Calvary Assembly of God

Esther 3
An Old Nemesis or Haman’s Plot

I.The Insubordination or the Insult of Mordecai (vs 2-7)

II.The Irresponsibility of the King (vs 8-11)

III.The Issuing of the Edict (Verses 12-15)

Lessons:
1.Life is precarious. Reversals in life can happen quickly. They can come out of nowhere.
2.Pride leaves a path of destruction. So does revenge.
3.Actions of one person can have a far reaching affect. We have the clash of two proud people who failed to humble themselves and put the lives of millions of people at stake. If we can learn to be humble people we will avoid a lot of disaster. And we won’t be seeking revenge and letting that poison our life.
4.Improper governing by leaders can leave the people in shambles. This decision the king makes throws the whole city of Susa into confusion. People everywhere are confused. I think as people gain more and more power they forget what it is like just to be an average person and to be at the mercy of people higher up make. That’s part of the intoxication that comes with power.
5.The age long hatred of Jewish people that we still see today. But consider this. The Jew has attended the funeral of every one of the nations that tried to exterminate it. That is true throughout history and it will be true in the future as well. God is gathering the Jewish people back to their land today to set the stage for the end time. The Bible predicts a final persecution, but again God will protect His people. God stands in the shadows keeping watch over His own.
6.God’s providence is worth noting again. God has Esther and Mordecai in place 5 years before this plot is every hatched. Haman with the help of the “gods” picks a day eleven months away to annihilate the Jews. But it gives Mordecai and Esther and the Jews plenty of time to respond. The providence of God controls even the die as it is being thrown out on that calendar to come out on the day God wants it to be so that He is able to preserve His people. Even something that simple, God is in control of.

William Cowper at the age of 32 was wracked with depression and despair. He finally decided to take matters into his own hands and kill himself. He called a cab and told the driv¬er to take him to the Thames Riv¬er. The carriage driver, seeing what desperation the young man was under and what his intentions were grabbed him and kept him from jumping in the swift current.
Back alone in his own home, Cowper took poison. Someone found him in time to provide the necessary antidote.
That night, he took a knife and fell on it but would you believe it, the blade broke. Early the next morning he hung himself but a neighbor, concerned about Cowper, found him and cut him down before he died.
Because of the power of God, invisible as it was, William Cowper was unable to take matters into his own hands. He couldn’t even take his own life.
Suffering from acute depression and mental distress, verging on insanity, he turned increasingly to Christ and Christ alone for consolation.
Later he struck up a friendship with John Newton. Eventually the two of them collaborated on a publication known as “The Only Hymns” in which Newton released his beloved hymn, “Amazing Grace”.
Thirteen years after his attempt at suicide, Cowper himself, began writing hymns. Ultimately he wrote 67 of the hymns in that book including this one.
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.