“A man can plan for the day but he cannot plan the day that is in the hands of God.”
Sermon Title: GOD’S COINCIDENCES
Scripture Text: ESTHER 5 – 6
Sermon Series: ESTHER: GOD BEHIND THE SEEN
Sermon Notes:
ESTHER 6:1-5 NIV
1 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.
2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
3 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.
4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had erected for him.
5 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” the king ordered.
THREE SCENES:
Scene 1. Esther’s Plan.
Scene 2. Haman’s Pride.
Scene 3. God’s Providence.
ESTHER 4:16 NIV
16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Esther’s Mission Impossible:
- She would have to break the law of which the penalty is death.
- She has to confess to her deception.
- She will attempt to reverse an irreversible law.
- She has to go against Haman.
- She will strike a blow to the king’s pride.
Scene 1. ESTHER’S PLAN (Esther 5:1-8)
ESTHER 5:1 NIV
1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.
Hebrew: “Esther wore a kingdom”
ESTHER 5:2 NIV
2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
ESTHER 5:3 NIV
3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
ESTHER 5:6 NIV
6 As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
ESTHER 5:7-8 NIV
7 Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8 If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request. If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king's question.”
“Planning is not the problem, it’s the presumption that goes with it (that can be the problem).”
JAMES 4:13-15 NIV
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”
14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
“We can plan, yet nothing will go exactly according to plan.”
JAMES 4:13-15 NIV
15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.”
“A man can plan for the day but he cannot plan the day that is in the hands of God.”
Scene 2. HAMAN’S PRIDE (Esther 5:9-14)
ESTHER 5:9 NIV
9 Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai.
ESTHER 5:10-13 NIV
10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife,
11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials.
12 “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow.
13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”
ESTHER 5:14 NIV
14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows built, seventy-five feet high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the dinner and be happy. This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the gallows built.
PROVERBS 13:20 NIV
20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:33 NIV
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
PROVERBS 11:2 NIV
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
PROVERBS 16:5 NIV
5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
PROVERBS 16:18 NIV
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
“Pride will cost you everything and leave you with nothing.”
“Like Adam and Eve, Haman may have the whole world and permission to enjoy it, but all he can think about is the one thing he doesn’t have.”
– Samuel Wells & George Sumner
“Pride blinds us our blessings.”
Scene 3. GOD’S PROVIDENCE (Esther 6)
ESTHER 6:1-2 NIV
1 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.
2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
3 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.
ESTHER 6:4 NIV
4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had erected for him.
ESTHER 6:6 NIV
6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?”
ESTHER 6:7-9 NIV
7 So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor,
8 have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head.
9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’”
ESTHER 6:10 NIV
10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
ESTHER 6:12-13 NIV
12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief,
13 and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him--you will surely come to ruin!”
JOSHUA 2:10-11 NIV
10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.
11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
1 SAMUEL 4:7-8 NIV
7 the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before.
8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert.”
“God is in the details. He works in the small moments.”
Max Lucado
“Trusting in God’s providence does not always take away the pain that goes with it.”
HYMN OF THE HUNGARIAN GALLEY SLAVES
Lift your heads, O martyrs, weeping,
God our Maker still does reign!
You are daily in God’s keeping,
God is with you in your pain.
Rise and be of valiant heart,
And with courage bear your part;
Soon again God’s arms will fold you
To God’s loving heart and hold youThough the storms may rage and roll
O’er the vast and fearful sea,
Though you cry from wretched toil,
“O my Savior, rescue me!”
Though it seems that God does sleep,
Hope and trust in God still keep;
Calm your hearts though they be quaking,
God is faithful, none forsakingThough in chains you now are grieving,
Though a tortured slave you die,
Martyrs, if you die believing,
Heaven’s path shall open lie,
Upward gaze and trust anew,
God has not forsaken you;
You are God’s own people, surely
God will fold God’s own securely.