THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
Believe it or not, about ten percent of us actually look forward to public speaking. At the other end of the spectrum, about ten percent of us dread it to the point of great anxiety. The eighty percent of us left in the middle would rather not speak in public, but we’ll do it if we have to.
It’s one thing when you’re called on in a meeting to answer a question or give a brief report; we don’t have time to get nervous. But if our boss tells us that we must make a major presentation in three weeks, we have plenty of time to think about it—and thinking about it makes us nervous!
That nervousness is greatly multiplied when what we say carries significant consequences.
Boldness in speaking does not come easy. Courage to do the right thing in a risky situation does not come easy either. Yet in Esther, we see a woman who did both. Lives were at stake. If she didn’t speak and act boldly, thousands could die, but if she acted courageously yet blundered it—well, she could make matters worse.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Esther 7:1-6
1 The king and Haman came to feast with Esther the queen. 2 Once again, on the second day while drinking wine, the king asked Esther, “Queen Esther, whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you seek, even to half the kingdom, will be done.” 3 Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your eyes, Your Majesty, and if the king is pleased, spare my life; this is my request. And spare my people; this is my desire. 4 For my people and I have been sold to destruction, death, and extermination. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept silent. Indeed, the trouble wouldn’t be worth burdening the king.” 5 King Ahasuerus spoke up and asked Queen Esther, “Who is this, and where is the one who would devise such a scheme?” 6 Esther answered, “The adversary and enemy is this evil Haman.” Haman stood terrified before the king and queen.
The events of the last few days all came down to this moment, this ultimate act of courage. It was time to expose all, and Esther did just that, revealing both her Jewish identity and Haman’s evil plans. She appealed to the king to act, even as she had prayed, fasted, and appealed to God to act.
God already had been at work. The night before, King Ahasuerus had spent a sleepless night. Surely this was not mere coincidence, but insomnia brought about by God. In that moment of sleeplessness, the king had daily reports read to him and he heard of Mordecai’s unheralded acts of heroism. (See Esth. 6:1-3.) Perhaps shamed by his failure to properly reward Mordecai, the king instructed Haman to honor Mordecai—the very person Haman despised! (See vv. 4-11.)
Now at the banquet, the king learned that both his wife and the man he had just honored were scheduled to die—and the man at the table was the one who had manipulated him into devising the scheme.
Haman had been exposed, and he “stood terrified.” The word used to describe Haman’s reaction was normally used in the Old Testament for the fear and trembling people experienced at a divine encounter. (See 1 Chron. 21:30; Dan. 8:17.) Haman knew he had just angered the most powerful man in the world—and he rightly trembled in fear.
Esther exposed this dark deed with great boldness, but she also did it with wisdom.
- Esther didn’t point the finger of blame at the king, though King Ahasuerus had unwittingly signed her death warrant. She appealed both to his innocence and his self-interest. In verse 4, Esther implied that the destruction of the Jews would mean wiping out a part of the work force and economy, spelling great financial loss for the king.
- Esther spoke on behalf of others. She didn’t simply advocate for her own life, she spoke up for all her people. Esther entered into the suffering of her people.
Esther could have caved to fear in that moment. She could have simply kept silent, turning a blind eye to the injustices in Persia against the Jewish people. But she used the opportunity before her to give a voice to her people. In the process, she gave us a great example of living out Paul’s words: “Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Eph. 5:11).
Christians also have opportunities to speak up against injustice. We may not have a royal title, but we all have voices. Some people may choose to disregard the injustices around them. Others may want to appear especially spiritual, focused only on sharing the gospel and getting people to heaven. “I don’t get involved in these issues. I just preach the gospel.” But God calls us to look out for others.
We have times we are to pray and act. We find times we are to lend our voices in speaking up for those who are too often neglected: the unborn, the immigrant, the minority, or the underprivileged. We can be a voice to advocate for the most vulnerable among us.
Esther 7:7-10
7 The king arose in anger and went from where they were drinking wine to the palace garden. Haman remained to beg Queen Esther for his life because he realized the king was planning something terrible for him. 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, “Would he actually violate the queen while I am in the house?” As soon as the statement left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Harbona, one of the king’s eunuchs, said: “There is a gallows seventy-five feet tall at Haman’s house that he made for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.” The king said, “Hang him on it.” 10 They hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger subsided.
Now that Esther had planned, prayed, fasted, and finally spoken up, what was next? She could do nothing but wait. But she wouldn’t have to wait long!
History records the king was well-known for his temper. At times, he could be an unstable and vindictive decision-maker. Consider how easily he tossed out Queen Vashti because she refused to be paraded in front of others (see 1:10-21), and how haphazardly he signed onto Haman’s genocide plan. (See 3:7-14.) That’s the kind of person you do not want to upset, and in this moment, the king’s anger surfaced.
Let’s not assume the king immediately knew what to do. We’ve all had those moments when anger clouded our thoughts. Perhaps that’s why the king left the room: he needed to get away from the man who angered him so that he could clear his thoughts. He had to make a decision nobody else could make for him. His advisors were all bereft of wisdom—and he couldn’t ask Haman, since he was the problem!
Although the king had no human advisors to lean on, the sovereign Lord of the universe was not absent on that day. “A king’s heart is like channeled water in the LORD’s hand: He directs it wherever he chooses” (Prov. 21:1). King Ahasuerus had a history of rash decisions, but in this moment, he made the right choice. He put this enemy of the people to death, and soon he would empower the Jews to stand against those who sought to harm them.
Now that he had been exposed, Haman rightfully feared vengeance. In desperation, he literally threw himself on the mercy of the queen. How ironic that Haman brought all this on himself because a Jew would not bow before him, yet he now fell before a Jew. The irony continued in that the gallows Haman built to kill his enemy was used to kill him.
Seeing people who are hurt, abused, or taken advantage of pulls at our hearts. We want to see the wrong righted, punishment delivered, and justice served. We do what we can on behalf of others, but we must leave any vengeance in the hands of God.
God’s justice will come—and not just against the Hamans in this world. In reality we are all like Haman; at our core, we are dead in our sins and given to the temptations of power, lust, and greed. We are not the good and noble people we think we are. We are all sinful people deserving death. (See Rom. 6:23.)
Like Haman, we can prostrate ourselves before our King, begging for mercy for our sins and crimes committed against Him. But unlike Haman, we have Someone who was willing to stand in our place and face the judgment for us. Jesus went to the cross so that we could receive the mercy of God. What’s more, by His resurrection, Jesus defeated the corruption that infects human hearts. As a result, we have life!
LIVE IT OUT
What steps will you take to stand up for others? Choose one of the following applications:
- Pray. Ask the Lord to reveal ways you can use what He’s given you—your time, possessions, influence, and position— to speak out against evil and injustice in society.
- Look. Do some research into opportunities in your community to help fight injustice.
- Act. As a group, prayerfully consider what you can do either through your local church or a trusted local organization to help make a difference in the area God is calling you to serve.
You may not be a skilled public speaker, but all of us have been given a voice that God wants us to use to be salt and light in this world. Be bold, but leave the results to God!
Teacher Notes:
STAND UP AND SPEAK
BE BOLD, BUT LEAVE THE RESULTS TO GOD.
1. We need to realize that God has placed us in a specific situation – working in a certain job, living in a particular location, or surrounded by different people – for a greater purpose: to point to Him and further His kingdom.
2. We can’t fix every injustice we see, but we are called to step in where we can. Christians have no excuse for not doing the right thing when the opportunity is right in front of them.
3. When we surrender to the Lord, we may discover that He has greater things in store for us than we ever conceived.
4. The Bible calls us to live with kindness and humility, even in dealing with conflict. Esther modeled such behavior in her plan to expose injustice.
5. Too many people want to deal with wrong against themselves or others by being the judge, jury, and executioner. These roles have never been given to Christians; rather, we serve the One who is the ultimate judge. Our role is that of witness, to expose the wrong and point to the right. God calls us to be witnesses to His truth and to what is right.
Esther 6 not only provides an interlude between the two banquets Esther had invited the king and Haman to attend, it also provides critical information essential to understanding how the king would respond to what he would learn from Esther at the second banquet.
The king could not sleep. As many of us still do, to lull himself to sleep he read, though he did not actually read himself but some of his attendants read to him. The text was the royal annals, an official document recording memorable events that occurred during the reign of the king.
During the reading, the attendant came to the portion that recorded Mordecai’s good deed that resulted in the failure of the plot by two officials to assassinate the king. The king asked what honor and recognition had been shown to Mordecai for his loyalty. The attendant told him no records existed showing that anything had ever been done. The king was not pleased with this oversight.
Whether the king ever got to sleep that night is unclear. However, he heard someone stirring about out in the courtyard. Haman had come early in the morning to speak to the king about handing Mordecai, just as his wife and friends had suggested he do. When the king learned who it was, he invited Haman to come before him. Before Haman could broach the subject for which he had come, the king posed the question to Haman. He sought his advice on how to honor someone in whom the king delighted. Of course, Haman thought the king was talking about him: “To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?” (6:7)
So, with himself in mind, he offered a grand and glorious scheme on how to honor such a person. It included wearing royal garments and being paraded through the city with cries of praise while riding one of the king’s horses. The king liked the idea. But imagine how shocked Haman was when the king ordered him to carry out the honor – “to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate.” Haman had no option but to carry out the king’s orders. How humiliating to have to lead a parade of honor for one’s archenemy!
When the parade was over, Mordecai, seemingly unimpressed by it all, went back to work at the king’s gate. Haman, on the other hand, hurried home, humiliated, embarrassed, and mourning over what had taken place. As before, he called his wife and friends together, this time not to boast but to whine about the humiliation he had just endured. Unlike before, at this gathering he heard no encouraging words from them. Rather they spoke words of doom. They told Haman to accept that Mordecai would rise and Haman would fall. Even while they were talking, the king’s attendants came to accompany Haman to the banquet with the king and queen. Most likely, the luster of being alone with the royal couple had worn off. Nevertheless, with the message of doom from his wife and friends echoing in his mind, he went to the banquet. Little did he realize how true the words of his family and friends were – and how soon they would become reality.
With this background, the second banquet was about to take place. Esther would be ready to speak. She would boldly tell what she knew and point out the wrong planned against the Jews. The results? Well, they would be in God’s hands.
Video: Esther
I. Expose the deeds of darkness.
Esther 7:1-6
1 The king and Haman came to feast with Esther the queen. 2 Once again, on the second day while drinking wine, the king asked Esther, “Queen Esther, whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you seek, even to half the kingdom, will be done.” 3 Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your eyes, Your Majesty, and if the king is pleased, spare my life; this is my request. And spare my people; this is my desire. 4 For my people and I have been sold to destruction, death, and extermination. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept silent. Indeed, the trouble wouldn’t be worth burdening the king.” 5 King Ahasuerus spoke up and asked Queen Esther, “Who is this, and where is the one who would devise such a scheme?” 6 Esther answered, “The adversary and enemy is this evil Haman.” Haman stood terrified before the king and queen.
How can we take a stand without sounding self-righteous?
Boldly speaking the truth will bring evil into the light. Take initiative to expose the wrongs being committed against the innocent. Do not be deceived; a day of reckoning will come.
The events of the last few days all came down to this moment, this ultimate act of courage. It was time to expose all, and Esther did just that, revealing both her Jewish identity and Haman’s evil plans.
II. Leave vengeance in the hands of God
Esther 7:7-10
7 The king arose in anger and went from where they were drinking wine to the palace garden. Haman remained to beg Queen Esther for his life because he realized the king was planning something terrible for him. 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, “Would he actually violate the queen while I am in the house?” As soon as the statement left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Harbona, one of the king’s eunuchs, said: “There is a gallows seventy-five feet tall at Haman’s house that he made for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.” The king said, “Hang him on it.” 10 They hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger subsided.
How do you see God’s hand at work in Esther’s story so far?
How did Esther’s action demonstrate her trust in God?
What helps you to leave vengeance in God’s hands?
When experiencing injustice or unfair treatment, refrain from exacting revenge on your own and planning ways to “get even.” Trust God to act justly in His own time against evil. Now that Esther had planned, prayed, fasted, and finally spoken up, what was next? She could do nothing but wait. But she wouldn’t have to wait long!
LIVE IT OUT: The lesson we learn from this session is consistent with a gospel lifestyle. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (5:11). The believer is to refuse to adopt the ways and standards of the world. However, that does not mean to ignore them. Rather, as Christians we are to be on the forefront of exposing practices that are evil in origin, purpose, and results. We do so by letting the light of Christ shine within us. However, sometimes we must stand up and speak up with boldness. Even then, we are to speak as followers of Christ, not exact revenge, but leave the outcome to God. He will bring judgment to the wicked and vindicate the righteous. Justice is in the hands of the supreme authority; Christ Himself. Thus, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Rom. 12:19).
Hope to see you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
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