God’s Sovereign Symphony
Esther 6: 1-14
Preached Wednesday, May 21, 2003
Introduction:
A master composer like Mozart or Bach writes a work that utilizes melody, harmony and rhythm. Many different instruments playing several different parts make up this symphonic masterpiece. If one were to play a non-melodic part alone, it would sound strange and unappealing. It is only when the entire symphony is played out together that the genius of the composer shines through.
This is how the sovereignty of God is played out in our lives. When we listen to the music of our individual circumstances, it does not always sound pleasing, but God, the master composer, has written our part harmonize and complement the rest of His entire symphony.
Our passage tonight illustrates this principle. We will see that God has complete control over the tragic circumstances that seem to be inevitable for the Jewish people. Wicked Haman had already obtained permission from the king to commit genocide against the Jews. Mordecai was the object of all of his hatred. Haman was on his way to obtain permission from the king to kill Mordecai on gallows that were already built. This is where we see and hear the masterpiece of God’s sovereign symphony.
I. God’s rewards are timed perfectly.
A. Mordecai did right without the promise of any reward.
Esther 2:21-23
21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name. 23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
1. He saved the king’s life.
2. The deed was recorded.
3. Nothing else happened.
è God saw what was done.
Matthew 6:6
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
B. One night the king could not sleep.
Esther 6:1-3
On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
1. God was in charge of the king’s insomnia.
2. Insomnia caused the king to review the records.
3. The king found out about Mordecai’s deed.
4. The king found out that nothing had been done to reward Mordecai.
II. God thwarts the plans of the wicked according to His perfect timing.
A. Haman was the man available for advise.
Esther 6:4-5
4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
1. The king would have chosen whoever was in the court at the time.
2. Haman did not get a chance to talk to the king about hanging Mordecai.
3. Haman’s pride allowed him to not bring Mordecai up.
B. God used Haman’s pride to trap him.
Esther 6:6-9
6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
1. Haman was asked how to show a man honor.
2. Haman assumed the king was talking about him. – Even though Haman had done nothing honorable!
III. God humbles the proud.
A. Haman put his imagination to work.
1. Give this man the king’s clothes to wear.
2. Give this man the king’s horse to ride upon.
3. Give this man the king’s crown to wear.
4. Give this man the king’s noble to proclaim his honor publicly.
B. Haman was the noble prince that the king chose to use!
Esther 6:10-11
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. 11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
C. Haman started to see his impending doom.
Esther 6:12-14
12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.
1. He was in heavy mourning.
2. His close advisors foretold his fall.
3. Immediately Esther called him to her banquet.
