Good evening, Verse by Verse Fellowship, how is everyone doing tonight? I would like to start off by saying thanks be to God for this opportunity to preach his word. I would also like to thank the Elders and Pastor Tony for entrusting me with doing this. May God be glorified and may his be people be blessed by the preaching of His Word tonight.

Why is there death in this world? 

I draw your attention to the book of Genesis. It is within this book that lies our answer to that question. In Genesis we see that God created everything and it was good. He had created the first humans to walk the earth, their names were Adam and Eve. They were given dominion over God’s creations. And the only thing that God commanded them not to do was to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and if they did so the Lord said they shall surely die. But they decided to disobey the Lord and eat of this tree. It is because of their disobedience that sin entered into the world. And now, everyone in this world is born into an irrevocable decree of death hanging over their heads, often times referred to as original sin or the curse of sin.

Brief Summary: 

This irrevocable decree of death that we speak of in Genesis is very similar to Hamans evil plan. And if you have been following along with us through the book of Esther, we now find ourselves in Esther chapter 8 but for brief summary purposes lets recall the main characters thus far. You have King Ahasuerus, who is the king of Persia. You have Haman, who is the second in charge to the King. You have Esther, who is the Queen of Persia. And you have Mordecai the Uncle of Esther. Back in chapter 3 Haman felt disrespected from Mordecai’s refusal to bow to him so he constructed an evil plan to wipe out the Jewish people because Mordecai was Jewish. And last week we saw that Haman was put to death. But his devilish decree that could not be overturned, was still in place, death hung over the Jews head. Just like death hangs over our head from the curse in the garden. How were the Jewish people going to escape this? How would anyone in this room escape the curse of sin?

The title of tonight’s sermon is, “Our God Who is Faithful to The Unfaithful”. As we look into Esther chapter 8 verses 3-17, my objective is to show you God’s faithfulness to his people even in their disobedience. There will be 3 main points derived from the passage in front of us. So please, turn in your Bibles to Esther chapter 8 verse 3. The first point of tonight’s sermon is……

God is faithful to answer the requests of his people regardless of their past unfaithfulness. (8:3-8)

As we pick up the text in verse 3, Esther finds herself before the King. It was another unwarranted approach by her. This, as we know, was a dangerous thing in this culture. It is said in chapter 4 that anyone who approached the king without being summoned risked being put to death and their only saving grace was if the king extended out his scepter. (Basically, saying if he granted it)

Esther 8:3-6: “Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. 4 When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. 5 And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 6 For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”

Previously in chapter 7 Esther approached the king in order to make him aware of Haman’s evil plan to wipe out the Jews. But here in chapter 8 she comes before him very differently, she comes before him with a pleading spirit. Though Haman is dead now; Hamans devilish decree is still in place. A day of judgement still shadows over here people’s heads. 

Esther feels the weight of calamity coming towards the Jewish people. And if you have been following along with us through Esther, you know that Esther hid her identity up until chapter 7. As I was reading Old Testament scholar Iain Duguid, he speculated that if Esther had revealed her Jewish identity in chapter 2, would her people be in this mess right now?

Her wavering testimony not only caused her to live in a lifestyle of sinfulness but also put her people’s life at stake. Her strong Jewish presence could have stopped Haman from ever coming into power.

So, what are we to draw away from this section of scripture? Well, as Christians God calls us to be bold proclaimers of our identity. That being our life and unity with Christ. But it’s been my experience that many “Christians” pragmatically live out a “quiet Christian” or “private faith” kind of life, where they never talk about Christ outside the four walls of the church. And I think this brings up a very important question to the people in this room and watching online. 

Who do you say Christ is when times are tough? Do you only bear Christ when it is easy and acceptable with the people you are around? Do you bear the name of Christ in front of your unbelieving boss and coworkers when it’s time for a promotion? Do you hold back on talking about God in front of family members in order to save face? Or do you faithful proclaim Jesus as Lord over your life in the most difficult circumstances and trust him for the results? We should take this very seriously because the Lord takes this matter seriously because if we will not confess his name in front of men, he will not confess our name before the Father. Matthew 10:32.

We also see here the urgency in Esther’s plea. She was no longer proper and reserved but is rather throwing herself down before King Ahasuerus, weeping and pleading. The thought of her family being destroyed causes her to intercede on their behalf. Crying out revoke the evil plan of Haman.

Much so for us in this room like Esther that we need to be broken over our sin. We need to mourn and weep over our sin in front of a Holy God. Matthew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” As we boldly approach the throne room of God (Like Esther) we must confess our sins that entangle us so frequently. We must be, as Christians, a repentant people. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Our God is faithful to forgive us.

Look I say these things sternly because this used to not be a reality in my life. And I never want people to make the same mistakes as me. I was raised in a Christian home and went to all the church events and had parents who loved me deeply, but you know what, I was a coward when it came to bearing the name of Christ! I would sin flippantly and never turn away from it. But it wasn’t until my adult years that I realized that I had been faking it this whole time. I never truly knew Christ! 

It was in that realization that Christ chose to shine light into my life through the Gospel. I was like the woman in Luke 7, the one whose sins were many, but Christ forgave her of all of them. And now that I have been forgiven of much, my one desire is to love much. And sometimes that love comes out sternly.

Enough about me though, lets get back to the Word of God.

Here in verse 7 and 8 we see the King’s response to Esther’s crying out, verse 7 reads, “7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows,[a] because he intended to lay hands on the Jews.”

The King’s response is lackluster at best as he points toward the things that he has already done for her and her people. And if you remember anything about the king’s temperament, he was a prideful, arrogant, and haughty man. He gave them all of Haman’s belongings and put Haman to death. What else could he do for them? He most likely scoffed pridefully here in verse 8 and says, “8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.”

Esther’s request was answered, with the ability to legislate a new edict and the King would put his stamp of approval on it. Though Hamans first edict could not be revoked, and death still loomed near for the Jews. There was now a glimmer of hope!

Despite Esther’s disobedience, despite our disobedience to the Lord, he is still faithful to answer our requests according to his great and perfect will.

God is faithful to deliver his people from the wrath to come. (8:9-14)

We pick up here in verse 9 with Mordecai now in charge, he is the one calling the shots. They must frantically now come up with an edict that would counter the first.

9 The king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. 10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud,”

According to the Jewish calendar this would have been taking place during the month of Sivan, which would have been in the May to June timeframe for us. That means that about 70 days have elapsed from the time Haman casted lots to see when the Jews would be destroyed. 

It was at this moment that a new edict was being written. Mordecai had gathered all the governing officials and commanded them to write everything that he has spoken. We see that this was a well devised and thorough plan as it would be written to each province in their own language.

This was no small feat either as the Persian kingdom was massive, compiling of 127 provinces and stretching from India to Ethiopia. And as it was previously stated in the Book of Esther, we know that the Persian empire had an efficient courier system. They used royal bred horses to swiftly get this message out. These cultural efficiencies would be used providentially in favor of the Jews.

So, what would this message say? Would it be the edict of protection that the Jews would need? Would it be enough to overrule the evil plan of Haman? Look to verse 11 for our answer…….

11 saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods, 12 on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 13 A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. 14 So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.”

Again, we see the needs of the Jews met. In this new decree it allowed for them to protect themselves against anyone who would come against them but not only that it also allowed for them to plunder their goods.

So, I think it’s right for us to pause and here question, what exactly is going on? Things have gone from terrible to promising. The tides are beginning to turn. How is all of this happening? Is it because King Ahasuerus has a soft spot in his heart for the Jews? I don’t think so….

At one of the preacher’s guild meetings a couple of months ago in preparation for the book of Esther, we had discussed what is the overarching purpose or meaning of the book of Esther. Ideas were thrown around, but we eventually landed on, “God incognito”, or God working behind the scenes of man.

And the men who have preached before me, they made notice of this theme as well. And if we look closely together here in Esther chapter 8, that same melody is being strummed. God is moving in the sinful heart of King Ahasuerus.

It ultimately wasn’t the King answering Esther’s pleas and writing this new edict, but it was God. God being faithful to protect his people. To further push and validate this point we see this same truth in the book of Ezra. That God was working in the heart of King Cyrus. Listen to verse 1 in Ezra chapter 1 as it parallels our passage…….

 “In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing.”

We see that God rules through the heart of Cyrus, in the same exact way as King Ahasuerus. Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”

And it’s not like the people of God deserved this deliverance out of the Persians hands either. The Jewish people in this moment are just as wicked as the Persians. At this point in time in history the Jews were engrained in the Persian culture, and it would have been impossible to see their allegiance to God through their actions.

So why would God save a rebellious people? Why would he create a way for them to avert the wrath to come? Turn with me to Deuteronomy chapter 9 verses 4-6 or you can read it on the board. This is why he would save his people. Verse 4 of Deuteronomy chapter 9 reads…..

4 “Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you. 5 Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.6 “Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.

Though this is speaking of the Israelite nation being led to the promised land. This is seen all through scripture and is a true reality in our lives. That God is being faithful to deliver us, not because we are more righteous than others but because he has shown us grace.

We see that the Lord is doing this because he is keeping his promise to Abraham. The Lord is answering Esther’s plea and forging the new edict out of the love he has for his people.

Despite the wickedness of the Jewish people, despite our wickedness, God is faithful to deliver his people from the wrath to come.

God is faithful to bless those who bless his people. (8:15-17)

Now we fast forward to the 12th month which is the month of Adar, and on the 13th day the new edict was instated. It was published in every province and for every person to see.

If you remember back to chapter 3, Haman was casting lots to decide when to destroy the Jews. Well this was the day that it landed on. Haman’s decree was instated as well on this day. The day of destruction finally came but the Jews were ready to take vengeance. The new decree and new second in charge that being Mordecai, brought joy to the Jewish people. We see the manifestation of joy here in verse 15……

15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown[a] and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.

Mordecai here is now dressed in fine linen and colors that would reflect his nobility. These things were proof of the King’s favor towards him. I imagine here that Mordecai stepped out onto a balcony that would have been connected to the palace and all the city of Susa could see him. The sight of him dressed in all the robes brought rejoicing to the Jews.

The Jews now had light, a beam of hope that was not there earlier. God had shown them favor. Look to verse 17 to see the results of this…….

17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

The edict that reached the far ends of the empire brought feasting and rejoicing to the Jews. The other people among them, witnessing this great reversal of hope, surely took into account the God that they serve. The text says that they declared themselves Jews, for the fear of the Jews had fallen on them. This tells us a couple of things about this situation.

First off, this shows that not everyone shared the same hatred for the Jews as Haman. Making this easy to side with them as they had no problem with them. This would have been the people that didn’t care about the God of the jews, they just didn’t want to die.

Second thing that we see here is that some people actually genuinely converted to the faith of the Jews. Now we aren’t privy to the actual number of converts or which ones were actually repentant. But I believe with the understanding of stories like Ruth or Rahab, we can infer that they had a similar change of heart as them. They saw the power and the love of Yahweh for his people just like Rahab.

Rahab makes an appearance in Joshua chapter 2; Joshua as he is leading the nation of Israel to the promise land, had sent out two spies to the land of Jericho. Upon arriving there they lodged at an inn where they met Rahab, a gentile prostitute. The King of Jericho had heard that men from Israel had come to search out the land, so he sent men out to look for them. Rahab had hid the spies out of the kindness of her heart and lied to the men pursuing them, which would ultimately save their lives. She later reveals that the fear of God has fallen upon Jericho and that is why she hid them. And from this point on she pledges allegiance to the God of the Bible.

Rahab is just like some of the Persians here in Esther. Turning to the true God in fear of the wrath to come. But this is what God does, God told Abraham in Genesis 12 that he would bless those who bless his people. The Persians here blessed the Jews and God being faithful to his people, not only blessed his people but also blessed the Persians that aligned themselves with his people, by delivering all who seek shelter in him from the wrath to come.

A quote by Matthew Henry (English Puritan) who perfectly synthesizes this section of scripture says, “The Jews, who awhile ago were under a dark cloud, dejected and disgraced, now had light and gladness, joy and honor, a feast and a good lay. One good effect of this deliverance was that many of the people of the land, that were considerate sober, and well inclined, became Jews, were proselyted to the Jewish religion, renounced idolatry and worshipped the true God only. (Quotes Deuteronomy 33:29) We will go with you, for we have heard, we have seen, that God is with you, the shield of your help, and the sword of your excellency.

Closing:

The story of Esther is a great reminder to us, that just like the decree of Haman which sought to destroy all of Gods people. We have the devil who seeks to destroy all people. And it was his deceptive speech that caused Adam and Eve to fall into sin. Just like I stated in the beginning, now everyone born into this world also has an irrevocable sentence over their lives. That everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and we are all deserving of death, warranting eternal separation from God. But God in his loving mercy made a way for us to avoid the wrath to come. That being if you believe in his one and only Son Jesus Christ, who was sent into this world, who was fully God and fully man. Who lived a sinless and perfectly righteous life. He lived a life that we couldn’t. He lived a life that would satisfy the wrath of God.

 And as his life dwindled to an end, he found himself on the cross. It would be on that cross where he would suffer and die for the sins of everyone who would ever believe in him. He would then be buried and would rise on the third day, and now He has ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Waiting for the day he will return. 

We only have one life here on this earth and there comes a day when death comes knocking at our door. Hebrews 9:27 says, "27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” So, my question to everyone in this room and everyone watching online, come judgement day, are you like the Persians who found refuge in the Lord or will you die in your sins in rebellion against God and spend eternity in hell?

I plead with you, if you have not made that step of faith, do so now in the quietness of your heart. Turn away from your sins and turn to Christ. Ask the Lord to save you! Today is the day of salvation, don’t wait another day, for we do not know the day we will leave this earth. The Lord Jesus Christ says come to him all who burdened and heavy laden and he will give you rest. This will be the best decision you ever make.

For those of you in this room and those watching online who truly know the Lord, let me encourage you to continually run the race that has been placed before you. And to bear the name of Christ at all points in your life, through the most difficult of circumstances. Knowing that the trials, persecutions, and sufferings we face are but a momentary affliction which stands as a tiny bump in the road, in comparison to the vast joy that awaits us in eternity. It will be a joy and a feasting that will never end. And let this sermon be a reminder that we serve a God who is faithful, not only is he faithful to do all the things that I said but he is faithful to keep you. Nothing will separate you from the love of God. May we all rejoice knowing that we serve a faithful God. 

Let us pray!