The Power of Rich Men

The Power of an Evil Man

Book of Esther 3 -4

A man once wrote: Power. It’s what everybody wants, right? That’s the story at least. Money, political influence, weapons, power to intimidate, power to make people do things, power to build things, power to get things done.

On a theological level, God is the most powerful “entity” in all the universe. In addition to His omnipotence, God is also purely good.

Therefore power, at its core, is not evil!

So, power is not evil. It just needs to be used rightly, which means shared, cooperatively and creatively, for the sake of the common good.

We should not fear power; we should only fear its misdirection!

Today we see a man named Haman who attempted to use power in an evil way.

We can be sure Satan was behind this thing because he could stop the first coming of the Messiah if the Jews were wiped out.

These Jewish people in Persia were the greater part of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin.

*****Est 3:1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

We might first say after what things. After Esther had become Queen of Persia and after Mordecai had overheard, a plot to overthrow the King and had warned him through Queen Esther.

It is after these things that the story of Haman begins.

If we look back to the time of Moses as he was leading the children of Israel, there was a man called Balaam who first mentions an Agag, King of Amalekites.

Num 24:7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

The title Agag is used much like we use the title President.

It is these same Amalekites that God told King Saul to eliminate from this world.

That sounds harsh but God said they were so evil they would never come to any good. God Knows!!!!!!!

1Sa_15:8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

1Sa_15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

1Sa_15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

1Sa_15:32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.

1Sa_15:33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

Some of these people were allowed to escape each time Israel faced them.

The truth is we can be certain that Satan was behind these Amalekites in an attempt to destroy the nation of Israel before they could even become a legitimate nation!

Haman was the descendant of one of those who got away and no doubt he had retained that hatred for God's people and Satan would use him to try to eliminate the tribe of Judah from which came our Savior.

By means we can be sure were not legal, Haman had advanced to be second in command of politics in the nation of Persia that included 127 provinces.

Haman was a very rich man and used his wealth to buy his way into most all things.

Haman craved recognition and as we will see had the traits of Lucifer who now is called Satan, the Devil.

*****Est 3:2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

We can believe that the Persian kings had allowed each nation that had been captured to worship in their own ways because it helped to keep the nation to be peaceful.

Every nation today should allow freedom to worship and punish those who persecute any religion.

The kings of Persia were like many rulers, that is, they felt they were on the level of gods.

There are even stories of Greeks who were put to death for not treating King Darius as a god.

These things still go on today by rulers of some nations.

Mordecai was an obedient Jew and he would not go against the Word of God!

Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

We must understand that we serve this same jealous God today!

Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, nor did he reverence him, and this did not mean Mordecai was some rebel, for we can see that he also had some ranking in the government of Persia.

Haman was just another rich man who demanded to be recognized for some imaginary gift, when he was just full of self-pride.

*****Est 3:3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

Est 3:4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

It is easy to see that Haman had inherited his hatred for the Jews and he would do anything to rid the world of Jews. As we know there are many Hamans in the world today and even some miss Hamans who would do anything they could to rid the world of Jews and they are just seeking their own destruction as did Haman.

Because of this hatred, Haman came up with a scheme to legally kill all Jews in the Persian Empire.

Haman thought so highly of himself and so lowly of the king, that he thought he could pull one over on the king.

He did not yet realize that the queen was a Jew by birth.

No doubt this evil man demanded reverence for all those he looked down upon

All those others in the court of the king first cautioned Mordecai, then became just as evil as Haman when they took it upon their own to meddle in the affairs of Mordecai.

Mordecai just said that He was a Jew which meant there was already a law for the people to safely worship their own deities.

What was the law of God?

Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

No doubt Mordecai understood the Word of God and he was not about to let this evil man over rule the Word of God.

The day is coming in America and now is, that as Christians we must take a stand on the Word of God even if our own government demand we turn our backs on the Lord.

We will always have those that think they are do themselves a big favor, by running to tell the government what they see.

These are not whistle blowers, these are only fools looking to better themselves at the expense of the Christian.

Pro_16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

According to God's plan, Mordecai had informed Esther of the plot to kill the king, but it was not well known especially to Haman.

The devils plan to eliminate the Jews could not overcome the plan of God!

When we look back in history, we will see many a man trying to give us an English translation, put in jail, or murdered, rather than bow down to the Church in Rome.

Haman was just an evil man wicked to the teeth!

What does God say?

Job_11:20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

God says the wicked will only have short victories!

Job_20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

God also says He will destroy those who are wicked, with an everlasting death!

Psa_9:5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

Listen as Haman destroys himself.

*****Est 3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

Est 3:6 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.

It is obvious that Haman was not the only enemy of the Jews, but he did think he was ranked high enough to put a plan in place to destroy them.

It is obvious that pride is our enemy and God says, vengeance belongs to Him!

There have been many people that have tried to destroy the Jews, the Hebrew people, but God is not going to allow this to happen. Wake up world.

Israel and the Jews are still the apple of God's eyes, and their hatred will only backfire on yourself!

Haman had magnified himself into some important man, when he was only some vain, egotistical man who would lose his own life in the end.

Egotism uses the sufferings of others to make a gain!

Egotism only promotes cruelty.

We see this in our own government today!

To an ego possessed individual, he or she is the center of the world and the world revolves around them.

I could mention some names, but you can fill in the blanks.

Psa 83:1 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

Psa 83:2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

Psa 83:3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

Psa 83:4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

What are the traits of Satan?

Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

What is his end?

Dan 7:26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

Dan 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

As we see what is happening in our land, the abortions, the gays, the LGBT movement, and a corrupt government, we must guard ourselves against extreme prejudice and bitter hatred.

We must still remember it is still Jehovah God who sits on the throne of Heaven!

Haman plots.

*****Est 3:7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

Est 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.

Haman allowed a year for his plot to take place in order for the word of the king to travel to all locations and the Jews call that day Purim to celebrate their triumph over Haman and his household.

Haman allowed this year because the casting of lots was a religious thing from Haman's own religion.

Today we must be careful not to listen to the Hamans of this world calling for the destruction of others for in fact it is a terrible sin.

Haman did not mention that these people were Jews only that it was a specific race of people.

As far as the king understood these people were like robbers and thieves moving around inside the 127 provinces of Persia.

What had God said?

Deu 4:27 And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.

Deu 4:28 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

Haman also recognized that the laws given to the Jews were nothing like the laws of the Persians.

He would not have known these things if it had not been passed down through all his generations that the Jews were his enemies.

By scattering the Jews, God could begin to work with them individually or in small groups!

Eze 11:16 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.

Eze 11:17 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

Remember all the Jews even the ones who had stayed, were well aware that the Word of God had proven to be true and many of their Jewish brothers and sisters had returned to the Promised Land.

Haman told the king these people were no profit to his kingdom and needed to be eradicated like a bunch of mice.

Just like most all rich men, the key to this transaction would be money!

*****Est 3:9 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.

Est 3:10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

The rich and the super-rich have one bad problem, they can never have enough money!

If we look back in Jewish history 1000 talents were enough to buy off the Assyrian king for a while.

A piece of land the size of a city could be bought for 2 talents. So this was a great deal of money, especially for one individual to possess and obviously he had plenty more.

We must keep in mind that the Christian may be poor in this world but have great riches in Heaven!

2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

These riches sealed the deal for Haman, and he was given the ring of the king to show his authority to be able to rid Persia of the Jews.

But we know for sure God always has a better plan!

*****Est 4:1 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

Est 4:2 And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

We can be sure that Haman push the news of this new law as quick as he could especially to Mordecai.

It was like being on death row in a prison having the date set for execution.

Mordecai could only see one answer and that was to get the attention of Queen Esther, but Mordecai's grief did not upset his judgment.

It came to Mordecai that God has placed Esther as Queen just for this occasion!

Mordecai had better sense than to storm into the king's residence, so he put on sackcloth that got the attention of those going in and out and he knew the Queen get in touch with him because he had been as a father to her.

Sackcloth was made of black goat's hair and was certainly noticeable especially on someone as Mordecai who took part in the government of Persia in some manner and dressed accordingly.

He was not alone:

*****Est 4:3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

Not one Jew had peace with the threat of death hanging over them. They knew once a Persian king made a ruling it could not be changed.

We are sure Zerubbabel had already returned to Israel and Jerusalem to build the Temple, but it may not be quiet time for Ezra to return.

I believe besides letting Esther know it was time to save her people, it was also time to let these Jews know Persia would never be a safe place for them to live.

*****Est 4:4 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.

Queen Esther's maidens and chamberlains may not have known the connection of Mordecai to her, but they knew Mordecai had a deep affection for her and her for him.

Queen Esther would make sure Mordecai was properly dressed which gave them time to swap messages.

Mordecai warned Queen Esther that this law to kill all Jews would include her no matter that she was Queen.

Let's move ahead:

*****Est 4:13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.

Est 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; 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?

If we look at what Mordecai was saying, Queen Esther needed to go to the King and put a stop to this thing.

It was well known that the king loved the queen very much even if he did not know she was a Jew.

It was time for Queen Esther to do what the Lord intended for her to do. To stand up for her people.

Mordecai must have known a lot of the Word of God because he had faith in the Word of the Prophets.

Israel would be delivered, if not by Queen Esther then someone else.

To set at large, is to give freedom to move without obstruction.

Psa 18:36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

Psa 4:1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

We need this to be very clear ourselves.

If God has a job, He has asked us to do, the work of God always comes with blessings.

If we decide to go against the request of God, God will just get someone else to do that thing and they will also get the blessings we could have had ourselves.

God's plan will go forward, with or without us!

Queen Esther knew that Mordecai was right in what he had said.

Queen Esther also knew that much prayer would certainly help.

*****Est 4:15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

Est 4:16 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.

Queen Esther also knew the laws of the Persians and she could not go before the King unless she was called and if she took it upon her own to go to him it could resort in her death.

Then she shows her faith.

If faith and prayer can move mountains, then surely faith and prayer and fasting could save a nation.

All throughout the history of the Jews they were punished because of disobedience, surely by obedience then God would do as He had always promised, to deliver His children.

If we do not see that Queen Esther obtained favor of all those around her then we have missed a great point.

No doubt the faith and courage of this young woman was an admirable quality that even the King had noticed.

Even the King had not just chosen Esther by her looks, she had great personal skills and an aura of success in everything she did, and she must have thought a lot about Persia, but the Promised land was her true home even if she had never been there.

Sounds like typology to me.

I am an American and love my nation, but heaven is my promised land and also my true home!

When we take a stand on the Word of God, so what we perish, we will wake up in Heaven the very moment we lose our life!

2Co_5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

2Co_5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

These things will become more important the closer we get to the Second Coming of the Lord.

I believe we can already see these things happening as some people lose these jobs for taking a stand against the sins of our nations and other nations included.

What did Mordecai do? Exactly what his Queen said to do because he knew it was the right thing to do!

*****Est 4:17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

We can see that fame and fortune cannot always keep us out of danger.

That palace could have been a prison to Queen Esther, if not for the relationship she had with her adoptive father.

Again we can see the typology in these things.

Power and opportunity can also be used to move the Word of God if that opportunity presents itself and they too can take a stand on the truth of God.

All these things work because the key ingredient in these things were 1) Faith and 2) The ongoing, never relenting, plan of God working in our world. Even working in our governments.

We need to vote only for people who we know are faithful believers when the opportunity presents itself.

Queen Esther went to the King because of her faith and love of Jehovah but she also knew the King loved her and would never bring harm to her.

Queen Esther was in instrument in the hand of God and no one could stand against this kind of power!

Amen

Let's Pray!

God Has His Eyes Upon His People

Providential Provision

Book of Esther Chapter 1 and 2

The thing we should already know is that God is working behind the scenes to place people in certain situations that become a benefit to His people. The Jews (Hebrew) and also the Church. All those in the family of God!

Some question the reason the Book of Esther is included in the Old Testament Canon of the Bible. We may not know the actual man who used his pen to write the words of Esther, but our only concern should be that the Holy Spirit gave these words to us and we can learn from all the 66 Books of the Bible.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The Book of Esther was written to the Jews but again the Church can learn the workings of God!

Again we can see how we are placed in particular places of work, of communities, of nations, to be available for God's use. Until that time comes, we are to spread the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and be active in the Church.

In the end, the time of Esther is remembered as a national feast day called Purim.

Purim is remembered to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews from Persia.

The main topic we should see is, that God is working in the world to keep His truth as is written in the Word of God.

God has a plan and that plan unfolds at the perfect time and will continues to do so, even after the Rapture of the Church!!!!!

*****Est 1:10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

Est 1:11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.

This king is named Ahasuerus in the Hebrew, but he is Xerxes in the Greek language. The title Ahasuerus is used somewhat like we use the title President. This Ahasuerus maybe the third King of Persia.

Those of us who might be ashamed of our past know that there is a big difference between intoxicated and sober. While intoxicated a person might be able to walk and to talk, but decision making may not be a wise thing to do while in this condition.

We must understand that God made mankind in His image. This may not mean in looks or in physical attributes, but it certainly means for us to have the characteristics of God!

Whatever instrument used to tarnish the glory of man or woman, whether it be alcohol, drugs, or immorality or any other such thing is a terrible sin in the eyes of God.

Whatever we do or say that is unbecoming of God's character and anything we do that we would be ashamed of at a later time then comes from these evils and no only destroys our character or better said our integrity, can cause us sinful harm and cause injury to others!

The fact is drunkenness does not destroy responsibility!

We are always responsible for our actions when we have taken it upon ourselves to do these things!

We are accountable for our actions!

What does the Scriptures teach us?

Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

A chamberlain, men who were made eunuchs, were for the most part were grown children from high ranking nations that had been conquered by Persia.

Again God said it this way:

Isa 39:7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Some of these chamberlains were sent after Vashti who was the Queen of Persia at this time.

They went and Vashti said no.

*****Est 1:12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

We must understand the King had many other men with him and Vashti was a beautiful woman and the king was treating her as nothing but a concubine he could show off to a bunch of drunken men.

To be quiet honest, when a beautiful woman is paraded before a bunch of sober men, many of the men will commit the sin of adultery in their minds.

Mat_5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

Mat_5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

In a room full of drunken men it would only make matters much worse.

This was no way to treat a wife and Vashti had every reason to refuse to do this thing.

But as drunkenness does, the mind reacts in anger when the pride of a drunken man is bruised.

Now we know that God did not set this thing up, but He did use it to be a part of His plan to help the Jews.

What do a bunch of drunks do?

*****Est 1:12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

We must understand that whatever is ruling our heart, whether it be, pride, vanity, anger, or lust or most other things will greatly display itself under the influence of alcohol or drugs!!

These men gathered not just for one day, but this thing went on for weeks, and no doubt that Vashti knew what was going on at these meetings.

The king would put on a show of just how powerful his nation was and show off the great riches of his monarchy.

The king was the sole ruler of this nation of 127 provinces and these men who he was drinking with were under his direct control.

In his drunkenness he could not allow Vashti to be disobedient.

Pro 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

Pro 31:5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

In truth, his anger may not have lingered if he was not urged on by bad councilors.

In all these things Vashti was right.

In Persian Law it was written that men should not cause their wife to be publicly on display before men.

In fact it is this time in history when Arabian women would wear all the things that could cover her up before other men and led to the ridiculous standard that some use for evil today.

Even without such a law, women should never be asked to such a thing as Vashti was ordered to do.

Vashti was right to refuse!

After the anger:

What is wrong with America today? In every facet of our life and our government we need man and women of strong moral character but what we see are men and women who are morally corrupt, insincere, dishonest, corrupt, unjust, abusive, overbearing, even wicked and evil.

Just this week I saw where a man who is a Governor, and claimed to be gay, married to another man he called is husband, but also claiming to be a Christian, questioning our Vice-President who is a Christian and lives trying to be like Christ, which is the meaning of Christian. He also questioned the sincerity of our President saying if he is saved he could be no more than a babe in Christ.

I certainly question his false doctrine!

Jesus Christ would never go along with the gay lifestyle because according to the Word of God it is the sin of fornication because only the marriage of one man to one woman is seen as the truth of the Scriptures. This is the world we live in today!

What happened after this king sobered up and taken time to reflect on his anger?

*****Est 2:1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

He had given in to his passion and pride and treated his wife as a woman of low or no morals, when she had more morals the he and all his counselors but it was she who was penalized.

When we act under the influence of rage we will never do right. We may brag with our lips and speak eloquent words. but our wisdom will be far from us. We most certainly cause more harm than good.

We can also see this king did have some feelings for his queen, but his actions had broken this bond and it could not be mended because of some foolish law that could not be broken.

He had committed injury to himself along with causing this woman to suffer all her remaining days! There was no remedy!

The laws of the Medes of the Persians must stand or a precedent would be made!

This king would be four years without a queen and even this remedy was set up by other men.

It is this place where we can see the hand of God.

God was not involved in the party life nor the anger.

God is only involved in solutions!

We will also see where a poor Jewish girl who certainly was a beautiful woman could stand in the midst of worldly royalty and be chosen as the new queen.

The historian Josephus wrote that this king was so angered at his advisers that he had them put to death.

So what was the answer to this dilemma?

*****Est 2:2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

Est 2:3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:

Est 2:4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

When this plan was conceived none of these men could realize how Jehovah would take this and make it useful to the restoring of the Jewish people to their native land the Promised land!

We already know that this king ruled over 127 provinces so there would probably more than this number originally chosen to come to Sushan the palace of the King.

This eunuch name Hege had the job of overseeing the harem of this king. In reality many of the kings including Jewish kings may have had only one queen but they would sometimes have many concubines.

Hege would look after these many virgins because they required more care and certainly protection and Shaashgaz would then look after the concubines of the king which we will see in a later Scripture.

The difference between a queen and a concubine was that only the queen was entitled to inherit the physical things of the king in some lands even the throne.

What we see in all these things is that the Word of God would be against all these things in seeking a wife.

I guess nothing was much wrong in the picking of the maidens except most of them would probably be no older than 16 and as young as 12.

The wrong certainly would come in the king's selection process.

Most men might see this as delightful thing I personally do not. Sin is never the right process!

Let's see how God intervenes.

*****Est 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;

Est 2:6 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.

Mordecai was a direct descendant of King Saul of Israel and a Benjamite. It would be Mordecai that God would use to to install Esther as Queen of Persia.

We must still understand that "all" Scripture is given to the Jew and to the Church for us to learn from.

Even if Mordecai was a baby when taken from his homeland by Nebuchadnezzar, he would be an old man by our standards, but he was not too old to be used of the Lord.

God chose him to be an intricate part of this plan for a Jew to win the heart of this king.

Sexual exploitation goes against the Word of God, but today we live in a world of lose morals and free sex and again there is nothing free in this life beyond the gifts of God.

There are consequences for all immorality!

No long term relationship between one man and one woman can depend on a physical relationship.

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Mordecai had raised his uncle’s daughter Hadassah, we know as Esther.

It was this Mordecai who by the inspiration of God, saw a way to help the Jewish people.

*****Est 2:7 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.

The name Hadassah was her Jewish name, but her name would have to change if she was to be presented as anything but a Jew.

The significance of the name Hadassah was so called "because as the myrtle spreads fragrance in the world, she did spread good works, inspired by Jehovah God!

The King named her Esther.

The Holy Spirit will now teach us how a beautiful Jewish maiden won the heart of a king.

We begin to see another typology begin to develop.

She had neither a father, nor a mother but she was fair and beautiful.

Mordecai had already passed up two opportunities to return to his homeland.

Once when Zerubbabel and again when Ezra had returned, and we can only surmise that he was involved in the politics of Persia and was successful at it.

We see this today as many successful Jews in America remain in America rather than return to Israel as so many others have.

Remember many people are in place by the hand of God to be used as according to God's plan as we will see in this story of Esther who could not have survived without her cousin Mordecai who treated her as his daughter.

Another thing we should understand is that if the Persian government needed someone for any reason, they just took them even if they were not willing.

Most of these women jumped at the chance to be Queen of Persia.

Esther was put forth by Mordecai and God knew she would be the chosen Queen!

*****Est 2:8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

Est 2:9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

Because of the humble grace and beauty of Esther she was not only taken because of the king's commandment but she also found favor with Hegai and he knew that there was something about Esther that made her special.

Esther was taken to the king’s palace and began the year long purification process.

The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that there were 400 ladies chosen to take part in this process.

We can just imagine that most all these ladies were willing to have a chance to become queen of Persia.

The one thing that was hidden from all these people including the king was that Esther was a Jew!

Esther was a Jew, she was a virgin, and she had kept herself pure according to the Word of God, and not some Persian law which for the most case were immoral laws.

In these things we are reminded that Esther could represent a type of the Church, the Bride of Christ.

The steps used to please this king was in 3 steps.

1) Each one would be given 12 months of beauty treatments.

Six months of oil baths and massages.

Six months of perfume, and beauty treatments.

2) At the end of the first year each one would be selected to spend one night with the king.

In order to look their best they were given anything they requested that they thought would enhance their chances to please the king.

3) After spending that one night with the king, they were transferred to the king’s harem, where they were would live until they were called upon again by the king locked up from the outside world.

Let’s read more of Esther:

*****Est 2:14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

Est 2:15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

For one whole year each of these young ladies had prepared just to spend one night with the King of Persia. For these 12 months they got touch the luxuries of the kingdom. We are sure most every one of these young maidens would do everything they could to make themselves even more attractive.

Many do the same today, but most all are not aware that God looks upon the inside.

Each of these maidens may have had the hope of becoming the Queen but after only one night, all but one may live a life where there physical needs were met but they would never be called upon again and they could not return to their families nor have what most would call, "a life"!

The chamber of the concubines was nothing more than a prison with good food, all hope destroyed.

All in all there was nothing that happened in those 12 months that could make anyone clean, much less pure.

It takes the blood of Jesus to wash away all our sin!

When Jesus was dying on the cross and the beating, and the crown of thorns, caused the blood to run down into His eyes, as He looked through that blood to those on the ground He said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do"!

Just as those maidens found, there is little hope in this world, and powerful men keep most of the world locked into the prison of a life without benefits.

It is only the love of God that can satisfy the soul!

When each maiden had gotten her opportunity to spend that one night with the king, and suddenly that night was over, and she found herself in the house of the concubines.

It became Esther's time to do this thing.

Esther requested nothing more than the advice of the King's chamberlain, who knew the king better than anyone.

The beauty of Esther stood out because it was a natural beauty that the world could not improve upon!

You see being a child of God is to possess a beauty that cannot be improved upon by the world.

It is a beauty that is as a shining light that stands in a dark world!

Esther carried herself as that child of God that needed nothing from this world!

Esther was not only beautiful to the eye, but she was beautiful in her heart and carried herself having a strong character.

When Esther walked into a room, all eyes just naturally focused upon her!

Son 6:9 My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.

Son 6:10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?

It was Esther who pleased this king!

Son 8:10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.

*****Est 2:16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

Est 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.

The Bible always slips in these little time lines which are always found to be true!

It was December, after all Shushan was the winter palace.

What happened? It was love at first sight.

King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) loved Esther above all women he had ever seen!

Another type we can see that Jesus loves the church.

Eph_5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

It was Esther who would be Queen of Persia!

There is a little parable that we are reminded of here.

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Why were many more Jews released to go home?

*****Est 2:18 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.

Esther was certainly a beautiful woman, but her beauty far exceeded that of just looks.

Esther undoubtedly had characteristics that caused her to be attracted to the king.

She had pleased Hegai the king’s chamberlain on first sight.

Esther was wise, she had kept her nationality a secret and presented herself for who she was, a young beautiful maiden from the lands of Persia.

We can know the each of the maidens were sought for their differences. Persia was a conquering nation and ruled 127 provinces.

Makes us think of the Lord!

Joh_3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

In fact, it could be said that the entire plan of God, is based upon this one Scripture!

Esther was trustworthy, she was dependable, she was faithful, and we will soon see that Queen Esther was loyal.

Just like the First Lady of our own nation, Esther would have many official duties and she would never be asked to dance before drunken house guest.

The King had learned this lesson well!

What we should be able to see is how God has taken a situation, caused by evil men, and turned it into an opportunity to help the Jewish nation rebound from captivity!

The Plan of God is still working in this world!

Amen

Let's Pray!