John Brown Esther 6 Sleepless Nights A man's definition of childish games = the ones at which your wife beats you! A young girl said to her pastor, "I'm afraid I've committed the sin of vanity." To which the pastor replied, "What makes you think that?" She said, "Well, every time I look in the mirror I think how beautiful I look." To which the pastor replied, "Don't worry. In your case, that isn't a sin. It is only a mistake." I. A. In our study last week Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet only to tell them that she would reveal her request at yet another banquet to be held the following day! 1. Haman was ecstatic to be at a banquet where only the king and queen were in attendance. AND he was invited back next day! 2. He almost could not contain himself on the way home until he ran into the little Jew Mordecai, who wouldn't bow down to him. 3. If you will remember, he "held his tongue" in front of Mordecai and waited till he got home. a) Then he called all of his friends and family, told them what a wonderful man he was and what a jerk Mordecai was. b) They came up with a plan to build a gallows 75ft. high then go to the king and ask to have Mordecai hanged upon it. c) The plan pleased Haman and he slept well that night looking forward to his problems being resolved in the morning! (1) This is where we continue the story: II. TEXT A. Esther 6:1 (NKJV) That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 1. Shakespeare said, "Uneasy is the head that wears the crown." 2. No doubt the king had many of sleepless nights. a) When you are young, with few responsibilities you sleep like a log. b) As a parent you spend many a sleeplessness night concerned for your children. c) The greater the responsibility, the more nights of sleeplessness. (1) One can only imagine the sleepless nights of the president. (a) And in this case, the king. 3. From much experience, the king knew exactly what to do! a) He called for one of his servants to read from the boring minutes of the kingdom records. 4. These events seem like simple, normal, small things in the life of the kingdom. a) But, God uses small things in life to accomplish great things for His kingdom! (1) He used a small baby floating down the Nile to match the heart of a childless Egyptian Queen in order to save His people from the bonds of slavery. (2) He used the bitterness of Joseph's brothers the save His people once again. (3) And He used an infant as Savior of the world! B. Esther 6:2 (NKJV) And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. Esther 6:3 Then the king said, "What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" And the king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has bee done for him." 1. The servant begins to read.The king lays back, closes his eyes and listens as he tries to sleep. 2. And what a coincidence, the servant starts reading exactly in the place where Mordecai saves the kings life! a) All of a sudden the king is wide awake and it hits him that there is no record of any honor bestowed upon Mordecai for this act of bravery! C. Esther 6:4 (NKJV) So the king said, "Who [is] in the court?" Now Haman had [just] entered the outer court of the king's palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. Esther 6:5 The king's servants said to him, "Haman is there, standing in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in." 1. Just as the king is contemplating that Mordecai had been neglected for this act of bravery, Haman enters the courtyard to suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on the gallows he had built! a) Of course, the king doesn't know whey Haman is in the courtyard, and Haman has no way of knowing what the king has been doing or thinking. b) The king invites Haman in. D. Esther 6:6 (NKJV) So Haman came in, and the king asked him, "What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?" Now Haman thought in his heart, "Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?" There is a joke that says, "He's so conceited that he takes a bow when he hears thunder." Haman was such a man! 1. When the king asks the question "What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?" . . . . Haman thought in his heart, "Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?" a) Before we come down too hard on Haman, it is easy to understand how Haman would jump to conclusions. (1) The king had promoted him to second-in-command! (2) The queen had invited him to not one but two banquets in which he was the only guest next to the king and queen. (3) He shows up in the king's courtyard in the wee hours of the morning, no doubt excited about getting rid of Mordecai, and the king invites him in. (4) Then the king asks him what he thinks he should do for a man the king wishes to honor! (a) It may me carnal and fleshly, but it is easy to understand how Haman might think the man the king wanted to honor even more than he had already, was him. (b) So, in a sense, he is being given the freedom to write his own "ticket" of blessing and honor. (i) So, he expresses his royal fantasy to the king. E. Esther 6:7 And Haman answered the king, "[For] the man whom the king delights to honor, Esther 6:8 "let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Esther 6:9 "Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: `Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!' " 1. Haman's "fantasy" reveals his heart! Haman wanted to be king! a) You can tell that by the royal robe, and the royal horse, with the royal crest upon its head! b) Then he wanted to be paraded in front of the people as royalty! c) If he could gain this kind of leverage and popularity with the people, it would him in a good position to replace the king (1) Remember Proverbs 16:18? Pride [goes] before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. (2) Haman is definitely full of pride and his fall is right around the corner! F. Esther 6:10 (NKJV) Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king's gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken." There is yet another saying that, "Success always occurs in private, but failure always occurs in full view of the public." 1. Can you imagine the expression on Haman's face? 2. There wasn't anyone in the kingdom that he hated more that Mordecai! a) Now, not only did he have his hopes and dreams dashed of being the most important man in the kingdom, he has to be the one to present this blessing to the man he hates the most!! b) This reminds me of what Gamaliel said in Acts 5:37-39 when trying to decide what to do with this new movement called Christianity "After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 "And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 "but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it--lest you even be found to fight against God." G. Esther 6:11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!" 1. Do you get the feeling that somehow Haman's heart is not in this?!?!? 2. Can you imagine the embarrassment as he leads the horse through town with everyone the one riding this royal steed was the only person that wouldn't bow down to Haman? a) Now Haman is "beneath" him. H. Esther 6:12 (NKJV) Afterward Mordecai went back to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. Esther 6:13 When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him." 1. This reminds me of Rom 8:31 (NKJV) What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [can] [be] against us? 2. In all of this there is no mention of the Lord, yet we can see His handiwork! 3. Haman has been the "big man on campus" so to speak, yet that was not enough for him. a) He desired the worship of Mordecai. 4. Now the roles are reversing and we see that Haman doesn't like the bowing down very much either! a) In fact, it sends him into mourning. 5. Haman may not be smart enough, but his wife and "wise men" begin to sense that they are fighting against God! I. Esther 6:14 (NKJV) While they [were] still talking with him, the king's eunuchs came, and hastened to bring Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared. 1. But at least he still has the favor of the queen!?!? a) Or does he? III. A. God uses small things in life to bring about great changes for His kingdom! 1. What "small things" or maybe not so small things, is He using in your life?" B. Be careful whom you make enemies with in life, it may come back at `ya! 1. A wise man or woman will chose their friends and their enemies very carefully! 2. And make sure if you have enemies at all, that it was for "righteousness" sake, not out of pride. C. Don't be to quick to build "gallows" for whom you perceive to be your enemy. 1. They may be God's friend! D. Don't be too "enamored" with the attentions or opinions of "your group." 1. They could be the very ones used in your destruction! 2. Haman was "hangin' with the king and queen!