Where is God?

Wk 7 Esther Chapter 7

“Confronting Evil?”

Jan 21, 2024

Darin Elquist

Message Notes

Heroes Do Not Allow the Fear Created by Evil Stop Them from doing What’s Right

Esther 7:1-6
¹ Now the king and Haman came to drink wine with Esther the queen. ² And the king said to Esther on the second day also as they drank their wine at the banquet, “What is your request, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your wish? Up to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” ³ Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my request, and my people as my wish; ⁴ for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, killed, and eliminated. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have kept silent, because the distress would not be sufficient reason to burden the king.” ⁵ Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do such a thing?” ⁶ And Esther said, “A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!” Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen.

Esther did not allow the fear created by the evil of Haman to stop her from doing what was right.

Have you ever had to confront evil?

Have you ever had to confront someone or something that just wasn’t’ right?

Romans 12:21
²¹ Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.

Do Not Minimize the Reality of Evil’s Potential

Esther 7:6
…Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen.

“Terrified” Appears only 16 times in the Bible. 8 of which appear in the Book of Job.

Terrified is more fearful that fear.

At some point in our lives, each of us may be called to do just this.

Psalms 94:16
¹⁶ Who will stand up for me against evildoers?
Who will take his stand for me against those who do injustice?

James 4:4
⁴ You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Show No Friendship to Evil

Esther 7:8

⁸ Now when the king returned from the palace garden into the place where they had been drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he even assault the queen with me in the house?” As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

To cover one’s face is a symbol of shame

It also prevents the individual from talking, protesting, etc…

Esther 7:9

⁹ Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who stood before the king, said, “Indeed, behold, the wooden gallows standing at Haman’s house fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai who spoke good in behalf of the king!” And the king said, “Hang him on it.”

Matthew 6:33
³³ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.

Confronting Evil Glorifies God

There is also another upside to confronting evil…

James 5:20
²⁰ let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

1. How would you define a hero?

a. What are some examples in the Bible of heroes?

b. What are some modern examples?

2. Read Esther 7:1-6

          a. What was Haman guilty of that would cause Queen Esther’s statement in verse 6 that Haman is an enemy and wicked?

b. Why do you think Esther did not opt to try and do something about Haman without going to the king?

c. In our lives, how can we differentiate between right and wrong?

3. Read Romans 12:21

a. How can we overcome evil with good?

b. Is morality flexible based on the times or culture we live in?

4. Esther is very direct to the king with her complaint of Haman.

a. Are there times we should be very direct and are there times we should be less direct when confronting an issue?

b. Give examples of each.

c. Should we call out evil when we see it?

d. Is there anything we should do before we call it out?

5. Read James 4:4

a. What does “adulteresses” mean in the context of this verse?

b. Can you believe in God but still be an “enemy of God”?  Why or why not?

6. Read Esther 7:7-10

a. Are people usually born “evil”? Why or why not?

b. In your experience what are some of the things that have lead people down the path to becoming evil?

c. Is it Ok for Christians to hate someone or a group of people?

7. If we feel ourselves going down a path that we know God has not designated for us, what are some things we should do?

8. What does communion mean to you?

a. Is there a right way or a wrong way to take communion?

Please pray for upcoming changes to the church board, that God will bless the budgeting process and continue to grow the church to glorify Him, and that God would grant us the wisdom to call out evil in love and to tell someone this week about the true Love of Jesus.

Announcements