected
to preach the service commencing at 7.15, and we meet here for
prayer on Friday, also commencing at 7.15. Next Lord's Day, there
will be a Sunday school at 9.30, and our pastor will preach at
11 a.m. and 6 p.m. We give thanks for
the money collected during last week, which was £45 for chapel
expenses, and £41 for the poor in Ghana. Our second hymn tonight is 509
and the tune is 132. Come, come my soul with boldness
come unto the throne of grace. There Jesus sits to answer prayer. and shows a smiling face. He
knows we have no strength at all. He knows our foes are strong. But though 10,000 foes engage,
the weakest shan't go wrong." Hymn number 509. ♪ And his spirit in the ground
agrair ♪ ♪ And his spirit in the ground agrair ♪ ♪ And his
spirit in the ground agrair ♪ ♪ And his spirit in the ground agrair
♪ ♪ And his spirit in the ground agrair ♪ ♪ And his spirit in
the ground agrair ♪ ♪ And his spirit in the ground agrair ♪
♪ And his spirit in the ground agrair ♪ ♪ And his spirit in
the ground agrair ♪ ♪ With heart and love ♪ ♪ And person in purpose
♪ ♪ Person in purpose ♪ ♪ Person in purpose ♪ ♪ Person in purpose
♪ ♪ Person in purpose ♪ ♪ Person in purpose ♪ ♪ Person in purpose
♪ ♪ Person in purpose ♪ ♪ Person in purpose ♪ ♪ Person in purpose
♪ ♪ Person in purpose ♪ ♪ Person in purpose ♪ ♪ Person in purpose
♪ ♪ Person in purpose ♪ ♪ Person in purpose ♪ ♪ Person in purpose
♪ ♪ Person in purpose ♪ ♪ Person in purpose ♪ ♪ Person in purpose
♪ � Praise God's heaven for being
our star. God's plan is great, it's great. ♪ When I just wish upon a cloud
♪ ♪ That day might come some other
day ♪ ♪ The day of hope shall quickly
come ♪ ♪ And when all men have gone ♪ ♪ And in sight ever one more see ♪ ♪ With those of all the world ♪
♪ The ocean and the surf and the water ♪ ♪ The earth and the
birds ♪ ♪ The soul of the living God ♪
♪ The presence of great man ♪ ♪
A song to honor him ♪ So Lord, may you graciously help
me, I would turn your prayerful attention to the text that we
have before us this morning in Esther chapter 9 and reading
verse 1. Esther chapter 9, and reading
verse 1 as a text, although I do want to carry on, going through
this account of the great deliverance that God gave to the Jews, as
shown in the book of Esther. Esther chapter 9 and verse 1.
Now in the twelfth month, that is the month Adar, on the thirteenth
day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew
near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of
the Jews hoped to have power over them, though it was turned
to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them, that hated
them. So we have in this text the reversal
that God brought about of that terrible decree that was hatched
by Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to remove the Jews from the kingdom
of Ahasuerus in the 127 provinces that that entailed. And we spoke
this morning of how the cause, that the underlying reason why
this all came apart to pass was the fact that Morikaei would
not bow down and in a worshipful way to Haman. He would only serve
the living God. He would not serve and he would
not honor in a worshipful way this man Haman. And as a result
of that and the result that it was to do with his faith that
he would not bow down, Haman considered that what he needed
to do was to remove all the Jews from the whole kingdom. He thought
it was not sufficient to just leash his vengeance on Haman,
but that he would wipe out the entire company of the Jews. And therefore, the edict was
sent out by Haman, who was second in command to the king very close
to the king, a very great authority. He sent these letters throughout
all the kingdom, saying that on a certain day, this 12th,
in the 12th month, the 13th day of the month, that the Jews,
that the enemies of the Jews could kill the Jews and take
all their substance. Well, obviously, Mordecai was
very concerned about this and very sad and we read how he was
in sackcloth and ashes outside the king's gate and then we had
the Esther getting involved sending him clothes him refusing them
and saying basically that she needed to go and visit the king
and which she did and we have that account given that she went in to visit
the king and asked that he would come to a banquet with herself,
himself, and Haman. And that's where we really got
to this first time that they had the banquet. Mordecai then
comes, sorry, Haman then comes back from the banquet, sees Mordecai
not bowing down to him, this is in chapter five, and he then
goes and requests at his wife's initiation that he talk to the
king about putting Mordecai to death immediately, not waiting
until the end of the year. And then in chapter 6 we have
the fact that on that particular night the king couldn't sleep. It was told him that Mordecai
had saved his life when two people were plotting to kill him and
therefore we see here how God used such little details as well
in the lives of these people. to bring about his purposes.
God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform. And in chapter 6 we have the
beginning really of the reversal of things going against Haman.
Up till this point Haman had seemed to prosper in his plan
to ruin the Jews. Everything seemed to be going
his way. He seemed to be prospering. But in chapter 6 we have the
first inclination that things were not going as he wished.
They were not going as he had determined. He comes to speak
to the king. but the king speaks first and
asks what should be done to the man that the king delighted to
honor. So here we have God working and
the point that I want to get across is how that God was orchestrating
all these things for the good of his people. Had not these things taken place,
Mordecai would have been killed. He didn't even know that this
was going on, no doubt. But Mordecai would have been
hanged on those gallows that Haman had prepared. But God orchestrated
it. God, you see, we don't know who's
plotting against us. We don't know what goes on in
the high places, what they're plotting and what they're planning
and what they're desiring to bring to pass to be a real problem
to Christians in England. We don't know always what they're
plotting and planning. But God does. And God is able,
you see, to overrule these things and able to protect his people
in the most dangerous situations by seemingly random things, just
a king not being able to sleep. demanding record books to be
read to him. And the person who reads the
record books just happens to read the record that Mordecai
had saved the king's life. The king asks, has anything been
done to reward this man? And finds out that nothing was
ever done. So the king immediately decides
that that is what needs fixing. Mordecai needs to be shown appreciation
for what he's done in saving the king's life. And that very
moment of time, Haman was coming to meet the king to gain from
the king authority to put Mordecai to death. You see, these two
things, two opposites, how God moves in a mysterious way. And he was doing this, you see,
to turn to the contrary this evil decree. This decree of death
and destruction for the Jews. And you see, we have a great
God. We have a God that is working
all things after the counsel of his own will. to bring to
pass and has brought to pass this way of salvation for his
people. And he does it for their good
and for their blessing. Well, so we have then in chapter
six these words that pass between Haman and the king. Haman being
asked what should be done to the man that the king delighteth
to honour and he reeled out a lot of things that he would like
to happen to himself because he thinks that it is himself
that's going to be honoured in this way. To be taken on horseback
round the city and to be paraded and to be said with the royal
robes on and said this should be done to the man that the king
delighteth to honour. He's then told, without any further
questioning, go and do this to Mordecai the Jew. So Haman's
plan of coming to speak to the king and to put Mordecai to death
was completely reversed. And this man's pride was so humbled,
was so brought to nothing. And you see, wherein they dealt
so proudly, God was above them. and God overruled for the blessing
of Morikawa. So this happened, this honor
was given to Morikawa. He went back then and Haman then
goes to his wife, back to his wife, and then he's taken to
the second banquet of Esther and the king, and that's chapter
7. So the king then asks again, 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. Then
Esther the queen answered and said, if I have found favour
in thy sight, this is Esther 7 verse 3, O king, and if it
please the king, let my life be given me at my petition and
my people at my request. I'm sure the King Ahasuerus thought
that she would ask for something great and grand. She asks for
her life. She asks for the life of her
people. She intercedes with the King
for the good of her people. What a blessing it is to have
an intercessor, one who can plead on our behalf. One who takes
our cause as their own and seeks and pleads and desires the good
of her people. Well, a picture of how we have
in heaven, you see, one who does plead for us, who does come with
our cause, who is concerned and in so doing as we mentioned this
morning, she first of all fasted with her and her maidens and
asked Mordecai to do the same so that she would be preserved. But at
this time she comes to the king and gives this request. And it
was a great danger that she put her life to on behalf of this. We think of the Lord Jesus, how
he laid down his life, a ransom for many. He laid down his life
as he sought their welfare. Esther nearly lost her life but
didn't. The Lord Jesus did indeed lay down his life and lost it,
but gained it again, took it again, as he stood in the place of his church,
his undeserving church, his rebellious church. 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'd held my tongue, although
the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. It would have
been a terrible damage. Then the king Ahasuerus answered
and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he and where is he that
dares presume in his heart so to do? And Esther said, the adversary
and enemy is this wicked Haman. And Haman was afraid before the
king and the queen. And then we have this, the king
was so angry with Haman, he went out into the garden and then
Haman was pleading for his life to Esther. And the king comes
in, thought that he was trying to hurt Esther. Haman is consigned
to the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. And so ends the
chapter seven. And then we have that which we
read in chapter eight. So the putting away, you see,
of Haman, the death of Haman, this one who had devised this
plan of hatred and cruelty to the Jews, that had been dealt
with by the end of chapter seven but you see the problem was that
there was still this law the law was still in place that at
the end of the year in the twelfth month on the thirteenth day of
the month that all the Jews had been given authority to be killed
at that day on that day so the work was not finished by the
end of chapter seven The work still needed to go on. And then
we see, you see, on that day, in chapter 8 verse 3, And Esther
spake yet again before the king, and fell 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. So there was still work to be
done. There was still a reversal to
be made of that great edict which was against the Jews. And as we think of these things,
we realize that you see there is this first edict this first
edict that the law, as loud as thunder cries, the soul that
sins against me dies. And all the, those that hear
that edict, it is, when they hear it and believe it, there
is sadness, there is sorrow, there is consternation. And yet,
as there was this second edict that is being written, as being
formed, Mordecai was behind it, seeking that there will be a
reversal that the Jews would be able to be given authority
to defend themselves when their enemies came rushing against
them to destroy them and to make them perish. They were given
the authority to be able to defend themselves and to be able to
attack those back which had been attacking them. But I believe
the first move came from their enemies. Their enemies were attacking
them and therefore they shot back as it were. But there was
this second edict given so that there would be a way of escape. And this is so, so vital, isn't
it? When there is this, the sad news,
the day destined of destruction, that there is a reversal, there
is that which can change. And in verse 11 of chapter 8,
we really have a summary of this, wherein the king granted the
Jews, which were in every city, to gather themselves together
and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause
to perish all the power of the people and province that would
assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil
of them for prey. So they were given this ability
to be able to defend themselves and we read later that the officials
helped them too. And then you see this copy of
the letter in verse 13, the copy of the writing for a command
to be given to every province was published unto all people
and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves
on their enemies. And we have these words, and
Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel
of blue and white and a great crown of gold and with a garment
of fine linen and purple and the city of Shushan rejoiced
and was glad. So we had before that Shushan
was perplexed. They heard this terrible news.
that the Jews would be destroyed on this certain day, the twelfth
month, the thirteenth day. But now there was rejoicing that
it would be a day of overcoming the enemies. A day when instead
of falling under the enemies, it would be a day of vanquishing. And here you see how God is able
to reverse those things which are against Him. He is able to
turn the wickedness of Haman and all the powers that are against
the church and cause him to come to nothing so that his people
should rejoice in him and the Jews had light and gladness and
joy and honor and in every province and in every city whithersoever
the king's commandment and his decree came, this is chapter
8 verse 17 the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good
day And many of the people of the land became Jews, for the
fear of the Jews fell upon them." So there was this great rejoicing
at the news. They hadn't yet overcome their
enemy, but there was this prospect, there was this edict, there was
this letter that told them that there would be this opportunity
of overcoming the enemies rather than being overcome by the enemies. it was, there was great rejoicing.
And you see, we have that when the Lord Jesus had risen from
the dead, he gave that commission, go ye into all the world and
preach the gospel. The whole purpose of Christ coming
to this earth, working out a salvation for his church, taking on the
sin of the church, he was made sin for us, and bearing that
sin away, rising again from the dead, showing the acceptance
with his father, and that the debt had been paid, the whole
purpose of it all was so that there would be a message of hope,
a message of salvation to give to all the world. so that there
would be a preaching of the gospel. Yes, there's still the edict,
still the letter of destruction, there is still the word that
we are sinners and as in Adam all die, that there is none righteous,
no not one, there is a As the Apostle Paul describes it, we
all have the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should
not trust in ourselves. There is this law that still
stands, just like this first law of Ahasuerus. It was not
changed. And yet, there was another law
and there is in the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
a message of hope a message of mercy a message of forgiveness
to come unto me and be saved or look unto me and be saved
or the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else
and we see in this Old Testament account we see hints of these
glorious gospel that the Lord was to bring in and how he was
orchestrating all these things for the glory of God and for
the blessing of his people. And we started to read then in
chapter 9 of the execution, the day that this actually happened,
this 12th month, the thirteenth day of the month, we read what
really happened. That these things did come to
pass. There was these gathering together of those who were enemies
of the Jews. They did come and seek to destroy
the Jews and yet the Jews were given power and authority and
the fear of the Jews came on the people so that they overcame
the others. We read in Shushan the palace
the Jews slew and destroyed 500 men and then over the whole kingdom,
the 127 provinces, we read in verse 12 of chapter 9 and the king said unto Esther
the queen the Jews have slain and destroyed five five hundred
men in Shushan the palace and then it goes on sorry it's verse
sixteen but the other Jews that were in the king's province gathered
themselves together and stood for their lives and had rest
from their enemies and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand
but they laid not their hands on the prey. So they did not
use this as a way of getting wealth to themselves. They did
not use this as a way of, it seemed as though the edict allowed
them to do it, they did not plunder the goods. They just stood, they
just were able to overcome their enemies so that they were no
longer attacked by them and hated by
them because they were gone. So these things came to pass. There was a real battle. There
was a real verdict. There was this second edict that
there would be hope. And you see, then there was to be set up that
which is remembered by the Jews today, the Feast of Purim, which
I think happens around the time of March of the year, of our
year, calendar year, where they celebrate the fact that This
happened that God raised up Mordecai and caused him and communicating
with Esther to overcome what was the evil counsel of Haman
that he sought to destroy the Jews. So in Esther 9 verse 22,
and as the days were in the Jews rested from their enemies, and
the month which turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from
mourning into a good day." And it was then appointed that they
should remember this deliverance year by year, so that every year
on the twelfth month, their twelfth month, and the thirteenth, and
then also the fourteenth day of the month, they should remember
the deliverance that God had given them. This was a great
deliverance that God wrought in the days of Esther. But then if I move on to chapter
10 and just think on verse three for a short time, this gives
a picture of the greatness and the exaltation of Mordecai. Esther chapter 10 verse 3, for
Mordecai the Jew was next unto King Ahasuerus and great among
the Jews. So he was given this very high
position. It's amazing when you think of
the Bible, we read of a number of godly people in the Old Testament
that rose to to very high positions of power. We think of Joseph
that this was true of. He became second in the land
of Egypt that was such a great power in his day. He became second
ruler. We think of Daniel who became
in such a high position in the days of Artaxerxes and other of the kings,
Darius and so on. And we have here the fact that
Esther, who was a godly Jewish girl, and also Mordecai, they
were put in these positions of authority and blessing. And yet, they didn't start there. And I think it's important to
understand this. There was such a humility associated
with the beginnings of Mordecai and Esther. They came from very
humble beginnings. got to a stage, particularly
with Mordecai, as I tried to sketch this morning, and particularly
a position of great difficulty and consternation when there
was that sackcloth and ashes. They were at their wits' end,
no doubt. They were overcome and it seemed
that all their standing for the truth had come to naught and
indeed had caused there to be a greater anger against the very
people that they sought to be a blessing to. It seemed that
it would have been better for them if they had just towed the
line and kept on doing what the heathen world around them was
calling them to jump to. And this is, I believe, something
very important for us today. We're in a world that is causing
us to jump to its tune. It wants us to hold its values. It wants us to hold its ideas
of good and great. It wants us to have its views
of what is good and what is evil. It wants us to have its views
about where true happiness lies. But Mordecai remained unmoved
by Haman, this great man, who everybody respected, who everybody
bowed down to because the king said so. They all bowed down
to him. They all worshipped him. They
all thought he was to be worshipped. He was but a man. He was a sinful
man. He was a man that was soon going
to perish. And yet, he was so exhorted before
the people. But Mordecai stood firm. He believed what God had said.
And he did that in his life. He worked it out in his life.
And at the end, you see, we have for Mordecai, the Jew, was next
unto King Ahasuerus. So God highly exhorted Mordecai. And great among the Jews, he
was respected among his own people. I mentioned this morning, if
they'd have realized that all this edict was something linked
with Mordecai, and the fact that he had not been willing to bow
down. I wonder how many people of the Jews would have perhaps
even hated the name of Mordecai, perhaps thought that he had really
overstepped the mark. But here we have accepted of
the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people
and speaking peace to all his seed. when Mordecai was a man. And no doubt he had his sins,
we do not really particularly read of them, but no doubt he
was one that had his sins and he had his shortcomings. And
yet, in this picture that we have in the book of Esther, we
see how God used this man and put him into a high position.
And if you think of all the Jews that were scattered throughout
those provinces, they would be able to think that the person
next to the king is a Jew that loves us and is concerned for
our cause, who's pleading for us, who's seeking our welfare,
who is speaking peace to our seed. What a comfort that would
have been, to know that the queen was a Jew, to know that the man
who was second in charge was Mordecai, who had a real heart
for them, a real heart for their God. What a comfort that must
have been to the Jews at that time. What a lovely ending we
have to this book of Esther. But surely, do these things not
point also to one who is greater? Just as Joseph pointed to the
greater than Joseph, even the Lord Jesus Christ, who truly
satisfied the famine, truly provided food for those that were famished,
and that the Lord Jesus is a spiritual savior of his people, to save
them from all their sins and uncleannesses. So we think of
Mordecai, this man that was so humbled, and yet, by God so exhorted
and used and such a blessing to the people of God we think then of one who was
to follow him we think in Philippians chapter
two Philippians chapter 2, let this mind, it's verse 5, let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being
in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God, but made himself of no reputation. This is the Lord Jesus. He made
himself of no reputation, took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men. He who was the praise
of heaven, he took on him human flesh. He became flesh of our
flesh and bone of our bone. He became one of us that he could
stand in our place. He could be a substitute for
his church. He took upon him this human nature
to his divine nature. in verse 8, and being found in
fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. Mordecai was obedient, really
in some ways unto death, in the sense that it seemed that there
would be the death sentence on his obedience and his faithfulness
for obeying what God had said, that thou shalt not bow down
to idols. He was faithful in many ways. But the Lord Jesus, he humbled
himself and became obedient unto death, even the death. of the cross. This is the lowliness
and the humility that Christ took on. This is the one that
was so great and yet became so despised, so rejected, so cast
out of the sight and of the admiration of the people of this world. obedient unto death, even the
death of the cross. And in verse 9 of Philippians
2, wherefore God also hath highly exalted him. Mordecai was exalted
to be second over these 127 provinces, a great authority and great power. But that is nothing compared
to what Christ has been exalted to. He is exalted over everything. Every creature is under Him.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a
name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth,
and things under the earth. His dominion is an everlasting
dominion. He has all things under His control. This is the one that was truly
humbled, made himself of no reputation, willing to take that place for the good of his people. We
see that in Mordecai. We see that the good of Israel
was very much at the center of his heart, seeking the wealth
of his people. Often kings, you see, they seek
their own wealth by taxing their people. But I don't believe Mordecai
was doing that. He was seeking in his position
of authority to use his authority which would be for the blessing
of those people under him. The blessing of his subjects. He was not going to squeeze his
subjects and extract as much out of them as he could. He was
going to use his position of authority next to the king. for
their good and for their blessing, for their advancement. And you
see, this is true of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. His subjects love Him. His subjects are not there for
Him to get as much out of them as He can. They have this loving
relationship with Him. They love Him, they see Him as
their substitute, their representative. He pleads their cause in heaven
above. You see, the Jews had one in
the highest court to plead on their behalf, to cause the king
to do those things which would be good for them. But you see, we have our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ who pleads he ever liveth to make intercession
for his people. He has this, he was so despised
and rejected, but now he is so honoured. You see, it's the honour
that comes from God. And may we seek that in our lives,
an honour that comes from God, not the honour that comes from
this world. You see, the honour that comes from this world was
like the honour that Haman had. It was here today, and it was
gone tomorrow. There was no substantial lasting
honour associated with Haman, although he was greatly honoured
in his day. And that must be true of all
the people that are honoured here below, that are not truly
honoured of God. Their fame is but fleeting. But
you see, those who honour me, I will honour.
That's what God has said, and God honoured Mordecai. And he
was honoured, and we read and all the acts in verse 2 of chapter
10 and all the acts of his power and of his might and the declaration
of the greatness of Mordecai where unto the king advanced
him are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the
kings of Media and Persia there was a memory of these things
written down for Mordecai the Jew was next unto the king and
great among the Jews He was not ruling over them and they hated
him for it. He was great among them and accepted
of the multitude of his brethren and seeking the wealth of his
people and speaking peace to all his seed. And this is what
the Lord Jesus does for his seed. He speaks, he seeks and speaking
peace to all his seed. You see, his church, there is
peace because he is in control. He has overcome that deadly enemy. He's fought the fight. He's won
the battle. This great contest that took
place at Calvary. Christ was victorious and therefore
all his church are victorious through his victory. And so now
he is exhorted and put in a position so that they can share in that
conquest. that he has gained. So in this book of Esther we
see pictures of the power of God working in the everyday things
of life to bring about his purposes, putting people in positions whereby
they would be able to do what they needed to do at the time
appointed. and touch in the heart of the
king, making him willing in the day of his power, causing Esther
to have that courage to go into the king, to truly put her life
on the line and not be, not back out of it, but plead on behalf
of her people. We see many beautiful pictures
of what we should do. We should be a people who are
seeking for mercy. People that are seeking that
God would have mercy upon us, that we would be amongst those
that rejoice in this second edict, this fact that there is mercy,
the fact that there is a way of escape. There is in the gospel
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ a way of escape, thereby
sinners, lost and ruined, can come and find fellowship, come
and find forgiveness. come and know that God is their
God, this one who was a formidable, a foe to them in the sense that
they were enemies to God, yet he has made a way, he has found
a way, he has sent into this world his only begotten son so
that there would be a way whereby sinners could come to know him,
not just as their judge, but as their friend and as their
saviour. Well, may we be amongst those
like Mordecai that prize what God says above what man says.
That we may seek to do what's right in God's sight and leave
the consequences with God and prove that God is faithful and
God is able to deliver the righteous. He's able to overcome the greatest
powers for the blessing of his people. And may we be encouraged
then to press on as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, pressing on
daily, against wind, against storm and tide, knowing that
there is one in heaven that seeks our good, seeks the peace of
Jerusalem, and says, Father, I will, that these also be with
me where I am, that they may behold my glory. Amen.