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Speaker 1: I'm John Stangi, and today we're in Esther chapter five,
Speaker 1: and we'll be reading from the English Standard version. On
Speaker 1: the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and
Speaker 1: stood in the inner court of the King's Palace in
Speaker 1: front of the King's quarters, while the King was sitting
Speaker 1: on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the
Speaker 1: entrance to the palace. And when the King saw Queen
Speaker 1: Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight,
Speaker 1: and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that
Speaker 1: was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the
Speaker 1: tip of the scepter, and the King said to her,
Speaker 1: what is it, Queen Esther, what is your request? It
Speaker 1: shall be given you even to the half of my kingdom.
Speaker 1: And Esther said, if it pleased the King, let the
Speaker 1: King and Haman come today to a feast that I
Speaker 1: have prepared for the King. Then the King said, bring
Speaker 1: Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.
Speaker 1: So the King and Haman came to the feast that
Speaker 1: Esther had prepared, and as they were drinking wine after
Speaker 1: the feast, the King said to Esther, what is your wish?
Speaker 1: It shall be granted you, and what is your request,
Speaker 1: even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.
Speaker 1: Then Esther answered, my wish, and my request is if
Speaker 1: I have found favor in the sight of the King,
Speaker 1: and if it please the King to grant my wish
Speaker 1: and fulfill my request. Let the King and Haman come
Speaker 1: to the feast that I will prepare for them, and
Speaker 1: tomorrow I will do as the king said. And Haman
Speaker 1: went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But
Speaker 1: when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he
Speaker 1: neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with
Speaker 1: wrath against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Hamon restrained himself and went home,
Speaker 1: and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zaresh,
Speaker 1: and Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches,
Speaker 1: the number of his sons, all the promotions with which
Speaker 1: the king had honored him, and how he had advanced
Speaker 1: him above the officials and the servants of the king.
Speaker 1: Then Hayman said, even Queen Esther, let no one but
Speaker 1: me come with the king to the feast she prepared.
Speaker 1: And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with
Speaker 1: the king. Yet all this is worth nothing to me
Speaker 1: so long as I see Mordecai, the Jew, sitting at
Speaker 1: the king's gate. Then his wife Zaresh and all his
Speaker 1: friends said to him, go gallos fifty cubits high be made,
Speaker 1: and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai
Speaker 1: hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the King to
Speaker 1: the feast. This idea pleased Haman, and he had the
Speaker 1: gallows made. Let's pray, Lord, we thank you for your word,
Speaker 1: and we thank you for the privilege of being able
Speaker 1: to look at it together today. And Lord, as we
Speaker 1: look at this portion of scripture, we can see how
Speaker 1: filled with conceit Haman truly was, how he loved himself,
Speaker 1: how he hated Mordecai, but how he esteemed himself in
Speaker 1: his own eyes and in the eyes of his friends. Lord,
Speaker 1: we could see how it grated on him that Mordecai
Speaker 1: wouldn't bow and wouldn't tremble before him, and how he
Speaker 1: conspired to have Mordecai killed. Likewise, Lord, we can see
Speaker 1: esther come before the king, recognizing that in doing so
Speaker 1: she was risking her life. By your grace, the king
Speaker 1: showed her favor. He extended the scepter, and she was
Speaker 1: allowed to walk in before him and live. Lord. We
Speaker 1: know that this gives us a picture of a spiritual
Speaker 1: reality that you have orchestrated, that we are allowed to
Speaker 1: come before your throne, that you extend the scepter and
Speaker 1: welcome us into your presence on the basis of the
Speaker 1: work of your son Jesus Christ, who took our sin
Speaker 1: upon himself, and now through faith in him, were cleansed,
Speaker 1: were made righteous, and were welcomed into your presence. Lord.
Speaker 1: We're grateful for this reality, and we're so thankful for
Speaker 1: your favor that you bestow upon us. Lord. We're grateful
Speaker 1: for your presence with us today, and we commit this
Speaker 1: day to your care. And we pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.