Ester 5
Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
Ester 5
Spurgeon comments on Esther's failure to ask the King at the first banquet... Being told to ask what she pleases, she invites the king to come to a banquet, and bring Haman with him. He comes, and for the second time invites her to ask what she wills to the half of his kingdom. Why, when the king was in so kind a spirit, did not Esther speak? He was charmed with her beauty, and his royal word was given to deny her nothing, why not speak out? But no, she merely asks that he and Haman will come to another banquet of wine to-morrow. O, daughter of Abraham (Esther), what an opportunity hast thou lost! Wherefore didst thou not plead for thy people? Their very existence hangs upon thy entreaty, and the king has said, “What wilt thou?” and yet thou art backward! Was it timidity? It is possible. Did she think that Haman stood too high in the king’s favor for her to prevail? It would be hard to say. Some of us are very unaccountable, but on that woman’s unaccountable silence far more was hanging than appears at first sight. Doubtless she longed to bring out her secret, but the words came not. God was in it; it was not the right time to speak, and therefore she was led to put off her disclosure. (Ed: I think Spurgeon is "spot on" -- Compare Pr 16:9) I dare say she regretted it, and wondered when she should be able to come to the point, but the Lord knew best. After that banquet Haman went out joyfully at the palace gate, but being mortified beyond measure by Mordecai’s unbending posture, he called for his wife and his friends, and told them that his riches and honors availed him nothing so long as Mordecai, the Jew, sat in the king’s gate. They might have told him, “You will destroy Mordecai and all his people in a few months, and the man is already fretting himself over the decree; let him live, and be you content to watch his miseries and gloat over his despair!” But no, they counsel speedy revenge. Let Mordecai be hanged on a gibbet (gallows) on the top of the house, and let the gallows be set up at once, and let Haman early in the morning ask for the Jew’s life, and let his insolence be punished. Go, call the workmen, and let the gallows be set up at a great height that very night. It seemed a small matter that Haman should be so enraged just at that hour, but it was a very important item in the whole transaction, for had he not been so hasty he would not have gone so early in the morning to the palace, and would not have been at hand when the king said, “Who is in the court?” (Ed: God's Providence!) (A Good Start: A Book for Young Men and Women) Esther 5:8 if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and do what I request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king says.": QUEEN ESTHER REQUESTS A SECOND BANQUET If I have found favor in the sight of the king and if it pleases the king - Favor is the Greek word charis or grace which is unmerited favor. Esther is very careful and diplomatic with King Xerxes. Yes, she has been allowed to touch the golden scepter, but she knows that the king is still potentially volatile. Come to the banquet which I will prepare for them - A second banquet. In the providence of God, the events of Esther 6 resulting in Mordecai's being honored by the King occur before Esther's second banquet. Why does Esther put off her request until the second banquet? While we cannot be absolutely dogmatic there are some reasonable considerations. (1) God is behind the scenes controlling the scenes He is behind - there are other events God has planned that will influence the king's response to Esther's request (See Esther 6). (2) Haman is the second most powerful person in the world at that time. (3) This revelation will strike a serious blow at King Xerxes' pride for he will realize that Haman has deceived him and used him which makes the king look foolish. So the timing has to be "perfect" for Esther to make a request that directly challenges the powerful Haman. As Solomon writes... The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9) (William Arnot on Pr 16:9 Providence) Criswell Comments: This is a magnificent expression of the sovereignty of God, whereby Yahweh inevitably and without exception accomplishes His will and purpose through free-willed agents acting freely but responsibly. Man must be a free agent to be in the image of God, and God must be immutable, i.e., unchanging, in order to be God (Mal. 3:6). Permitting or overruling the acts of man without infringing upon his freedom or interrupting His responsibility (e.g., the brothers of Joseph in Gen. 37:26-28; 45:5) is an awesome expression of God's providence. Esther 5:9 Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate and that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai.: Glad and pleased of heart - Haman was like "The famous actor John Barrymore (who) said, “One of my chief regrets during my years in the theater is that I couldn’t sit in the audience and watch me.” (Wiersbe) The proverbs warns us that... A man’s pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor. (Pr 29:23) (Arnot's discussion of Humility Before Honor) He did not stand up or tremble before him (this clause is not found in the Septuagint) - In Esther 3:4-5 Mordecai would not bow, but now he won't even stand up! Think about this for a moment - Haman is in essence the prime minister, second in command of the mightiest country in the world. And Haman refuses to stand. When a judge enters the court, all stand, as a measure of respect. Mordecai's message to Haman is clear -- "I have no respect for you!" Haman was filled with anger (rage, wrath) - His anger controlled him. The Lxx uses the word thumoo which means to be provoked to anger. The root word thumos speaks of agitated, vehement anger that rushes out unrestrained.
Ester 5
Spurgeon quipped that... Ahasuerus is master of one hundred and twenty and seven provinces, but not master of ten minutes’ sleep. SLEEPLESS IN SUSA Why couldn't King Ashasuerus sleep? Clearly the king's somnolence represents God's hand of providence interweaving events in such a way as to bring recognition to Mordecai thus saving his life from Haman's murderous plot. God uses the mundane to bring about the miraculous. In Daniel 2 God disturbed King Nebuchadnezzar's sleep with a "supernatural nightmare" which proved to be a summary not only of Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom but of all subsequent world history (focusing on the human kingdoms of the world that interacted significantly with Israel) until the Second Coming of the Messiah.... Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. (Da 2:1) Comment: Similarly, in the story of Joseph we find that his personal fortunes were reversed because of the pharaoh's dreams (Ge 41:1-45), dreams that were clearly related to the providential hand of God moving the heart of the king like channels of water (Pr 21:1). So - A term of conclusion- How important is this conclusion to mankind? He gave an order to bring the book of records - Such a seemingly small detail. Instead of counting sheep, the king requests the book of records which you suggests they might be quite boring. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge however has this note on the records... As chronicles were composed among the Persians, a more instructive and interesting work could not be brought before the king; because they were all written in verse, and were generally the work of the most eminent poets of the empire. Book of records - The Hebrew literally reads "the book of remembrances, the words/matters of the days." This book was a written record of facts and events that were important to the kingdom of Persia (Esther 2:23; cf. Ezra 4:15 Mal 3:16). It is futile to speculate on the cause of the king's sleeplessness, but we know for certain that God was behind it. The entire chapter shows how a series of seemingly trivial circumstances fit together to overrule the evil intentions of Haman. Guzik... And it was found written: This was a remarkable example of Providence in action. King Ahasuerus can not sleep, and he can choose 20 different diversions to fill his sleepless night - but he commands that a book be brought to him and read. The one commanded to bring the book could have brought any one book of the records of the chronicles, but he brought one particular book. The book could be opened to any page, but it was opened to the exact page telling the story of Mordecai and how he saved the King from assassination. God guided every step along the way. Spurgeon asks... What caused the monarch’s restlessness? Why did it happen on that night of all others? Ahasuerus is master of one hundred and twenty and seven provinces, but not master of ten minutes’ sleep. What shall he do? Shall he call for soothing instruments of music, or beguile the hours with a tale that is told, or with a merry ballad of the minstrel? No, he calls for a book. Who would have thought that this luxurious prince must listen to a reader at dead of night. “Bring a book?” What book? A volume perfumed with roses, musical with songs, sweet as the notes of the nightingale? “No, bring the chronicles of the empire.” Dull reading, that! But there are one hundred and twenty seven provinces,—which volume shall the page bring from the recorder’s shelves? He chose the record of Shushan (Susa) the royal city. That is the centre of the empire, and its record is lengthy, in which section shall the reader make a beginning? He may begin where he pleases, but ere he closes the book the story of the discovery of a conspiracy by Mordecai has been read in the king’s hearing. Was not this a singular accident? Singular if you like, but no accident. Out of ten thousand other records the reader pitches upon that one of all others. The Jews tell us that he began at another place, but that the book closed and fell open at the chapter upon Mordecai (Ed: There is no evidence of this from the Scripture. It embellishes the story, which really needs no embellishment!). Be that as it may, this is certain, that the Lord knew where the record was, and guided the reader to the right page. Speaking after the manner of men, there were a million "chances" against one that the king of Persia should, in the dead of the night, be reading the chronicle of his own kingdom, and that he should light upon this particular part of it. But that was not all, the king is interested, he had desired to go to sleep, but that wish is gone, and he is in haste to act. He says, “This man Mordecai has done me good service, has he been rewarded?” “No.” Then cries the impulsive monarch, “He shall be rewarded at once. Who is in the court?” It was the most unlikely thing in the world for the luxurious Ahasuerus to be in haste to do justice, for he had done injustice thousands of times without remorse, and chiefly on that day when he wantonly signed the death warrant of that very Mordecai and his people. For once, the king is intent on being just, and at the door stands Haman,—but you know the rest of the story, and how he had to lead Mordecai in state through the streets. It seems a very small matter whether you or I shall sleep to-night, or toss restlessly on our beds, but God will be in our rest or in our wakefulness; we know not what His purpose may be, but His hand will be in it, neither doth any man sleep or wake but according to the decree of the Lord. Daniel records King Darius' failure to sleep because of anxiety over Daniel's almost certain death in the lion's den... Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him. (Da 6:8) Sidlow Baxter sums up God's providence in chapters 1-5... Whatever else we may see in Esther 1-5, we miss their supreme significance if we fail to see in them a most remarkable providential predisposing of all contributory factors in anticipation of a foreseen crisis. (Ed: If you are like me, you probably need to read that statement again). The feast of Ahasuerus to his lords and satraps, his inebriate (drunken) jollity (cheerful, cp Est 1:10) and indecent request, Vashti's valorous refusal and her dethronement - these things seemed far from having any connection whatever with the as-yet-undreamed-of peril to the Jews which was to head up through the anti-Jewish hatred of Haman, who at this time had not even risen to public eminence. Yet these things were being so overruled as to subserve the unsuspected Divine preparation for that which was to come later. Indeed, the crisis had been anticipated years before ever Ahasuerus's feast-making took place, in the bestowment of an extraordinary feminine beauty upon Mordecai's cousin; and now, as a result of the vacancy created by Vashti's deposal, the matchless Esther is elected to be queen, so that she is in the place of influence when the critical moment comes, to avert the seemingly inescapable disaster, and to turn the tables on Israel's wicked enemies. Oh, this wonderful fore-planning of providence! It is here brought vividly out to view so that through our seeing it thus clearly demonstrated in this one notable episode we may believe in the fact of its operation through all the vicissitudes of our life, and through all the history of the human race, and especially in those trying times when rampant evil seems to have snatched the reins of government from higher control. (Explore the Book) Esther 6:2 It was found written what Mordecai had reported concerning Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.: It was found written what Mordecai had reported - No accident here! Notice he is not referred to as Mordecai the Jew in this or the next passage. Have you ever felt like the good you have done has gone unrecognized just as Mordecai's had seemingly been ignored for almost 5 years? Then be encouraged by the words to persecuted saints in the book of Hebrews... For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and still ministering to the saints. (Hebrews 6:10-note) GOD'S MULTICOLORED PROVIDENCE (1) King's Insomnia - God was awake (Ps 121:3-4-note) and wanted Ashasuerus awake so He could "speak" to him. (2) King's Choice - Not concubines from the harem or court musicians but a book! (3) King's Choice of the Specific Book - The king's chronicles were undoubtedly only one of many possible choices.
Ester 5
Spurgeon comments: The sovereign Arbiter of destiny holds in His own power all the issues of our life; we are not waifs and strays upon the ocean of fate, but are steered by infinite wisdom towards our desired haven. Providence is a soft pillow for anxious heads, an anodyne (comfort) for care, a grave for despair. Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. It is lawful to desire escape from persecution if it be the Lord's will; and when this may not be granted us in the form which we desire, sustaining grace will give us deliverance in another form, by enabling us to laugh to scorn all the fury of the foe.