“God is not only the God of coincidences, he is also the God of reversals.”
Sermon Title: THE GOD OF TURNAROUNDS
Scripture Text: ESTHER 7
Sermon Series: ESTHER: GOD BEHIND THE SEEN
Sermon Notes:
ESTHER 7:1-8 NIV
1 So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther,
2 and as they were drinking wine on that second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life--this is my petition. And spare my people--this is my request.
4 For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”
5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?”
6 Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman.” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
7 The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.
8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?” As soon as the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
ESTHER 9:1 NIV
1 On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out.On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them.
ESTHER 6:14 NIV
14 While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.
I. ESTHER’S DILEMMA
ESTHER 7:1 NIV
1 So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther,
ESTHER 7:2 NIV
2 and as they were drinking wine on that second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
ESTHER 7:3 NIV
3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life--this is my petition. And spare my people--this is my request.
ESTHER 7:4 NIV
4 For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”
‘You and four of your sons are saved by your hospitality; but you shall be punished by the life that one you most desire to keep.’
With that reply, [Xerxes] immediately ordered those who were assigned to do these things to find the eldest of Pythius’ sons and cut him in half, then to set one half of his body on the right side of the road and the other on the left, so that the army would pass between them.”
Herodotus (Histories)
MATTHEW 10:16 NIV
16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
“We are defined not just by our words but also by our actions.”
II. HAMAN DIVULGED
ESTHER 7:5 NIV
5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?”
ESTHER 7:6 NIV
6 Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman.” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
ESTHER 7:7 NIV
7 The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.
ESTHER 7:8 NIV
8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?” As soon as the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
“God’s justice will always prevail.”
1 PETER 2:20-23 NIV
20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
“God is in the business of breaking down walls.”
Charles Swindoll
III. HAMAN’S DEMISE
ESTHER 7:9 NIV
9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by Haman’s house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” The king said, “Hang him on it!”
“God used the unrighteous intentions of a very evil man to accomplish his divine and holy purposes.”
ESTHER 9:10 NIV
10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.
PSALMS 90:12 NIV
12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
“Our treasures do not exist apart from, but in the midst of the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death.”
ESTHER 8:2 NIV
2 The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman's estate.
“God can turn around any situation. He is the only one who can make the valley of trouble into a door of hope.”
“Tens of thousands of people flood the streets
-HAMILTON (An American Musical)
There are screams and church bells ringing
As our fallen foes retreat
I hear the drinking song they’re singing
The world turned upside down.”