MERCY SEAT MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH NOON-DAY BIBLE STUDYWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020

INSTRUCTOR: PASTOR ROBERT EARL HOUSTONESTHER CHAPTER 3 PART 1: An Old Enemy with a New Name(In which an evil man challenges the throne of Almighty God)

I. INTRODUCTION

For four years, things have been peaceful in Shushan. Esther has reigned as queen, and Mordecai has tended to the king’s business at the gate. Then everything changed, and all the Jews in the empire found themselves in danger of being killed—just to satisfy the hatred of a man named Haman.

The Book of Esther is one of five Old Testament books that the Jews call “The Writings” or “The Five Megilloth.” (The word megilloth means “scrolls” in Hebrew.) The other books are Ruth, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomon, and Lamentations. Each year on the Feast of Purim, the Book of Esther is read publicly in the synagogue; and whenever the reader mentions Haman’s name, the people stamp their feet and exclaim, “May his name be blotted out!” To Jews everywhere, Haman personifies everybody who has tried to exterminate the people of Israel. This chapter explains to us why Haman was such a dangerous man.

I. HIS BACKGROUND (Chapter 3:1)

A. Haman was an “Agagite,” which could mean he came from a district in the empire known as Agag. But it could also mean that he was descended from Agag, king of the Amalekites (1 Sam. 15:8). If the latter is the case, then we can easily understand why Haman hated the Jews: God had declared war on the Amalekites and wanted their name and memory blotted off the face of the earth. Note that GOD had declared war on the Amalekites . . .

B. The story goes back to the time of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt (Ex. 17:8–15), when the Amalekites attacked God’s weary people in the rear ranks of the marching nation (Deut. 25:18). After Moses

commanded Joshua to fight against Amalek, he interceded on the mountain, and Joshua won a great victory. God told Moses to write in a book that He had declared war on the Amalekites and would one day utterly destroy them because of what they had done to His people. Moses reminded the Israelites of the Amalekites’ treacherous attack before they entered the Promised Land (Deut. 25:17–19).

C. It was Saul, the first king of Israel, whom God commanded to destroy the Amalekites (1 Sam. 15); and he failed in his commission and lost his own crown. (It was an Amalekite who claimed he put Saul to death on the battlefield. See 2 Sam. 1:1–10.) Because Saul didn’t fully obey the Lord, some Amalekites lived; and one of their descendants, Haman, determined to annihilate his people’s ancient enemy, the Jews. It’s worth noting that King Saul, a Benjamite, failed to destroy the Amalekites; but Mordecai, also a Benjamite (Es. 2:5), took up the battle and defeated Haman. It’s also worth noting that the founder of the Amalekites was a descendant of Esau (Gen. 36:12), and Esau was the enemy of his brother Jacob. This was another stage in the age-old conflict between the flesh and the Spirit, Satan and the Lord, the way of faith and the way of the world.

D. EVERYTHING about Haman is hateful! Look at Proverbs 6:16-19 and you can easily find seven evil characteristics in mind about this depraved man:

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E. In your opinion, are there people today that have those characteristics? How do they affect people around them?

F. At some time between the seventh and twelfth years of the reign of Ahasuerus (v. 7; 2:16), the king decided to make Haman chief officer in the empire. Think of it: Mordecai had saved the king’s life and didn’t receive a word of thanks, let alone a reward; but wicked Haman did nothing and was promoted! There are many seeming injustices in this life; yet God knows what He’s doing and will never forsake the righteous or leave their deeds unrewarded. (See Ps. 37.)

G. Case Study: Judy Jones has been working faithfully as an Usher at her local church and yet it seems like she can’t catch a break: She’s never considered for leadership, she’s never asked to speak on program, and she feels like she’s been taken for granted. She’s even considering giving up. However, one day, a senior member of the church comes to her and says, “Judy, I appreciate you. Every Sunday you give me my bulletin with a smile and a kind word and you don’t know that sometimes you’re the only one that smiles and speaks to me.” What does this case study say to you?

H. How did Haman get into power? Haman probably fawned and flattered his way into this powerful new position because that’s the kind of man he was. He was a proud man, and his purpose was to achieve authority and recognition. As we have seen, Ahasuerus was a weak and gullible man, susceptible to flattery and anxious to please people; Haman’s task wasn’t a difficult one.