Feast of Purim… (3 things)

• 1^st – Turning the tables… 8:1-17
  • 1^st – Great rewards… vs. 1-2
    • After the death of Haman – Esther came to see the King Ahasuerus…
      • The house of Haman – all his possession – were given to Esther by the King…
      • Esther then revealed that Mordecai was her cousin / and adopted father…
      • The King gave him his signet ring – making Mordecai the head of the princes of Persia…
      • Then Esther gave Mordecai the responsibility of overseeing the house of Haman!
      • Everything that Haman had – from position to possession – was given to Mordecai!
    • Haman may have appeared to have it all / while Mordecai had nothing…
      • But appearances can be deceiving – a day of judgment was coming!
        • When we look at the evil world around us – it can be very upsetting…
        • We see people living immoral lives – rejecting the knowledge of God…
        • And the worst part is they seem to be getting away with it…
        • They are not suffering – they may even prosper – and it seems unfair!
        • Psalm 73:16-17 – “I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!  Then I went into your sanctuary… and thought about the destiny of the wicked.”
      • Just because God has not judged yet – does not mean God will not judge…
        • Many assume they are ‘ok’ because God does not immediately punish them…
        • They make mistake of interpreting God’s ‘patience’ for God’s ‘acceptance’…
        • Just because God has not judged yet – does not mean God will not judge!
        • No matter how we sin – in the end there are consequences – Numbers 32:23
    • Yet our reward for living for Jesus is not always immediate…
      • You do not plant a seed – and expect there to be fruit on the braches in the morning…
        • And if you sat there and waited for the plant to grow – you would likely give up!
        • The solution is to keep busy – weeding / plowing – in time the fruit will come!
        • So often we want to see the good fruit from our efforts right now!
        • When the fruit does not come – we get tired – assuming nothing will every happen…
        • It is easy to get frustrated with the failures in our Christian walk…
        • It can be tempting to want to ‘give up’ – thinking things will never change!
      • Do not give up – good fruit takes time and patience to grow…
        • Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
        • Rather than looking for the fruit – we just need to keep busy serving Jesus…
        • As we are faithful to abide in Jesus – stand up for His Word…
        • In God’s time we will bear great fruit – be used powerfully for the Lord!
        • So keep doing good – especially to those who are brother and sisters in the Lord!
  • 2^nd – The counter law… vs. 3-14
    • Esther spoke again to the King – pleading with him to counteract the evil of Haman…
      • How could she – a Jew – sit by while her people were subject to destruction!
      • It is not enough that we have been saved from death by the Grace of God…
      • What about the rest of our family / our friends – those who do not know Jesus…
      • We know what happens to those who do not have a relationship with Jesus…
      • Yet so often we hesitate – are more concerned about what others might say or think of us…
      • We must recognizing what is at stake – be bold and tell those we love they need Jesus!
    • Although Haman was dead – the law he had inspired remained in place…
      • On the 13^th of Adar – all of the Jews were destined to be annihilated by their enemies!
      • He could not take back what he had said / or undo the decree he had signed…
      • Because according to Persian Law – no edict could be revoked – Daniel 6:14
      • James 1:19 – “My dear brothers, be quick to listen, slow to speak…”
      • Because it is easy to say something – but almost impossible to take our words back…
      • Better to think first before we speak – then face the consequence of our words!
    • The King pointed out – he had executed Haman because he tried to harm the Jews…
      • If he was willing to do that to his chief prince – how much more anyone else…
      • So he gave Mordecai permission to write a new law for the protection of the Jews!
      • So on the 23^rd of Sivan (May/June) Mordecai wrote a new edict…
      • It was sent to all 127 provinces of the Kingdom – translated into every language…
      • Sent on the swiftest steeds / camels – to deliver the message to far corners of the Empire…
      • Written in the name of King Ahasuerus – sealed with his signet ring…
      • That on the same day the Jews were to be killed – the 13^th day of Adar (March)…
      • The Jews were allowed to gather in every city – to destroy / kill / annihilate their enemies!
      • Mordecai used the same language / day as Haman – but this time in favor of the Jews!
      • Only God can take a horrible situation – and turn it around for our good – Isaiah 63:1
      • God is the one who can turn our sorrow into joy / our mourning into a holiday…
      • But like Esther – it takes willingness on our part to come humble before the King…
      • It is there we find Grace and Mercy to help us in our times of need!
      • Hebrews 4:16–“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
  • 3^rd – Good to be a Jew… vs. 15-17
    • Mordecai left the King dressed in royal robes and a royal crown…
      • And the whole city of Shushan celebrated – apparently they did not miss Haman…
      • Here was a man who thought he had everything – forgotten almost immediately!
        
    • In Luke 12:16-22 Jesus gives the Parable of the rich man…
      • A man who had so much he did not even have enough room to store all he had harvested…
      • But God called him a Fool – he would die tonight – then who will get the things he stored… 
      • Most people dedicate their life to find – the BIG PAYDAY – the path to ‘easy street’…
      • Thinking if only I had a LOT of money – then all of my problems would go away!
      • When we are young we tend to have nothing – no money / no possessions…
      • So we work hard all our life to try and get all the things we ‘want’ – only then to die…
      • Ecclesiastes 2:18-20 – “I am disgusted that I must leave the fruits of my hard work to others.  And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? And yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work. How meaningless!”
      • That does not mean we are not to work hard – it means we work hard for God…
      • Do not strive after the riches of this world – they do not last…
      • Instead strive after the royal robes and crown that come through living your life for God!
    • From one of the darkest moments in Jewish history – came one of their greatest victories!
      • And in every city where the decree of the King came there was great celebration…
      • The Jews had light (prosperity) / gladness (happiness) / joy / and honor (value)…
      • Then many of the people of the land became Jews – for fear fell upon them!
      • It is often in the darkest times – when we have the great victories…
      • That is why we are called to rejoice in in trials – Romans 5:3
      • Because if there were never any challenges – we would never learn to depend upon God!
      • The Lord uses those trials to show us He will take care of all our needs – prosper us…
      • Giving us confidence we are important / valuable to him – that He will never fail us!
      • That confidence in the His faithfulness – gives us a godly character…
      • As a result we become known as those who trust in God – full of the joy of the Lord…
      • And that joy in any circumstance – allows the world to see Jesus in us! 

• 2^nd – The victory of the Jews… 9:1-32
  • 1^st – The 13^th of Adar… vs. 1-10
    • The day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them…
      • From the very beginning it has been the aim of Satan to destroy the people of God…
      • He inspired Cain to kill Abel – it was through the seed he would be defeated – Genesis 3:15
      • He attempted to corrupt the line of men – nephilim – resulting in the flood – Genesis 6:4
      • He inspired Pharaoh to kill every male son of Israel – Exodus 2:16
      • He was the inspiration behind Haman – to wipe the Jews from the face of the earth…
      • Satan would try again and again to destroy the Jews – Herod / Inquisition / Holocaust…
    • The reason satan has gone after the Jews – is because they are Gods chosen people!
      • One of my favorite movies is ‘Fiddler on a roof’ – the story of poor Russian Jews…
      • In a prayer Tevye says – ‘O dear Lord I know we are your chosen people…
      • But could you choose someone else for a little while!’
      • We need to understand – because we are the children of God – we are a target…
      • Jesus even told Peter in Luke 22:31 – Satan has asked for you by name…
      • I imagine those were VERY unsettling words to hear – ‘satan knows my name’…
      • But make no mistake – if we stand up for Jesus – satan knows who we are…
      • And he will come test us – try us – to see what we are made of – try and discourage us…
      • He wants to try and get us to back down – walk away from the ministry!
    • The day that was supposed to be the defeat of the Jews – was their greatest victory!
      • According to the King’s command – the Jews in every city banded together in every city…
      • And all the officials of the Land came to the aid of the Jews – for the fear of Mordecai…
      • Because he had become very powerful in the court of King Ahasuerus…
      • So the Jews killed all their enemies – 500 in the palace of Shushan alone!
      • I Corinthians 2:8 tell us if satan had known – he would never have crucified Christ…
      • When Jesus was put on the cross – satan rejoiced – he thought he had won…
      • What he did not understand – but would learn 3 short days later – it was his defeat!
      • It was there on the cross Jesus crushed satan / sin / and death!
      • Our enemy is a defeated foe – we have nothing to fear from him – we win!
      • I Corinthians 15:55-57 – “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? …Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
  • 2^nd – The 14^th of Adar… vs. 11-19
    • The King reported to Esther – 500 killed / including the 10 sons of Haman…
      • Esther asked for 1 more day to purge 300 remaining enemies of the Jews in Shushan…
      • And that the bodies of the 10 sons of Haman would be impaled on poles…
      • It would seem logical the original decree of Haman exposed many enemies of the Jews…
      • So that one day was not enough to be able to dispose of them all…
      • The public display of the bodies of the sons of Haman would serve as a future warning!
      • The assumption being that the sons of Haman – were just like their father!

• Now God does not punish the children for the sins of their fathers…
• It is true our parents have a HUGE influence on us – either good or bad…
• But God does not punish us for the mistakes of our parents…
• But we can learn from their mistakes – not follow in their footsteps…
• Ezekiel 18:20 – “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son.”
• The remainder of the Jews in the Empire killed 75,000 of their enemies on the 13^th of Adar…
  • But they did not take any of their possessions – they were not in it for the money…
  • The Jews did not want anyone thinking they had ulterior motives…
  • They were only seeking to defend their families – keep them safe from harm…
  • Is there ever a good time when a Christian can use force to defend their family…
  • If a mugger tried to steel from your wife / or a robber breaks into your home…
  • Do you rebuke them in the name of Jesus – or can you add in Smith and Wesson…
  • We certainly see examples in the Bible of men being armed – II Samuel 23
  • Even the Disciples were told to arm themselves before the crucifixion – Luke 22:36
  • But we are not to trust in our abilities / or our weapons – Psalm 44:6-7
  • Ultimately we are to trust in the Lord as our protector – He is our defense – Psalm 28:7
• 3^rd – The celebration of Purim… vs. 20-32
  • Mordecai sent a letter out to all the Jews – a command to celebrate…
    • On the 14-15^th of Adar – they were to have a holiday commemorating their victory…
    • Celebrating how God turned their sorrow to joy / their mourning into a holiday!
    • It was a celebration to be remembered for every generation / in every place…
    • A tradition so ‘Purim’ would not be forgotten by subsequent generations!
  • Traditions can be good – when they teach us about God…
    • I think children should see Baptisms / Communion – partake if they want to…
    • Not for the sake of the ‘tradition’ but so they can ask why – why do we do it…
    • It give the opportunity for us to teach our kids about God …
    • Communion – teaching how we were saved from sin/death – by the sacrifice of Jesus…
    • Baptism – teaching how we are no longer sinners – but new creations in Christ!
• 3^rd – He that humbles himself… 10:1-3
  • 1^st – King Ahasuerus imposed a tax on his kingdom…
    • Presumably to compensate for the loss that came from his decrees – 75,000 killed…
      • But Mordecai became great in the Kingdom – advancing to the role of 2^nd in the Land…
      • The account of him even being recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Persia!
      • Haman went from royalty to infamy / Mordecai went from obscurity to royalty…
      • One of the most powerful pictures in in the Bible of a great truth…
      • God resists the proud – and only pours out His grace on the humble – James 4:6…
    • If we are honest – we tend to put ourselves before others – we are not humble…
      • When we get to church – we do not prefer others – we grad the best donut…
      • We will fight and grab to get the best – we saw it first – we deserve it!
      • Yet if we exalt ourselves – we will be humbled / humble ourselves – God will exalt us…
      • If we are prideful – if we think we deserve the best – God is opposed to us…
      • It puts up a wall between God and us – it breaks our fellowship with the Lord…
      • No matter what we do – or how hard we try – we will fail because God is not with us…
      • It is only when we are willing to humble ourselves – God stands on our side…
      • Then no matter what we put our hands to in life – we will find success!