The Kings Plan

(Transition) Esther had given one banquet for the king and Haman, there is a second one planned, but there is a problem, let’s read the passage and see the problem and the provision of God in our passage.

The Kings Plan Passage

Esther 6:1–2 NASB95

1 During that night the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 It was found written what Mordecai had reported concerning Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

Esther 6:3–4 NASB95

3 The king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 4 So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him.

Esther 6:5–6 NASB95

5 The king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman is standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?”

Esther 6:7–8 NASB95

7 Then Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor, 8 let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed;

Esther 6:9–10 NASB95

9 and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.’ ” 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Take quickly the robes and the horse as you have said, and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate; do not fall short in anything of all that you have said.”

Esther 6:11–12 NASB95

11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.” 12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried home, mourning, with his head covered.

Esther 6:13–14 NASB95

13 Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him.” 14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hastily brought Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

Anything in particular stick out to you in this passage?

Problem and provision, what do you see in (vv.1-2)?

Problem: King could not sleep.

Provision is the right book, the right place was opened and read from

What did the king ask about Mordecai (v.3)?

What honor or dignity has been bestowed.

You see another problem (v.4), what is it, don’t worry the provision is coming soon.

Mordecai is in the court to ask the king about hanging Mordecai.

Haman is brought in (v.5) and is asked a question (v.6), can you see Haman’s pride?

Whom would the king want to honor more than me?

In (vv.7-9) you see Haman describe the honor, very specifically in detail on what should be done.

Problem again (v.10), what is Haman’s problem?

Haman is ordered to quickly do for Mordecai everything described in (vv.7-9)

The problem is Haman hated Mordecai, had gallows 75 feet tall built to hang him on, was coming to ask the king, now he has to honor Mordecai.

Haman did what he was told (v.11) but was not happy about it, what did he do (v.12)?

He went home mourning and covered his head.

Haman recounted to wife and friends all that happened (v.13) then what happens (v.14)?

The king’s eunuchs come to take him to the banquet (2nd banquet).

A sleepless night

Ahasuerus after the banquet could not sleep and did what many may do, got a book.

God’s provision was

Sleepless

Sought a book

A particular book, page, event read.

Even more think all he did was call for book of Records, chronicles to be brought. There would be many, they recorded everything for posterity. But yet God orchestrated the right book, then opened to the right page, section.

Have you ever had a sleepless night? What did you do to try to be able to go back to sleep?

(personal story) - stop asking why, start asking what. What do you, who do you want me to be praying for now, or what is it that You want to convey to me?

Mordecai, like Joseph seemed to have been forgotten, but God has perfect timing and it was now time to be made known to the king the loyalty of Mordecai the Jew. God knew Mordecai’s faithfulness, God worked out the timing at “a time such as this.”

We may never be recognized here on earth for the loyalty or things we have done, but it is recorded in the books of remembrance in heaven (consider Mal3:16; Rev20:11-12).

(Transition) a sleepless night, a delightful read, leads to a great question.

The king’s question.

Esther 6:4–5 ESV

4 And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king’s young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.”

The kings question, who is out there? Can you see God’s provision.

The right person at the right time at the right place.

God knows what he is doing, and working it out even if Ahasuerus and Haman do not know it. It was not luck that disposed of Vashti, made Esther Queen. It was not luck that Mordecai heard the plan to kill the king, it was God’s plan. It was not luck that Haman was in the court then either. He came for his reason, but God was going to use him for His purpose.

Haman’s assumption, and advise

God is working out to save His people, preserve His people, and deal with Haman, both he and Mordecai were going to get what they deserved.

Haman assumed that the request to honor was about him (v.6); so what does Haman do, (vv.7-9)?

Bring royal robe, horse, and crown the king has worn and ridden and have the placed on the person and lead him through the city square

Haman was puffed up, prideful, thinking it was about him. Remember he looked to others to validate himself, his wife, his friends, the king.

We may at times receive the applause of man, but we should be seeking the applause from heaven.

God’s provision; a surprise to Haman.

We see God’s provision and Haman’s humiliation (vv.10-11)

Haman was surprised by the kings request to go and quickly do as he said to Mordecai the Jew.

Haman was quick to do what he said, but was not happy about it. He had to honor Mordecai, and do it in a public way.

It would have been humiliating to he, his wife and his friends who knew why the gallows had been built and that he had gone to request the death of Mordecai not the honor of him.

God’s purpose was to protect the Jews, His people for God’s eternal purpose was still being worked out through man.

God can use even those we may consider against us, foes, or the like, for His purpose and glory, and that is seen in this passage.

Mordecai returns to the gate (v.12); Haman hurried home in mourning.

Haman was in mourning, his pride had just been dealt the death blow in having to honor Mordecai, so we went where he thought he would get support.

Haman finds no support, just truth you cannot overcome him (v.13)

Haman is hastily summoned for Esther’s banquet (2nd one) (v.14).

Can you loosely see the picture of Christ and his adversary here. Haman thought he won, but God protected Mordecai to his own downfall. The Jews thought they won with Jesus going to the cross, only to have God raise him from the dead and glorify Him.

So, what do we do with all this today? What can we learn?

We need to be people of faith knowing God works out all things for the good, even when we do not see it physically.

God did lots of little things to bring this to this point.

May we look at how God is working in our lives, maybe it means looking back, inventorying how God has worked things in the past that you did not understand except in hindsight.

We can learn from the past and hope for the future living in the blessings of today.

(Prayer) (Exit)

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