Good morning to you all.
Oh, thank you.
Let me pray before we start.
Our Father and our God, we do indeed give you great thanks and praise
that you are a God who is perfect.
You are a God who has answers.
You are a God who saves his people.
You are a God who pours out love and mercy to your people.
Father, please help us now to understand the message that you would wish for us
to hear this morning from these amazing passages.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Well, we have come to our second last message here in Esther
and we have heard about four interesting characters.
King Xerxes, whose character is extremely questionable, is obsessed with himself.
Queen Esther, we know she's beautiful.
She has kept her Jewish heritage private and along with the fact that her life is in danger,
so is the life or lives of all the other Jews and they are threatened with annihilation.
Mordecai, he's of the Jewish family of Esther and he's the guy who refused to bow down to Haman
and seemingly has started and caused this problem that we have right at this moment in time.
And Haman himself, the man obsessed with hatred that comes from his ancestor King Agag
that we learnt about some weeks back, the king of the Amalekites.
And Haman is the guy who we learnt last week who is filled with pride
and whose plans are not just to see the death of Mordecai,
but to see the whole Jewish race annihilated.
Now, it's not difficult to dislike Haman.
And it is easy to wish for poetic justice.
Now, poetic justice is a literary term.
It's what every good book and every good movie has.
You know what I mean.
There's good characters and there's bad characters, evil characters,
and all along it looks as if the evil characters are going to win.
And yet the author uses the evil characters to somehow turn the tables
and the evil characters receive the punishment that they deserve.
We would say they got their just desserts.
Now, poetic justice happens all throughout life.
We often want to see the tables turned for good to win over evil.
But poetic justice leaves things a little unresolved.
The grief of a family when a member of their family is killed by a mad gunman,
and we only just have to look at recent news,
they are still left in grief,
even though the gunman gets the punishment
and is sent to jail for a long time.
The punishment doesn't bring back the one who was shot.
There is still something unresolved,
even though the gunman is actually punished.
Now, in chapters 7 and 8 of Esther,
we see perfect justice.
Yes, there is poetic justice through this story.
Yes, Haman dies on the very gallows that were meant for Mordecai,
and the people of God have their lives saved by a reversal of the death edict.
But there's more for us to see in relation to God's perfect justice.
You see, commonly, poetic justice has something missing.
But in God's perfect justice,
he writes the wrongs fully and completely.
Nothing is missing.
Now, there are four points that we can learn from God's perfect justice
from these two chapters.
We didn't read chapter 8,
but we'll get to that.
There's two points in chapter 7,
and there's two in chapter 8.
In God's perfect justice,
there is perfect knowledge,
there is perfect judgment,
there is perfect reward,
and there is perfect joy.
First of all,
in perfect justice,
there is perfect knowledge.
Any justice that we see in this world
isn't perfect
because no human has all the information
or knowledge of another person.
There are many secrets that are hidden.
And we see this happen in Esther chapter 7,
in the first six verses,
especially look with me at verses 3 and 4.
Having been asked again
what the queen's request is by the king,
the queen, Queen Esther, answers,
if I have found favour with you, your majesty,
and if it pleases you,
grant me my life,
this is my petition,
and spare my people,
this is my request.
For I and my people
have been sold to be destroyed,
killed and annihilated.
If we had merely been sold
as male and female slaves,
I would have kept quiet
because no such distress
would justify disturbing the king.
She knows how to speak to this king,
doesn't she?
She's very clever.
Esther reveals her concern
for her own life and her people.
Remember, no one knows
that she is a Jew at this stage,
not even her husband, the king.
All knowledge of the problem
is not revealed straight away,
nor does she make it clear
that it is the edict
that Haman actually put together
and that the king actually signed
is the main problem.
And note her comments,
in her comments,
she is using the same wording
that is in the decree
that Haman wrote
and the king signed.
Now, understandably,
this king asks,
who has done such a thing?
Now, you could imagine Haman.
Haman would be getting
a little worried
as he's listening to the king,
sitting there at the banquet,
feeling like he's a special guest,
and he hears the queen
speaking this way.
Things haven't been going well
for Haman, remember.
He has just come in from outside.
He's actually had to be humiliated
by parading around the city
with Mordecai being honoured,
the very person who he hates.
Now, Esther reveals the adversary.
It's this wicked Haman.
This wicked Haman is out to kill her,
the queen of all people.
Now, does the king realise
it's the edict
that Esther is referring to?
Maybe not.
Now, we have seen,
we think maybe not,
and the commentators think maybe not,
because we have seen the king
be very slow and lacking thought
throughout all of Esther.
So nothing makes us think
that he's putting all the dots together.
The knowledge shared here
is not complete.
Esther doesn't tell the whole story.
But in God's justice,
all things will be revealed
because perfect justice
has perfect knowledge.
If you can imagine a judge
in one of our courts
making decisions
on what he or she sees before them,
the judge doesn't know the heart
of the person in front of them,
doesn't know the motives,
the judge doesn't know
if the witness is lying or not,
and so cannot really make
a perfect judgment.
We'll do the best he or she can,
but it won't ever be perfect.
A judgment will be made perfect,
will be made,
but it won't be that perfect
because a judge cannot have
perfect knowledge.
But our God
can make a perfect judgment
because all things
will be revealed
on the day of judgment.
Revelation tells us
that when Jesus returns,
the books will be opened
and every wrong
and every right
that we have ever done
will be totally exposed
and all will be revealed.
Now, unless our wrongs,
our sins,
are covered somehow,
we,
every one of us
in this room
is in great trouble.
God's justice
is perfect justice.
He has perfect knowledge.
Nothing is hidden from him.
Even though we can hide
a huge amount from each other,
nothing is hidden from God.
God's perfect justice
requires perfect righteousness
of which we cannot
give ourselves.
In 2 Corinthians 5,
verse 21,
it says,
God made him,
that is Jesus Christ,
who had no sin
to be sin for us
so that in him
we might become
the righteousness of God.
Jesus is the one
who can cover
all of our sins.
Now, many think
that God will let
everyone
pass the entrance
into heaven
on the day of judgment.
But how can that be perfect
if he lets those
who have ignored him
all their lives
and done their own thing?
Those who have been wicked,
those who have been selfish,
those who have been self-motivated.
And dare I say,
how can even welcoming
a religious person
who comes to church
every Sunday
and then forgets God
the rest of the week
for six days,
no thought of God,
but I'm in church
on a Sunday,
how can that be just
if God allows that person
into his heaven?
You might remember
Jesus said some pretty
horrendous things
about the Pharisees.
And in Luke 11,
Jesus comments
about the Pharisees
in many different ways.
But maybe one
of the worst comments
is,
woe to you,
experts in the law,
because you have taken away
the key to knowledge.
you yourselves
have not entered
and you have hindered
those who are entering.
How awful is that?
To just be a nice person
isn't what is needed.
Putting your life
into Jesus' hands
100% is what is needed.
to know that you need saving
and that Jesus
is the perfect saviour
because he has taken
the punishment
that we deserve
on the cross.
So that we then
can stand confident
when that book
is open
and everything
about our lives
is revealed.
Our sin
will not be seen
but Jesus
by his very
life and death
will be covering
the pages
and only
Jesus
will be seen.
If we are trusting
in Jesus
as Lord
and saviour
then the perfect
knowledge
of all of our
actions
good and sinful
will in fact
be covered
by our saviour
Jesus.
Now God's
perfect justice
will also be
a perfect
judgement.
There was
a day of judgement
for Haman.
For a time
it all looked
as if
everything
was going well
for Haman.
He had position
he had wealth
he had power
he had honour.
It would be
understandable
to be looking on
and say
this isn't fair
this person
is evil.
and yet
look at
everything
that he has
and that is
not uncommon
in life.
We see
many people
in life
who are
elevated
seemingly
blessed
in finances
and position
and we might
be tempted
to call out
and say
it isn't fair.
fair.
How often
have you thought
that a punishment
does not
fit the crime?
We cry out
it isn't fair
and I can
and every one
of you with
children will
know
children can
do this
the best.
they cry out
but it's
not fair
she is
to blame
he is
to blame
but with
God
his punishment
is perfect.
Psalm 73
the whole
of the psalm
explains
this dilemma
beautifully
but we won't
read the whole psalm
but the psalmist
does say
I envied
the arrogant
when I saw
their prosperity
and the wicked
they have no
struggles
their bodies
are healthy
and strong
they are free
from common
human burdens
they are not
plagued
by human
ills
and the psalmist
continues
with saying
that he has
been faithful
and yet
things are
going wrong
for him
and he cries
out to God
and he says
God
this isn't
fair
and then
he realises
it's not
fair
only for
a time
in the psalm
it says
how quickly
are they
destroyed
completely
swept away
by terrors
it looks
all unfair
but it's
only
for a time
that it is
unfair
scripture
tells us
in many
different
ways
the
meek
shall
inherit
the
earth
the
first
shall
be
last
the
last
shall
be
first
take
courage
God's
justice
is
perfect
judgment
and if
there
wasn't
a day
of
judgment
then that
would mean
that God's
justice
is not
perfect
after all
heaven
now here
in Esther
we see
the king
has a
problem
and Haman
an even
bigger problem
we know
the king
is weak
and we
know
and here
in this
story
he's
horrified
that someone
would plan
to kill
his queen
but
he's the
one who
has
promoted
this
wicked
person
he's the
one who
has given
him all
the power
and the
high
position
how
embarrassing
for this
king who
is only
concerned
about
himself
he's going
to look
like a
goose
he's
enraged
and he's
disturbed
and he
has to
take
himself
outside
to give
him some
space
to think
what on
earth
am I
going to
do
here
now
Haman
on the
other
hand
tries
to see
whilst the
king's
out of
the room
tries to
see if he
might be
able to
persuade
the queen
to change
the story
or something
or to
plead
for life
because
Haman
knows
only too
well
that this
king
is about
to kill
him
he has
seen
this
king
annihilate
kill
many
people
but as
fate
or is
it
coincidence
or have
we learnt
by now
throughout
Esther
God's
hand
is at
work
quietly
Haman
trips
and he
falls
on to
queen
Esther
just
as the
king
is coming
in
not
a good
look
one
would
think
and for
this
weak
king
inwardly
he
most
probably
saying
woohoo
I've
got another
reason to
get this
guy
I'm not
going to
look as
bad as
what I
thought I
might have
been
he won't
be as
embarrassed
about this
one
or he
won't
lose
face
but
Proverbs
11
19
tells
us
truly
the
righteous
attain
life
but
whoever
pursues
evil
finds
death
now
this
is
poetic
justice
and
God's
justice
is
perfect
judgment
we
can be
certain
that
God
will
judge
Haman
he has
been
judged
by the
king
by
being
given
death
at that
moment
but
God's
judgment
is
eternal
death
and
Haman
will
have
that
and
God's
perfect
justice
will
receive
a
perfect
reward
now
God
promises
to
fully
and
completely
reward
the
righteous
some
of the
rewards
will be
in this
life
but
much
of
our
rewards
will
be
in
eternal
life
in
our
life
after
death
there
is
a
great
reversal
and
a
great
reward
for
the
righteous
and
we
see
it
in
Haman
and
Mordecai
if we
compared
the
two
of
them
Mordecai
was
humbled
at
the
beginning
of
the
story
of
Esther
and
then
Mordecai
was
honoured
and
exalted
Haman
was
honoured
and
exalted
at the
beginning
and
then
he
was
humbled
there
was
a
massive
reversal
for
Mordecai
when
all
of
Haman's
estate
that
was
given
to
Esther
by
the
king
was
handed
over
to
Mordecai
to
take
care
of
along
with
the
king
handing
over
his
signet
ring
we see
in
chapter
8
to
Mordecai
signifying
that he
can speak
for the
king
in
all
of
Susa
isn't
that
amazing
that the
king
can
just
switch
like
that
you
see
there
is
also
a
great
reversal
in
the
kingdom
of
God
we
might
see
the
wicked
and
Haman
in
this
passage
grow
in
wealth
and
position
and
pride
and
honour
but
there
will
be
a
time
where
all
will
be
reversed
God
will
reward
those
who
serve
him
faithfully
Hebrews
chapter 6
verse 10
says
God
is not
unjust
he
will
not
forget
your
work
and
love
you
have
shown
him
as
you
have
helped
his
people
and
continue
to
help
them
this
isn't
just
poetic
justice
this
is
a
great
reward
from
God
God's
rewards
are
based
on
what
we
do
now
don't
get me
wrong
I
am
not
talking
about
salvation
here
there
is
nothing
that
we
can
do
to
earn
our
salvation
that
is
purely
a
gift
from
God
but
in
Revelation
22
the
Lord
does
say
behold
I
am
coming
soon
my
reward
is
with
me
and
I
will
give
to
everyone
according
to
what
he
has
done
this
is
a
reward
over
and
above
the
gift
of
salvation
the
question
that
we
need
to
ask
ourselves
is
am
I
living
for
God
in
all
areas
of
my
life
am
I
serving
him
faithfully
for
this
wonderful
reward
that
is
promised
we
see
great
concern
also
in
Esther
she
has
everything
she
has
power
she
now
knows
for
a
moment
that
her
life
is
safe
but
there
is
still
sadness
there
is
still
unfinished
business
and
it's
the
same
here
in
Esther
poetic
justice
was
given
to
Haman
he
was
hung
on
the
very
gallows
that
he
intended
for
Mordecai
but
Esther
is
still
sad
because
her
people
still
have
the
edict
that
they
are
to
be
annihilated
they
need
to
be
rescued
otherwise
they
die
now
we
need
to
understand
that
in
this
time
that
Esther
is
written
a
king
could
not
change
a
law
that
he
had
made
any
edict
he
had
put
out
it
could
not
be
changed
it
could
not
be
revoked
because
shock
of
shock
it
might
look
as if
the
king
had
made
a
mistake
but
a
new
edict
was
written
where
the
Jews
were
permitted
to
defend
themselves
and
their
families
this
is
amazing
this
is
a
reversal
it's
a
great
reversal
for the
Jews
they
were
destined
to
be
annihilated
but
now
can
defend
themselves
against
those
who
defend
themselves
against
those
who
would
come
after
them
to
kill
them
now
God
has
also
made
an
irrevocable
law
that
is
a
law
that
will
never
be
changed
and
that
is
the
wages
of
sin
is
death
God
will
not
change
his
laws
but
he
won't
change
his
laws
not
because
he's
frightened
that
he's
made
a
mistake
he
won't
change
his
laws
because
he
has
perfect
justice
God
must
be
just
but
he
is
also
the
justifier
and
he
maintains
justice
by
sending
Jesus
to
die
in
our
place
and
to
take
the
punishment
we
deserve
his
law
does
not
change
but
he
steps
in
to
save
us
he
pays
the
cost
so
that
anyone
who
puts
their
trust
in
Jesus
will
be
saved
that
great
verse
that
all of
you
would
know
for
God
so
loved
the
world
that
he
gave
his
only
son
that
whoever
believes
in
him
shall
not
perish
but
have
eternal
life
in
God's
perfect
justice
there will
also be
rejoicing
in the
last
few
verses
of chapter
8
from 15
to 17
when
Mordecai
left
the
king's
presence
he
was
wearing
royal
garments
of
blue
and
white
a
large
crown
of
gold
and
a
purple
robe
of
fine
linen
and
the
city
of
Susa
held
a
joyous
celebration
for
the
Jews
it
was
a
time
of
happiness
and
joy
gladness
and
honour
in
every
province
and
in
every
city
to
which
the
edict
of
the
king
came
there
was
joy
and
gladness
among
and
celebrating
and
many
people
of
other
nationalities
became
Jews
because
fear
of
the
Jews
had
seized
them
we
see
the
people
of
Susa
rejoice
when
they
see
Mordecai
is now
the
second
in
charge
they
were
not
all
Jews
all
the
people
of
Susa
there
were
many
nationalities
there
but
they
were
all
rejoicing
because
the
wicked
Haman
had
been
dealt
with
and
now
we
have
this
new
guy
who
seems
to
be
a
good
guy
and
they're
excited
about
that
so
they
too
can
rejoice
and
we
see
rejoicing
amongst
the
Jews
they
no
longer
have
a
death
warrant
over
their
heads
and
they
can
defend
themselves
they
can
stand
firm
for
God
friends
if
if you
have been
set
free
from
your
sin
and
you've
been
set
free
from
God's
perfect
judgment
are
you
rejoicing
Paul
says
to
rejoice
in the
Lord
always
and
as
believers
haven't
we got
a reason
to
rejoice
in
Esther
there
was
rejoicing
and
dancing
for
days
and
others
saw
their
gladness
and
were
attracted
to
their
God
others
saw
that
their
God
had
delivered
them
from
death
this
God
of
the
Jews
this
God
of
us
he
watches
over
us
and
he
cares
for
us
and
he
gives
us
eternal
life
and
a
promise
that
all
the
wrong
and
all
the
evil
in
this
world
will
in
fact
be
dealt
with
eventually
we
have
a
confidence
in
a
God
who
is
just
amazing
and
words
cannot
express
it
enough
the
joy
in
God's
people
allows
others
to
see
that
there
is
something
worth
rejoicing
about
is
that
you
the
German
philosopher
and
atheist
and
I
have
a
sneaking
suspicion
Steve
used
Friedrich
Nietzsche's
comment
somewhere
in this
series
but
Friedrich
Nietzsche
the
philosopher
said
I
might
believe
in
the
redeemer
if
his
followers
looked
more
redeemed
I
mean
really
Mahatma
Gandhi
on the
back
of
that
statement
he
actually
said
if
it
weren't
for
Christians
I
would
be
a
Christian
what
an
indictment
that
is
if
us
Christians
cannot
actually
show
how
wonderful
our
great
God
is
what
hope
is
there
for
the
world
that
is
horrendous
that
we
have
people
like
this
say
that
sort
of
stuff
perfect
righteousness
comes
only
in
Jesus
my
friends
and
if
you
know
this
Jesus
you
need
to
show
people
that
God's
justice
is
perfect
and
his
salvation
is
free
that
is
reason
to
rejoice
if
life
is
tough
for
you
at
this
moment
in
time
but
you
are
trusting
in
Jesus
know
this
it
is
only
for
a
time
that
it's
going
to
be
tough
there
is
an
eternity
of
things
that
are
made
right
and
perfect
you
are
only
in
a
moment
of
time
our
reward
will
come
and
it
will
be
perfect
and
it
will
be
for
all
eternity
there
is
poetic
justice
in
Esther
but
more
importantly
Esther
points
us
to
God's
perfect
justice
that
remains
because
there
is
perfect
revelation
perfect
knowledge
there
is
perfect
judgment
there
is
a
perfect
reward
waiting
for
everyone
and
it
comes
with
rejoicing
be
the
people
of
God
and
let
others
see
it
Amen