Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. Trust God day by day. Have hope. God is in the business. of reversing the irreversible.
Our God. is a great god. Great in love, great in mercy, great in and redemption. Welcome to the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. Through the power and grace of God, what seems to be our most difficult trial can end up being the source of our greatest blessing.
He can turn despair into hope, shame into glory, and on the cross of Jesus Christ, He brings life out of death. Today, on the verdict, we're thinking of God's brilliant reversals in the story of Esther.
Now, with today's lesson, here's Pastor John Monroe. I said before that Esther is a fascinating book of high drama. The Prime Minister Haman is determined to annihilate the Jews. He also builds a gallows to hang Mordecai. But we saw last time that the gallows made by Haman for Mordecai are the same gallows on which Haman is hanged.
What a reversal of fortune But all is under the invisible hand of Almighty God, who sometimes works in silence and in mysterious ways. Today we're thinking of Esther chapter 8 and see other brilliant reversals. This is why the Gospel is good news. It turns darkness into light. death to life.
So love and trust is God. Who has perfectly revealed himself in his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. We're looking at Esther. Chapter 8 Last week we looked at Esther chapter 6 and 7, and we thought of the reversal of destinies. And I ended by remarking that the cross of Jesus Christ is the greatest reversal of all.
When you think of it from a human perspective, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross seemed a disaster, an unmitigated tragedy. An innocent man, a sinless man, in fact, is nailed. to a cross. Unholy hands take his holy hands and nail him. Uh to a tree.
Feet which had always trod on the path of his father. were nailed. To a cross. But what a dramatic reversal. The shame of the cross is turned to glory.
Humiliation is turned to exaltation. The man of sorrows brings joy to the world. From death there is life, because Christ is risen, never again to die, alive forevermore. Isaiah, as he prophesied of the coming of the Messiah, said that those who are walking in the darkness will see a great light. Those living in a dark land, the light will shine on them.
Once. We who follow Jesus, once we were on that broad road leading to destruction And eternal Darkness. Do you ever think of that? Do you ever think where you would be apart from the grace of God? tonight.
And yet through the work and Through the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior, we are now in His grace on that narrow road which leads to eternal life. Life. Paul puts it this way. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness. And transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.
How wonderful. God in His grace takes us. From the kingdom of darkness and of Satan and of sin, and transfers us. to the kingdom. of his beloved son.
Peter writes in 1 Peter 2, verse 9, that our Savior has called you out of darkness into his marvelous. Light. And that's why we as Christians rejoice. That's why we praise our great God. That's why so much of our worship is to do with joy and triumph.
For this dramatic reversal which has taken place in our individual lives. And I trust that we will never ever lose the wonder of God's amazing grace. That once we were lost, but now we're found. Once we were blind, but now we see. And in Esther chapter 8.
There is a celebration of the greatness and goodness of God. in accomplishing brilliant Reversals. First of all, in Esther 8, verses 1 and 2, there is a reversal in power.
So let's open our Bibles to Esther chapter 8. And I'll read first of all verses one and two. Remember at the end of verse, at the end of chapter seven. They hanged him in. on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.
Then the wrath of the king abated. Chapter 8, verse 1. On that day, King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman. Notice how he's described the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told him what he was to her.
And the king took off his. Signet ring. which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther said Mordecai over the house. of Hayman.
There is a reversal in power, a dramatic reversal in power. Mordecai is rewarded. with Haymans Property and his position. As was the custom in those days, the property of the traitor reverts to the king. And so Esther is given Haman's property.
He is the enemy of the Jews. What a reversal. The very man who plotted to kill Mordecai is hanged on his own gallows, these dramatic gallows. fifty cubits, seventy five feet high. Mordecai, who is to be killed, Obtains the property of the man who had conspired to kill him.
In fact, we read. in verse two, that Esther gives it to her cousin. Mordecai also receives the king's ring. and he becomes in effect Prime Minister in Hayman's place. Him and his follow-has fallen.
Mordecai is exalted.
Now Mordecai receives the king's signet ring. He's able to make laws. with regal and legal Authority. We pause there and say Don't put your trust in riches. Don't put your trust in worldly power.
We're apt to do that, aren't we? We saw in chapter five that Haman Is Glorifying himself and praising himself for his power, for his riches, for his career, for his promotion. But in less than twenty-four hours, It's all taken from him. and nothing is left to his family. All he lived for is gone in a moment.
Isn't it Job who talks about those who spend their days in wealth and in the moment? Go down to the grave. I've known men who worked really all their life for a company and they go in one day and they're told your services are no longer required. There's been a restructuring. We've done some changes.
And they're out. And their world Seems to crumble. if that has been the foundation of their life. Hayman is a warning, isn't he, about putting our trust in riches? Putting our trust in our career, Putting our trust in our accomplishments.
Jesus said, Matthew 6, verse 19, do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth. Paul writes in First Timothy six Verse 17: As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God. who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. God has blessed you financially. That's wonderful.
But your trust is not to be in your riches. Your trust is always to be in God. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. For some time, It seemed that Haman, this wicked man, was unassailable.
In his pride, in his position at the very top of the Persian Empire under King Ahasuerus. Mordecai, this lowly Jew, seemed to have no chance of success against Haman. Or so it seemed. But what a dramatic Reversal. In less than 24 hours.
Proverbs 21, verse 1 again: the king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it wherever he wills. Aren't you glad? That with a god like that. That's a good God to put your trust in.
Do you have a hayman type of person in your life?
Someone who's against you, someone who maligns you.
Someone who's conspiring against you, someone who may be very vengeful.
Someone who may even hate you. And you wonder how you can deal with that individual. You know, if God can bring down Him and He can deal, He's well able to deal with that awkward, stubborn, mean-spirited, hurtful individual in your life. Don't panic. Never repay evil with evil.
Don't be vengeful. Don't stoop to that person's level. Live a life of integrity. Commit your ways to the Lord. Walk humbly before the Lord.
God is in the business of turning hearts, of changing hearts. of reversing destinies and powers.
So first, There is a reversal in power. Then in verses 3-14, there is a reversal in the law. First of all, verses three through six, Esther's request. Verse three. Then Esther spoke again to the king.
She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of him and the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. Remember it? When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. And she said, If it please the king, and if I found favour in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hamad Atha. which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are all in the provinces of the king.
For how can I bear? to see the calamity that is coming to my people. Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred? Queen Esther now has an opportunity. She falls at the king's feet in tears.
She implores him to reverse this plot. This plot which had been hatched. And so skillfully executed, it seemed by Yaman, a plot to obliterate, to annihilate all of the Jews in the Persian Empire. The king extends his golden sceptre to the queen. And Esther makes her impassioned plea to save her people.
She personalizes her request. She identifies with the welfare of her people. That's wonderful, isn't it? You know, when things go well in our life, As it now happened for Esther. It's easy to be unconcerned about the needs of others.
Easy to look down on people. Esther is a wonderful example of compassion and care. for others. You that kind of person? When things are going well in your life, In our ego, we're apt to be proud, we're apt to be like the Pharisee who looked with contempt.
on the tax collector as we saw this morning. Referring to the local church, Paul says. First Corinthians twelve. If one member suffers, all suffer together. If one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now, you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. Sharing the burdens and the joys Of one another. That should happen in the family of God. Esther is burdened about the destruction of her own people.
Now we have in verses 7 through 14 the king's decree.
Now remember who this king is? He's a king. Of the superpower, the vast, powerful Persian Empire. Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, and to Mordecai. The Jew?
He knows who Mordecai is, he's Jewish. Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman. and they've hanged him on the gallows. Because he intended to lay his hands on the Jews. But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews.
In the name of the king and seal it with the king's ring. For an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked. The king's scribes were summoned at that time in the third month, which is the month of Savannah on the 23rd day. And an edict was written according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces, from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in his own script, and to each people in his own language, and also to the Jews in their script, in their language. And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with a king's signet ring.
Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud. Saying That the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods. On one day, throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the 13th day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. A copy of what was written. Was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies.
So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa The citadel. A reversal. in love. The king grants Esther's request.
It's obvious that the king is now on the side of the Jews. He's opposed to the edict to annihilate the Jews. And he gives Mordecai the authority to write in the king's name and seal with the king's signet ring a decree which will neutralize. the previous irrevocable edict. Remember, The law of the meat and the Persians.
can't be revoked. The edict can't be revoked. And so Although the old edict can't be revoked, there's nothing to stop a new edict being written. And the king's couriers ensure that the content of the new edict is known throughout the provinces. It's to be put in every language, verse 9.
particularly to the Jews and their script and their language. This is a huge empire, many different languages, and is translated in all of the different languages, including Hebrews or the Jews Can read it. And the effect is That the Jewish nation is now given the right of self-defense. But they're also given the right to make a preemptive strike against any Persians who may attack them. If anyone attacks the Jews, they have the king's authority to defend themselves and to strike back.
However, if the Persians leave the Jews alone, They will be left alone. The second decree was for justice. The first decree, the first edict by him was for vengeance. The first decree was genocide. The second decree was self- protection.
This was God's vindication of his people, his ancient people. Rather than his people being vengeful.
Now, some commentators have been critical of the Jewish nation in the book of Esther, but I think that is unjustified. God gave His people the right to defend themselves. That is very different from vengeance. Remember the Bible says Beloved, never avenge. yourself.
What is our tendency when Someone attacks us. Vengeance. We're going to get our Own back on them. Bible says no. Never avenge yourself.
But leave it. To the wrath of God, for it is written: Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. That's Romans 12, verse 19.
So to expect the Jewish nation In esther eight simply To sit back and allow themselves to be slaughtered is very naïve.
Sometimes people ask, should Christians go to war? It's a very difficult question. Certainly, vengeful emotional outbursts against one's enemies are clearly wrong. On the other hand, the nation has the right to protect itself against terrorist assaults. In our legal system, there is a right of self-defense.
In defending ourselves, we are entitled to use reasonable force. What is true of an individual is true of a nation. The present nation of Israel comes under a lot of criticism. because of his attacks against the Palestinians and other terrorists. And I'm certainly not saying that everything present day Israel does is right, but there are countries and there are groups such as Hamas, such as Hezbollah, which are dedicated, yes dedicate to today to annihilate the Jewish nation.
Let me ask you, what would you do? If an enemy of the United States Which is all too possible, sadly, sent suicide bombers into our malls, into our schools. into our churches, into our sports arenas, which is helping, which is happening elsewhere. Simply to sit back. No.
The point of this edict was this. The Jewish nation were not to be aggressors. They were not to be vengeful. They realized that God would vindicate his people, but If People attacked them, they had the right to defend themselves. Here we see, in a beautiful way, this reversal of the law.
God once again protecting his ancient people. There is an effect, a reversal. of the law. A reversal in power Reversal in law. Finally, in verses 15 through 17, a reversal in emotions.
Verse fifteen. Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white. Yeah. What colors are on the Israeli flag today? Blue and white.
Not the most difficult of question if you're looking at verse fifteen. Royal robes of blue and white. with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. Can you imagine this?
Can you imagine the terror, the fear? You're a father, you have children. You may have grandchildren. That you're aware of this edict. by this evil man Haman, which is to annihilate you.
So that not one Jew would be left in Persia. That's what Haman wanted. Ah, but now this edict comes. Shit. And the Jews, verse 16, had light and gladness and joy and honor.
And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. Just today still have a lot of holidays. and many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews. Not just for the holiday, for fear of the Jews had fallen. on them.
Isn't that amazing? Should read the book of Esther. A Riverso in emotion. Gloom is turned to joy and celebration. The the sight of Mordecai wearing these beautiful royal robes and crown were visible signs that King Ahasuerus was on the side of the of the the Jews.
It's true, he couldn't revoke the earlier edict made by Haman, but by appointing a Jew as Prime Minister. The word quickly spread throughout the province. That he was supportive of the second edict to protect the Jewish nation. And when each province and each city and its household. heard about this new edict, there was great rejoicing.
and feasting at a holiday. Many of the pagans themselves throughout the provinces became Jews, verse 17, for the dread of the Jews. had fallen On them. These people realize these people, the Jews They're different. Remember what Hayman's Wife said to him, With Mordecai versus Uh verse thirteen.
Of chapter 6: If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall. beforehand. They realized that Almighty God was at work. and the Jewish. people.
This is the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. There's still more to hear when John returns in just a moment, so stay with us. From matters of truth and identity, to the subjects of love and grace, our world seems more confused than ever. but to find truth and certainty about who we are and find peace, we must turn our attention away from the world and look to the Word of God. To help you do that, John wrote a booklet titled Eternal Security, Finding Certainty in a Chaotic World.
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Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? Has there been a reversal in your life? To use the language of the Apostle Paul, Have you been delivered from the kingdom of darkness? and transferred to the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. We call this being born again when the Spirit of God gives us new life.
And we've placed our trust in the Lord Jesus. That is the best reversal of all. Perhaps you need to repent of your sin. Cry out to the Lord Jesus for forgiveness, for new life. for a divine reversal in your life.
Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
