A Time Top Kill Series

For Such a Time as This: A Time to Kill

Esther 2:19:3:15

Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

8-16-2020

The Final Solution

On January 20, 1942, 15 high ranking Nazi and German government officials met at a villa in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee to coordinate the implementation of what came to be known as the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question.”

With cold precision, each organization shared how they planned to commit genocide.

Hitler had ordered it. The SS stood ready. In this short meeting, these men decided the fate of 11 million Jews.

Then they went for cocktails with no guilt or shame over their decision. Of course, it had to be done.

This morning, we are going to witness another such meeting that happened 2,500 years earlier in which two men decided the fate of millions of Jewish men, women, and children and then went and had a few beers together.

An Orphan Crowned Queen

Last week, we studied most of Esther 2 and watched in horror as young women from all over the empire were kidnapped, help captive, and one by one raped by the King.

This was not some “Miss Persia” contest. This was “Who wants to be the sex slave of a brutal egotistical maniac?” The answer was no one.

But somehow, when the dust settled, Esther wore the crown. She had won the king’s “affection” and now sat on Vashti’s throne.

If you weren’t here last week, you can watch the sermon on our Facebook page. If you can’t be here one week, you can watch the service on Facebook live.

Let’s keep in mind our theme for this series:

“God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.” - John Piper

Today, the story gets darker and more grim but, behind the scenes, God is quietly at work to bring about the deliverance of His people.

Turn with me to Esther 2 verse 21.

Prayer

Mordecai Saves The King

“During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai.  And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.” (Esther 2:21-23)

After Esther was crowned queen, Mordecai had been promoted, (maybe by Esther herself), to a judicial position. He would work inside the building known as the King’s Gate, which was known as the “Gate of All Nations.”

This complex was built by Darius (Xerxes father) and was 131 feet long and 92 feet wide.

This is where our story begins with Mordecai setting at the King’s gate.

The Plot.

Two of the king’s officials who “guarded the doorway,” which meant the were the last line of security for the king plotted to assassinate the king.

Why were they angry? We don’t know. Maybe they were angry about being eunuchs. (I would be!).

For a king as paranoid as Xerxes, there was the possibility of an attempt on his life.

If fact, that’s how Xerxes actually died. In 465 BC, he was assassinated in his inner chamber by members of his royal guard.

Mordecai uncovers the plot

We are told that the “plot became known to Mordecai.” How did this happen? Did they tell him? Did he overhear their scheming? We aren’t told.

Mordecai tells the only one he trusts

Mordecai went straight to Esther with this information and Esther went straight to the king, making sure he know it was Mordecai who had uncovered the plot.

The Investigation and Punishment

An investigation was launched and found the plot to be a real and present threat to the king. In the Persian criminal just system, a trial was a waste of time. These two officials were “hanged on the gallows” and then impaled on a pole. This would serve as a visual reminder to anyone else who had thoughts of causing harm to the king.

Entered into the Record

This act of bravery on Mordecai’s part, was recorded in the official registry (the Book of the Chronicles), in the King’s presence.

Persian kings were known for greatly rewarding those like Mordecai who uncovered an assassination attempt and saved the king’s life.

But why?

Why did Mordecai save the king’s life? Remember, the king had taken his Esther, both figuratively and literally. He was a brutal tyrant who considered himself a god. Why didn’t Mordecai just say to Bigthan and Teresh, “Good for you! I’ll help you cut off his head!”

But if Xerxes dies, what happens to Esther? Is she next to be taken out? What happens to the relative peace that they are enjoying? Wouldn’t an assassination cause the empire to evolve into chaos?