DUMB WAYS TO DIE

#11: Haman – Long Drop, Short Rope

A Fact About The Book of Esther

Only book in the Bible not to mention God.

Yet, the presence of God is very much assumed.

In The Court Of The Persian King

Ahasuerus – Hebrew equivalent to the Greek name Xerxes.

Xerxes I of Persia Assumed throne of

Persia in 486 B.C. following death of Darius I.

A Royal Feast

Esther 1:3-5 – “…in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet…and he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days. When these days were completed, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present….”

A Royal Snubbing Esther 1:10-12 – “On the

seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded…to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown in order to display her beauty…but Queen Vashti refused….”

A Royal Search For A New Queen

Esther 2:2 – “Then the king’s attendants, who served him, said,

‘Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.”

Beautification process

6 months with “oil of myrhh

6 months with cosmetics

Esther Chosen

Real name is Hadassah (Myrtle Tree = righteousness)

Esther 2:10 – “Esther did not make known her people or her kindred, for Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make them known.”

Mordecai Gains Favor Of The King

2:21 – “In those days…two of the king’s officials…who guarded the door, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. But the plot became known to Mordecai and he told Esther, and Ester informed the king in Mordecai’s name.”

Haman Seeks To Destroy The Jews

Esther 3:1 --After these events King Ahasuerus promoted

Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite,

and advanced him and established his authority over all the princes who

were with him.

Haman Angry With Mordecai Everyone else

bows before him.

Mordecai will not bow before him.

Plot To Destroy The Jews

Esther 3:8-11 – Haman tells the king

that the Jews don’t keep his decrees.

Convinces the king to sign a decree for their extermination.

Ahasuerus puts the matter into Haman’s hands.

Edict To Wipe Out The Jews 3:13 – “Letters were sent by couriers to all

the king’s provinces to destroy,

to kill and to

annihilate all the Jews, both young

and old, women and children, in one day,

the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar….”

The Response Of The Jews

4:1 -- When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly.

Mordecai Informs Esther 4:8 --He also gave him

a copy of the text of the edict which had been issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show Esther and inform her, and to order her to go in to the king to implore his favor and to plead with him for her people.

Esther’s Doubt and Mordecai’s Faith

4:11 = Can’t come before the king without

invitation. If he does not extend his scepter the person seeking audience will be put to death.

4:13-14 If they learn Esther is a Jew she will die too.

This may be the reason she attained royalty. “For if you remain silent…deliverance will

arise for the Jews from another place….”

The Downfall of Haman

Esther comes before the king and scepter is extended.

She plans a banquet for only the king and Haman.

Haman’s Pride

“Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart…was filled with anger against Mordecai….Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared….”

Honoring Mordecai

6:8-9 – “…let them bring a royal robe…the horse on which the king has ridden…let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback…and proclaim before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.’”

Haman becomes Hangman

7:10 – “So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.”

Lessons For Us

Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction

and a haughty spirit before stumbling.”

James 4:6

“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

1 John 5:4

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.”