Don Smith :: The Study of Providence - Esther 7

Exposition of Esther - Chapter Seven

How Was God’s Providence at Work at This Last Supper?

1. In God’s providence the traitor and adversary of the Jews was exposed.
   1. Esther 7:1-6
      • During the meal, the king asked again for the Queen’s request.
      • Esther then asked, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition and my people at my request.”
      • Her request was to have the law reversed, which called for the extermination of her people that was written under the king’s authority and by Haman.
      • The law of the Medes and Persians, however, could not be rescinded.
      • She hoped the king could come up with another option.
      • Her plea for the reversal of this law was based upon two issues:
        • She was a Jewess and would be killed if the edict were still in effect.
        • The edict was not in the best interests of the king.
2. God, in His providence, turned Mordecai’s death on a tree to be the means of defeating his enemy—Haman.
   1. Esther 7:7-10
      • The king became enraged, feeling betrayed and out-snookered by the prince of the kingdom.
      • Seeking some solitude to think through his options, the king went out to his garden.
      • Haman remained alone with Esther to plead his case.
      • It was forbidden for any man to be alone with any of the king’s wives or concubines.
      • Groveling for mercy, Haman threw himself across Esther’s royal couch were she lay.
      • In God’s providence, at that very moment the king re-entered the scene.
      • Seeing Haman sprawled over the Queen’s couch didn’t set well with the king.
      • The king’s fury resulted in Haman’s face being covered by servants so the king didn’t have to look upon him again.
      • One of the king’s eunuchs, perhaps disgruntled with Haman’s pomposity, brought to the king’s attention that “a 75-foot gallows” or “a tree” which Haman built was standing ready in Haman’s garden.
      • The king needed no advice, only opportunity—“Hang him on it!”
      • When Haman died on “the tree” the king’s justice had been satisfied and his wrath subsided.
   2. There was a previous event in Israel’s history that adds significance to this event.
      • As Israel wandered in the wilderness, they spoke not only against Moses but also against the Lord. (Numbers 21:4-9)
      • The Lord sent fiery serpents into their camp with the sting of death in them.
      • Many died from the serpent’s bite.
      • Moses prayed for mercy.
      • The Lord answered and instructed Moses to make a bronze likeness of the fiery serpent and lift it high on a pole.
      • When any Israeli was bitten by the serpent, they could look to the bronze serpent and be healed.
      • Why a bronze serpent and not a bronze lamb?
      • The pole upon which the bronze serpent hung high represented God’s remedy for death from sin.
      • When Christ hung on the cross He represented our sin, even as the bronze serpent represented Israel’s sin.
      • Only when sinners look to the cross does God’s wrath subside and our sin is healed.
      • Haman hanging on “the tree” that he created is similar to the serpent’s head being crushed on the cross he designed and built to destroy the Christ.
      • The glory of the cross is Christ becoming our sin and imputing upon sinners His righteousness.