LIVING THE ‘HIGH LIFE’
June 24, 2009 Esther 1
1. Can You Name a Book of the Bible
a. God/Lord/Jehovah never appears?
b. Prayer/worship/sacrifice never mentioned?
c. Shortest BK in OT Obadiah – 1 Chap. 6xs God/Lord
2. Esther
a. Exile of Jews because of their sin – no winking
i. 2 Kings 24:14-16
ii. 2 Chronicles 36:17-21
b. Why? 2 Chronicles 36:14-16 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. 15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
2. Might not hear His name or see His worship
a. rest assured that he is in control
b. while History does repeat – rolling to judgment
c. Joseph- Gen. 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
3. We are going to look at the Book Practically
a. What does it teach about life today?
b. How does that teaching effect me?
c. Will I receive what it teaches–in practice or warning?
1. LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY 1:1-3
A. Unrestrained
1. Whims & Desires become our Decisions
2. Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
3. When every man does that which is right in his own eyes he will soon do evil in the eyes of God!
Adam Clarke’s Commentary
He was his own governor, and what he did he said was right; and, by his cunning and strength, defended his conduct. When a man’s own will, passions, and caprice, are to be made the rule of law, society is in a most perilous and ruinous state. Civil government is of God; and without it the earth must soon be desolated.
B. Unchallenged
1. Question A-has-u-erus’ whims, decisions = death
2. One word - faithful friend – stopped bad decision
a. Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall
C. Uncorrected
1. Purpose of the Banquet
a. Announce & gather support - attack on Greece
b. Greek Historian Herodotus reports
i. someone dared - advise against did not listen
ii. Defeated in 483 BC
c. Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel you shall make your war: and in multitude of counselors there is safety.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he hath not another to help him up.
2. LIFE OF ARROGANCE 1:4-6
A. Based on His Past
1. Grandfather - Cyrus – founder of dynasty
2. Father was Darius I – defeated Belshazzar
a. Babylon in a drunken profane banquet
b. quietly stopped river and entered under walls
3. King by birth not by distinction or wisdom
B. Based on His Present
1. Most powerful man on earth
a. Strength of army & loyalty of people
b. One weak or turn then his power was lost
2. Might be strong & have no need of God
a. Only by His great goodness not destroyed
b. Man thinks – going to live forever –
c. David > “only a step between me and death”
Ecclesiastes 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
C. Based on His Passions
1. Wealth
a. 180 day invitation party
b. 7 day ya’ll come
c. gold utensils
2. Whiskey
a. Word ‘feast’ – to drink
b. Party Time –
3. Women
a. Harem of several hundred
b. Ever saw one he liked – sent his soldiers
i. after all who could resist him?
3. LURE OF ALCOHOL 1:7-21
A. Deceit vs. 7-9
Romans 14: 13 … but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
1. Precept – no one had to drink
a. Designated driver – not concern>hypocrisy
b. Become an alcoholic w/first drink.
c. no one ever planned - get drunk/wreck/destroy
Proverbs 23:29-35 (MSG) 29 Who are the people who are always crying the blues? Who do you know who reeks of self-pity? Who keeps getting beat up for no reason at all? Whose eyes are bleary and bloodshot? 30 It’s those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business. 31 Don’t judge wine by its label, or its bouquet, or its full-bodied flavor. 32 Judge it rather by the hangover it leaves you with— the splitting headache, the queasy stomach. 33 Do you really prefer seeing double, with your speech all slurred, 34 Reeling and seasick, drunk as a sailor? 35 "They hit me," you’ll say, "but it didn’t hurt; they beat on me, but I didn’t feel a thing. When I’m sober enough to manage it, bring me another drink!"
B. Debauchery 10-11
1. vs. 11 Command to wear nothing but crown
2. Make you act like an animal;
a. end up on bed w/someone who looks/smells like
b. didn’t mean to get PG; std; not stop when told no;
Habakkuk 2:15-17 (MSG) "Who do you think you are— inviting your neighbors to your drunken parties, Giving them too much to drink, roping them into your sexual orgies? 16 You thought you were having the time of your life. Wrong! It’s a time of disgrace. All the time you were drinking, you were drinking from the cup of God’s wrath. 17 You’ll wake up holding your throbbing head, hung over— hung over from Lebanon violence, Hung over from animal massacres, hung over from murder and mayhem, From multiple violations of place and people.
C. Division 12
1. Vashti – in another room at another party
2. Enjoyed their games; one didn’t want play
3. He’s just drunk – don’t pay attn –
never more honest!!!!!
D. Disgust 13-17
1. Failed Relationships
2. False Fears
3. Foolish Counselors
E. Destruction
1. later assassinated – life of drunken anger
2. one to many wife stolen? daughter violated
3. one to many person humiliated-destroyed
4. LASH OF ANGUISH 2:1
Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.
