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Divine Appointment
I.
Faithfulness To God (Esther 3:1-6)
A. Haman, an Evil Man, Promoted (v.1)
(Est 3:1 KJV) 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.
The book of Esther is one of the more intriguing books of the Old Testament. The name is thoroughly
pagan in origin, it is one of only two books named after a woman, and it recounts only events that
occurred in a foreign land, not Israel. The events prompted the Jews to add a new national observance
to their calendar that did not derive from the Law, the only book in the recognized Old Testament
canon accorded such a unique honor. It is an awesome story of God’s providence and care for His
people, yet He is not mentioned even once in the text.
The events in Esther occurred after the seventy-year captivity, when the remnant had returned to resettle Palestine. There were many Jews that did not return, and it was these people that this book
focused on.
The Persian king Ahasuerus banished his queen because she disobeyed him, and he sought a new
queen. He held a sort of beauty contest for this purpose. One of the young ladies chosen to participate
was a Jewess named Hadassa, who had been raised by her first cousin Mordecai as his own daughter
after her parents died. Hadassa, also known as Esther, was chosen by the king to be his new queen.
God orchestrated events to bring this young lady into an influential position, because He had a plan to
save His people.
After Esther became queen, her guardian Mordecai was instrumental in foiling an assassination attempt
on the king’s life. His act was documented according to the Persian laws, and seemingly forgotten.
Then, events took a dark turn. The king promoted a man to prominence in the kingdom who was evil
and full of himself. It is one of the unpleasant realities of life that men and women completely
unworthy of power nevertheless gain such power and use if for their personal ends.
B. Mordecai Refuses to Reverence Haman (vv. 2-4)
(Est 3:2 KJV) 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.
(Est 3:3 KJV) 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 KJV) 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.
The Persian culture was pagan and secular. The king’s word was supreme over all. The Jews had
already come into conflict with this culture in the days of Daniel. God had demonstrated His
preeminence, but that demonstration did not change the ungodly Persian culture. Mordecai was a
faithful Jew and refused to bow the knee to any but Jehovah, and this exclusivity not only violated the
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king’s command, but it was extremely offensive to the Persian officials. They immediately told
Haman about this stubborn Jew.
C. Haman’s Hatred of the Jews (vv. 4-6)
(Est 3:5 KJV) And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence,
then was Haman full of wrath.
(Est 3:6 KJV) 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.
Haman was deeply evil. He did not want to hurt only the man that would not acknowledge his great
worthiness, but he planned the destruction of all the Jews, despising their distinctive pride and their
uncompromising faith. Haman was an anti-Semite. Anti-Semitsm has brought untold suffering to the
Jews throughout history, and still motivates the special contempt the modern global community has for
the nation of Israel. Why are the Jews such a target? God chose them as the people through whom He
would bring salvation to mankind, and Satan will never forgive them for that or forget his revulsion of
them. Until final judgment is visited upon him, he will instigate global efforts to decimate the Jews.
II. Reaction To Evil (Esther 3:7 – 4:3)
A. Murderous Plot Against the Jews (3:7-9)
(Est 3:7 KJV) 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 KJV) 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.
(Est 3:9 KJV) 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.
Haman planned his next move with great patience. He began to poison the mind of the king with halftruths and distortions about Mordecai’s people. He not only requested that the king authorize their
destruction, but he “selflessly” offered to pay for the enterprise himself!
B. Murder of the Jews Commanded (3:10-15)
(Est 3:10 KJV) And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the
son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
(Est 3:11 KJV) And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people
also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
(Est 3:12 KJV) Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first
month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the
king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers
of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people
after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the
king's ring.
(Est 3:13 KJV) And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to
destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and
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women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the
month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
(Est 3:14 KJV) The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every
province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
(Est 3:15 KJV) The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and
the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to
drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
Haman had successfully manipulated the king’s trust in him, and was able to gain his permission and
favor for this brutal massacre. Life in Persia was highly organized. A proclamation was written in
multiple copies, sealed with the king’s ring, and sent out to all the provinces of the Persian empire,
translated into every major language spoken across the kingdom. The proclamation specified the day
upon which this general slaughter was to take place. The deed had been made official and was
irrevocable.
C. Reaction of the Jews (4:1-3)
(Est 4:1 KJV) 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 KJV) And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the
king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
(Est 4:3 KJV) 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.
Mordecai began a fast, as did all the Jews in the empire. God was the only One capable of saving
them, for they were facing the murderous will of a whole kingdom.
III. Courageous Action (Esther 4:4 – 5:8)
A. Esther Informed of the Plot (4:4-9)
(Est 4:4 KJV) 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.
(Est 4:5 KJV) Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he
had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know
what it was, and why it was.
(Est 4:6 KJV) So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was
before the king's gate.
(Est 4:7 KJV) And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the
sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the
Jews, to destroy them.
(Est 4:8 KJV) Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at
Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to
charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to
make request before him for her people.
(Est 4:9 KJV) And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
Esther was somewhat insulated from the events happening to her people. No one had told her about it,
for her nationality was a secret even from the king. She was disturbed by Mordecai’s behavior and
sent a royal official to find out why he refused her gifts of clothing. Mordecai told him what was
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occurring and gave him a copy of the proclamation to show Esther. He pleaded for her to use her
influence to stop the slaughter.
B. Mordecai Warns Esther (4:10-17)
(Est 4:10 KJV) Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto
Mordecai;
(Est 4:11 KJV) All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know,
that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court,
who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the
king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to
come in unto the king these thirty days.
(Est 4:12 KJV) And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
(Est 4:13 KJV) 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 KJV) 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?
(Est 4:15 KJV) Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
(Est 4:16 KJV) 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.
(Est 4:17 KJV) So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had
commanded him.
Hatach shuttled back and forth between Esther and Mordecai, carrying a critical conversation. Esther
would risk her very life by approaching the king without his prior permission. Mordecai confronted
her with the unique position she was in to bring deliverance. He had faith in Jehovah that salvation
would come from another direction if she surrendered to fear and did nothing, but he warned her that
she and her family would be destroyed if she failed to act as God was directing her.
Esther could have ignored this warning. She had the king’s favor and love and seemed to be
untouchable. She chose the way of courage, asking Mordecai to gather the Jews in the city to pray and
fast for 3 days for her success. After that, she would risk all for her people.
C. Esther’s Appeal to the King (5:1-8)
(Est 5:1 KJV) Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal
apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house:
and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the
house.
(Est 5:2 KJV) And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court,
that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre
that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
(Est 5:3 KJV) Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is
thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
(Est 5:4 KJV) And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and
Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
(Est 5:5 KJV) Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as
Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had
prepared.
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(Est 5:6 KJV) And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy
petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the
kingdom it shall be performed.
(Est 5:7 KJV) Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
(Est 5:8 KJV) If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to
grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the
banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.
Esther walked into the king’s presence, knowing he could order her killed if he happened to be in a bad
mood. She literally walked in faith that God would intervene. God showed up, and Esther was able to
present her request for an audience and banquet. She used wisdom to whet his interest in her petition,
thus gaining his concentrated attention. Haman was also invited and he was thrilled and puffed up by
this evident show of special favor from the new queen. God had a plan, and Esther was listening and
executing the steps of that plan. All would have been lost however had God not overridden the
rigorous Persian rules the palace by touching this brutal monarch’s heart with tenderness.