11 CHAPTER 7

2 So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. (2) And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, "What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled." (3) Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. (4) For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king." ~~~~~ Esther 7:1-4 2

3 Esther’s Plea 3 Haman was proud and haughty. Esther was shrewd and wise. Esther was courteous and humble. “My wish is that my life be spared, and my request is that my people be spared. Esther took great risk in revealing her heritage. Esther makes it about the king’s pride and honor.

4 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?" (6) And Esther said, "A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!" Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen. ~~~~~ Esther 7:5-6 2

5 Exposure of Haman’s Wickedness 3 Xerxes’ reaction was precisely what Esther had hoped for. Haman was starting to realize he was in trouble. “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Haman was “dumbfounded” with fear. God is the one in control of this event.

6 And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king. (8) And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, "Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?" As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face. (9) Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, "Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high." (10) And the king said, "Hang him on that." So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated. ~~~~~ Esther 7:7-10 2

7 Haman’s Execution 3 Xerxes was known for his fits of rage. Haman sought to kill the Jews because Mordecai would not bow, not he bowed to a Jew to beg for his life. Haman is accused of sexually attacking the queen. Haman is sentenced to death by the mere accusation of the king. Haman is hanged on his own gallows for all to see.

8 Applications For Today 13 1) God protects His people; Divine Justice God protected the children of Abraham, but He also punished them. God promises that all things will work together for our good, but not that they will be comfortable, or that we will be safe. Proverbs 29:25-26 Amos 5:24

9 Applications For Today 13 2) Violence begets violence and evil intentions turn back on themselves. Matthew 26:51-52 Psalms 11:5 Romans 12:17-20 Violence and Righteous Anger Violence and Righteous Defense

10 Applications For Today 13 3) Pride comes before the fall. Haman’s pride led to his violent attitude and to his death. Xerxes' pride led to his blindness and callousness. Pride clouds sight, understanding, imagination, integrity, empathy. Pride, hate, love, gentleness, brutality, forgiveness, bitterness, all grow like seeds. When they are planted, if you feed them, they propogate. Matthew 16:24-26, Proverbs 11:2-3, Proverbs 16:5, Proverbs 16:18

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12 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. (36) And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. (37) As he was drawing near--already on the way down the Mount of Olives--the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, (38) saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (39) And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." (40) He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." Luke 19:35-40