The God who repeals evil – Preaching
Preaching Outline on Esther 8:3-4 – “Esther spoke moreover before the king, and fell down at his feet; and she wept, and besought him that he would reverse the wickedness of Haman the Agagite, and the device that he had devised against the Jews. And the king held out the golden scepter to Esther. Then Esther arose and stood before the king.”
Introduction to Esther 8:3-4
Chapter 8 of Esther presents us with a critical moment in the history of the Jewish people. Haman, a powerful, cunning and hateful man, had devised an evil plan to exterminate God’s people. His intention was to wipe out the Jews completely, and he seemed to be in control, with the decree already sealed by the king.
However, God had already prepared an answer even before the problem arose. He had raised up Esther to intercede before the king. Esther knew that only divine intervention could overturn the death sentence against her people.
Just as Esther interceded, we too face situations in which evil seems to prevail against our lives. But there is a God who can change any scenario and revoke the enemy’s decree.
Development
EVIL AGAINST THE SERVANT
We live in a world marked by sin, where wickedness seems to have no limits. Haman represents the adversary of our souls, Satan, who is described in John 10:10 as the one who “comes to steal and kill and destroy”. His plan against us can come in different forms:
- Persecution: At work, in the family or in relationships.
- Afflictions: Illness, loss and financial difficulties.
- Spiritual attacks: Attacks that try to steal our faith and communion with God.
Even so, for God’s servant, there is a way out. The Lord promised us in Isaiah 54:17:
“Every weapon forged against you will not prosper.”
Just as God thwarted Haman’s plan, he is also powerful to annul any evil work against you.
ESTER’S ATTITUDES
Esther’s victory over Haman’s decree teaches us precious lessons about how we should act in the face of evil:
a) Throw yourself at the King’s feet
“And he fell at her feet and wept…”
Esther recognized that only the king could intervene on her behalf. So too, we need to throw ourselves at the feet of King Jesus. The act of “casting oneself” represents:
- Humility: Recognizing that only God has the power to change our situation.
- Brokenness: Shedding our tears before Him, presenting our causes in faith.
Prayer is our most powerful weapon. Philippians 4:6 exhorts us:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything let your requests be made known to God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.”
b) Prayer with faith
“And he begged him to revoke…”
Esther didn’t give up in the face of the gravity of the situation. Even with the decree sealed, she believed that the king could reverse it. In the same way, we need to believe that God can act, even when everything seems decided.
Supplication is fervent, insistent prayer that doesn’t give up. Jesus taught us in Matthew 7:7:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
c) Trust in God’s power to revoke
To revoke means to cancel, to annul, to make something ineffective. Esther knew that even though the law was already in force, the king had the authority to revoke it. In the same way, God has all the power to revoke:
- Decrees of illness: He is Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals (Exodus 15:26).
- Plans of destruction: He undoes the snares of the enemy (Psalm 91:3).
- Sentences of spiritual death: He gives us abundant life (John 10:10).
Remember: no matter how final your situation seems, God has the last word.
THE GOLDEN SCEPTER: GOD’S FAVOR
“And the king held out the golden scepter to Esther…”
The golden scepter represents the king’s favor, the sign that Esther had been accepted into his presence. For us, the golden scepter is God’s unmerited favor, manifested in Christ Jesus.
- Hebrews 4:16:
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Jesus has already opened the way to the Father for us. When we come before him in prayer, we find grace, forgiveness and the solution to our struggles.
Conclusion of Esther 8:3-4
Like Esther, you may be facing an evil decree on your life: a situation that seems irreversible, a struggle that makes you feel powerless.
But today the Lord is holding out the golden scepter to you. He invites you to come to him, to throw yourself at his feet and present your supplication to him.
Believe that our God is the God who repeals evil. He has the power to turn decrees of death into decrees of life, sorrow into joy, defeat into victory.
Esther got up and stood before the king because she received the answer she needed. Likewise, God wants to put you on your feet. He wants to overturn your situation and give you victory.
If there is something in your life that seems impossible to change, hand it over to the Lord. Cast yourself at his feet, cry out, beg, because our God is faithful and powerful to reverse any evil. He is the God who repeals!
“For nothing is impossible for God.” (Luke 1:37)
Preaching Outline on Esther 8:3-4 – “Esther spoke moreover before the king, and fell down at his feet; and she wept, and besought him that he would reverse the wickedness of Haman the Agagite, and the device that he had devised against the Jews. And the king held out the golden scepter to Esther. Then Esther arose and stood before the king.”
More Preaching Outlines
- Esther 4:16 – If I perish, I perish
- Vashti’s rejection – Esther 1:9-22
- The position of the Servant – Esther 6:12
