LIVING FOR GOD IN A GODLESS CULTURE
HUMILITY OR HUMILIATION - Esther 6:1-13
(ESTHER 6:1-4)
-Hook: Ever have a week you aren’t too proud of?
-A week where you weren’t patient enough with your kids?
-Or you weren’t kind enough to your wife?
-Ever had a week where you just didn’t get all the things done you that you wanted to?
-You had to apologize for saying something stupid?
-Where you meant to exercise one day and ate chips instead?
-Where you ruined a load of laundry because you didn’t check the pockets like your wife has told you to do 100 times?
-Ever had a week you weren’t too proud of?
-And then you realized that you’re preaching on humility?
-This passage makes my week make more sense. Talking about…
• Mordecai crossed Haman.
• Haman issued a decree to kill all the Jews.
• Mordecai and all the Jews are in mourning.
• Esther prepares to ask the King for mercy.
-Throws a feast and the king asks what do you really want…
-She chickens out…and says let’s have dinner again tomorrow.
-On the way out Haman sees Mordecai and is furious
-His friends say, “Why not just have him killed?”
-Great idea, sharpen a 75 foot pole and tomorrow Mordecai dies!
-Our story picks up back at the palace with King Xerxes
VS 6:1 That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him. 2 In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king’s private quarters. They had plotted to assassinate King Xerxes.
-I like to read at bedtime…it helps me fall asleep.
-Many people read when they can’t sleep…read something boring
-What could be more boring...history of his own reign.
-Let me read the historical account of my rise to power.
-Tell me how great I am and what I’ve done.
-BTW doesn’t read it himself…makes someone else get up in the middle of the night and read it to him and he discovers something
-Remember back in ch 2…Mordecai uncovered assassination plot
-The two bad guys were impaled on a sharpened pole…lot of that going around in Persia.
-Here is where things get interesting…a thought occurs to the king
VS 3 “What reward or recognition did we ever give Mordecai for this?” the king asked. His attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”
-Amazing that the king hadn’t honored Mordecai
-He literally saved his life…but was given no reward
-Xerxes may have been a degenerate scum bag, but no one messes everything up.
-He thinks maybe I ought to reward the guy who saved my life.
-This is where we really begin to see God’s providence begin to show up in the story.
-The world believes in co-incidence we believe in providence.
-Even though God’s name is never used in this book, his handiwork is seen throughout the story.
-And here God shows up in a very big way.
VS 4 “Who is that in the outer court?” the king inquired. As it happened, Haman had just arrived in the outer court of the palace to ask the king to impale Mordecai on the pole he had prepared.
-It’s 8am, the fortress is open for business, Haman is first in line.
-You can imagine he’s kind of excited, he is pumped up.
-He will finally have his revenge against Mordecai.
-What exactly did Mordecai do? Didn’t bow to him.
-Everyone in the whole kingdom bowed to him, he was the highest official in the land under the king.
-He had wealth. Had many children. He had everything!
-Was that enough for him to feel respected? No!
-He cared more about the one man who wouldn’t bow than the 1000’s who bowed in respect every day.
-Haman was an extremely proud man.
-Everything is going well for this guy.
-He’s been promoted. He has power. He’s important.
-He’s already brokered a death sentence for his enemies.
-He had a private banquet with the King and the Queen.
-But it’s not enough. He won’t rest until his wounded pride has been soothed.
-He’s in line first thing in the morning to see King Xerxes about that pesky disrespectful Jew Mordecai.
-He wants him stuck on a 75 foot pole. Trying to make a point!
VS 5 So the attendants replied to the king, “Haman is out in the court.” “Bring him in,” the king ordered.
-You’ll notice that Haman himself didn’t go into the King’s presence uninvited. He was waiting in the outer courts.
-If you approached the king you could be killed…even Haman.
-The king’s been thinking about the failed assassination plot and how Mordecai saved his life…and in walks Haman.
VS 6 So Haman came in, and the king said, “What should I do to honor a man who truly pleases me?” Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?”
-Why would Haman think that? Pride.
-He heard that someone was going to be honored and his natural assumption was that it would be him. Pride.
-It says what he thought. Who would he honor besides me? Pride
-I am the greatest. I am the best. I am going to be honored.
-If Haman had been a humble man, and had believed the king was going to recognize him, what would he have suggested?
-King Xerxes, “Your gratitude would be enough of a reward.”
-But in his pride, he starting suggesting a rather outlandish reward
VS 7…“If the king wishes to honor someone, 8 he should bring out one of the king’s own royal robes, as well as a horse that the king himself has ridden—one with a royal emblem on its head. 9 Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. And let him see that the man whom the king wishes to honor is dressed in the king’s robes and led through the city square on the king’s horse. Have the official shout as they go, ‘This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!’”
-Haman has come up with the ultimate prize for himself.
-I’m going to get to wear one of the king’s royal purple robes!
-I’m going to get to ride the king’s own horse!
-One of the king’s official is going to lead me through town announcing how great I am to all the people!
-This is going to be awesome! Man I am cool.
-All throughout Esther we see the cancerous effects of pride.
-Xerxes put his pride on display at a great feast to impress nobles
-Xerxes’ pride was wounded when his wife snubbed him publically
-Pride ended Xerxes marriage to Queen Vashti.
-Mordecai’s pride kept him from bowing to Haman.
-His pride led to a death sentence for millions of people.
-Haman’s pride made him furious when Mordecai wouldn’t bow.
-His pride led him to sin against innocent people.
-Now he’s is suggesting that he be the star of a one man parade!
-Church, the stage that we are on may not be as big as the one for Xerxes, and Esther and Haman.
-We may not be rich and powerful and prestigious like those people were, but our pride is just as much a problem as theirs.
-Pride is a problem for everyone.
-Just now, when I said that, some of you thought “pride isn’t a problem for me…that was pride. Welcome to the club!
-Pride is considered a “root sin”.
-It is a sin from which many other sins flow.
-I heard another pastor talk about this and he asked some very pointed questions that are designed to reveal the pride in us.
-I’m going call these PRIDE DETECTION QUESTIONS…surprised
1. Do I crave attention, honor, recognition, reward, and get
angry when I’m overlooked?
-That self-righteous, indignant, “how dare they” attitude is pride.
-Why wasn’t I recognized, promoted, appreciated, and honored?
-Some people really stew when they feel slighted. Pride.
2. Do I become jealous or critical of people who succeed?
-One of the pettiest forms of pride is jealousy at the prosperity and success of others.
-You’re upset because they got a nice house, they have a beautiful wife, a bigger salary.
-You say “how did they get so lucky?” You can’t call it success.
-They don’t deserve that…but I do. Pride.
3. Do I always have to win?
-There are people that have to win every argument, win every debate, try to win at things that aren’t even about winning.
-Always have to have the last word, final say.
-If no one wants to play games with you, or discuss things with you because you have to win. Guess what that is? Pride.
-It’s having to always be the best, look the best, because you believe you are the best. That’s pride.
-And that can take an opposite form as well.
4. Do I lack ambition for fear of failing?
-Some people are so proud they won’t risk doing anything that could possibly make them look bad.
-They won’t try something hard, something new, something they aren’t good at…they don’t want to look bad or seem vulnerable.
-We always think of pride as being someone who is boastful, loud, and cocky like Haman.
-But many quiet unassuming people struggle with pride too.
5. Do I have a pattern of lying about or hiding your failures?
-Can’t admit you made a mistake. Deny ever wrong doing.
-Blame others for your failures.
-Spin the truth to make yourself look better? That’s pride.
-Do you see how insidious, the sin of pride really is?
6. Do I have a hard time fully acknowledging I was wrong?
-If it pains you to say “you were right” to someone…pride.
-When caught dead to rights you still won’t admit wrong
-You find a way to justify it or excuse it…pride!
-What is it that prevents us from saying, “I was wrong” to our spouse, our kids, our parents, or boss? Pride.
7. Do I have a lot of conflict with other people?
-Some people always have at least one fight going.
-They fight with their spouse, their family, and their friends.
-They brighten the room by leaving it. They are always fighting!
-You never see a fight break out between two humble people.
-No wars were ever started over a disagreement between humble
-What is there to fight about when you’re humble?
-“You’re better than I am? No you are.”
-“Let me serve you. No I’ll serve you.” No fights over that!
-Some people start conflict wherever they go.
-And somehow, mysteriously, it’s never their fault.
-Their pride won’t allow them to see that they are the common denominator in all of these situations.
8. Do I feel superior to other people?
-Nobody wants to admit this, so I will. I admit to this.
-I’m the senior hypocrite here, so I will admit this first.
-I’m willing to get honest about my pride. Are you?
-Do you assume the worst about certain people?
-Do you ever catch yourself comparing yourself to others?
-Do you ever judge others and think “I’d never do that!”
-That is a feeling of superiority that all of us have at times. Pride.
9. Do I tend more toward an attitude of entitlement or
thankfulness?
-Instead of being thankful for what you have you feel entitled.
-I deserve it. I earned it. I’m owed it. That’s pride.
-That was Haman…I deserve to sit on the king’s horse, wear the king’s robe, and have the king’s man proclaiming my greatness!
(Taken from Mark Driscoll http://marshill.com/media/esther/jesus-is-a-better-servant)
-Well there is no way he could have seen this one coming.
-What happened to Haman was completely opposite of what he had been plotting for.
ESTHER 6:10-13
VS 10 “Excellent!” the king said to Haman. “Quick! Take the robes and my horse, and do just as you have said…for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the gate of the palace. Leave out nothing you have suggested!”
-I would have loved to seen the look on his face.
-Imagine his jaw dropping and hitting the floor.
-I want you to do exactly what you said…give the royal treatment….for the man who drives you crazy!
-He was so convinced that he was the man, so puffed up with pride, this must have been devastating to him.
-Haman’s pride caused him to be humiliated.
-Some of us have been in this same situation.
-There is a guy or gal at work that you think is an idiot.
-You judge them, critique them, gossip about them compare yourself to them…it’s all fueled by pride.
-And then that idiot…got the promotion instead of you. Dang it.
-Someone gives you advice, or warns you, you blow them off, you won’t listen, you go ahead and do it your way.
-And you fail miserably. You lose money, lose time, lose face.
-You’re proud, you overcommit, you make promises you can’t possibly keep to impress people and you can’t deliver.
-Pride doesn’t lead to humility. It leads to humiliation.
-I’m convinced that humiliation leads to humility.
-Some people wisely choose humility and skip the humiliation.
-But others, never seem to learn. So they get to be humiliated, privately and publically, just like our buddy Haman.
-Now imagine this scene in your mind. When Haman woke up that morning he pictured Mordecai (that guy he hated) stripped naked and impaled on a pole 75 feet in the air, and dying a slow death.
-Here’s how the day actually turned out:
VS 11 So Haman took the robes and put them on Mordecai, placed him on the king’s own horse, and led him through the city square, shouting, “This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!” 12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the palace gate, but Haman hurried home dejected and completely humiliated.
-Imagine that conversation between Haman and Mordecai.
-Um… the king wants to honor you and he sent me to do it.
-Here is the king’s royal robe, it’s for you to wear.
-Here is the king’s horse…you are supposed to sit on it.
-And I’m going to lead you through city on it…declaring that you’ve been honored by the king.
-Talk about humiliation and disgrace.
-Talk about swallowing your pride and eating crow.
-We’re tempted to make Mordecai into some saint here but we’d be wrong to do so.
-He was guilty of that same sinful pride.
-He wouldn’t bow. He wouldn’t show Haman respect.
-He wouldn’t heed the warnings of the people around him.
-And he was ALSO humiliated when Haman got the upper hand.
-But notice what he didn’t do when it all came crashing down:
-He didn’t deny his own sinfulness.
-He didn’t continue to blame Haman.
-He didn’t trying to lessen his responsibility or spin it somehow.
-He didn’t stick to his guns. He got humble.
-In fact, he put on mourning clothes and decided to humble himself before God and he fasted and prayed.
-And what happened?
-Mordecai showed humility and was honored.
-It wasn’t just Haman who had a different day than he was planning for. It was also Mordecai.
-He is facing death, his people are persecuted, and it’s his fault.
-He’s been fasting and praying for mercy from above, and suddenly he’s wearing the King’s robe and riding his horse.
-There is no way he saw that coming.
-And Haman…well the tides are turning on the bad guy.
VS 13 When Haman told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends what had happened, his wise advisers and his wife said, “Since Mordecai—this man who has humiliated you—is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him.”
-Give it up Haman, you’ve been humiliated…you need to let it go.
-There are people in the room facing their own cross roads in their own pride induced situations.
-Some people are so proud in your marriage…they’ll risk losing their spouse, house, reputation…will being humiliated.
-Rather than swallow their pride and apologize.
-Some people are so proud with their kids…so stubborn unyielding
-They’ll hold their ground declaring that their right, and lose their kids. Rather than check that pride and find common ground.
-Some people are so proud of their finances, their wealth, their self sufficiency.
-Some are so proud of their appearance, body, fitness, health
-Some are so proud of their possessions; fancy cars, boats, diamonds, and houses.
-Here is a warning for you this morning: whatever your pocket of pride is where you’ll be humbled.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
-Proud people have two choices: humility or humiliation.
-It really have a choice.
-Proud people hold themselves up so high, that when they fall it’s often a disaster. Humiliated.
-Humble people fall too, it’s just a much shorter fall.
-Because they have a lower view of themselves to start with.
1 Peter 5:5b “And all of you, serve each other in humility, for “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”
-Those should be scary words to proud people. God opposes the proud. Not passively. He’s not just annoyed with your pride.
-He’s going to give opportunities to learn humility. It’s gonna hurt.
-But he shows favor to humble people. Not passively.
-He’s showing you favor because you are humble.
-And here’s the secret with this Christians: humble people know their need for Jesus. They depend on Jesus. They exalt Jesus.
-Proud people think they only need Jesus when they’re broken.
-So God’s keeps breaking them until they realize that they need Jesus, just as much as the rest of us.
-None of us stand before Jesus proud.
-When we accepted Jesus, we did so with the humble admission or our need for his saving grace.
-And our aim is live with that same humility every day.
-Do I have any pockets of pride? (What’s the answer? Yes!)
-Which of the pride detection questions applies most to me?
