Sermon Central
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Mordecai Is Honored Series
Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jun 2, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: God holds absolute control over the lives of men. He is sovereign in every aspect of our lives. His divine plans will always be carried out according to His sovereign will.
Mordecai is Honored
I think you will agree that the sixth chapter of Esther is a very exciting text. In fact, the twists and turns within this biblical account would make a best-selling novel or movie script. However, they are not fiction; this is an actual account of the lives of real people. The outcome is certainly not what Haman expected. I can imagine his mouth watering in anticipation of what he perceived as the next great honor to be bestowed upon him. He came into the king’s palace on top of the world, but he would leave feeling very uncertain about his future.
As we considered last week, God holds absolute control over the lives of men. He is sovereign in every aspect of our lives. His divine plans will always be carried out according to His sovereign will. While Haman hoped to obtain the king’s approval to hang Mordecai, God determined to honor him in advance of bringing deliverance to the Jews.
The text reveals much that we could consider. It deals with the sinfulness of men and their desire for wealth, position, and power. It also reveals the hand of God in the lives of His people, bringing abundant blessing when utter destruction seems inevitable. There is also a beautiful picture of Christ our Lord in this passage. I hope to touch on each of these as we move through the text. I want to consider the details within this passage as we think on: Mordecai is Honored.
I. The Proclamation for the Honor (10) – Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. Ahasuerus gives the order to honor Mordecai. Consider:
A. The Attendant – Then the king said to Haman…As we consider this great honor that is to be bestowed on Mordecai, think of the hatred and animosity Haman had for him. He had come that morning to seek the king’s approval to hang Mordecai on the gallows. While Haman thought the king sought to grant him more honor, he devised this elaborate plan to further elevate his status among the people. Now imagine how he felt as the king ordered him to honor Mordecai instead. Rather than the gallows, Mordecai would be honored by the king among the people.
Sinful men can lay out their best made plans, but they will never trump the will of God. Sin may bring pleasure, but it is only for a season. Eventually one will be forced to face their sin and deal with the consequences it brings!
B. The Appropriation (10a) – Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate. Ahasuerus instructed Haman to carry out his plan for the man the king sought to honor. He agreed with what Haman had proposed. Mordecai was to be dressed in the king’s apparel, placed on the king’s horse, and paraded through the city in order to honor him. This would be an event that would certainly gather the attention of the residents of the city. The king held nothing back in honoring Mordecai for his good deed.
While we are not promised favor of the world, nor should we desire it, we are assured of God’s provision in our lives. If you are in Christ, you have access to all that heaven affords. We may find ourselves lacking materially at times, but there is no need for a believer to live below their means spiritually. Phil.4:19 – But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
C. The Assurance (10b) – let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. Ahasuerus commanded Haman to carry out this honor just as he had proposed it. He was to let nothing fail in regard to honoring Mordecai. The king wanted Mordecai to receive great honor for his faithfulness.
The promises of God for the believer are many, and we can rest assured knowing none of them will fail. Every believer is secure in Christ and promised eternal life in Him. Of all the promises we have received, none are greater than what our Lord spoke of in John 10. John 10:28-29 – And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
II. The Presentation of the Honor (11) – Here we discover the details of this great honor and how Mordecai was presented to the residents of the city. Consider:
