Chess, Checkers and the Game of Life

Goal in working all things out together for good to those who love them. Romans it is found in its purpose, and fulfillment. Romans 829 so that we would not be comfortable, but that we would be conformable to the of his son is interested in delivering us from the challenges of life, as he is in developing us through the challenge that offers a special partnership with those book of Esther is filled with injury. Payment conspired to wipe out the entire Jewish population. The plot takes a turn because God is at work behind the scenes payments plot unravels because what Heyman didn't know is that a Jewish woman is now the Queen of the land. It's like there's a chess match being played in the kingdom of Persia between Heyman and the Jewish people and just when it seems like Heyman effectively has the king in check. A forgotten opponent emerges and strikes a surprising blow to thwart Heyman's strategy Steven David explores this today. In a message called chess checkers in the game of life. One of the lessons our grandmother taught us when she was teaching us how to play chess was you always kept your eye on the Queen of the Queen with what was to be protected and guarded, more than any other piece that you had except the Queen was the most powerful offensive weapon you had you didn't want to lose her and at the same time he needed to keep your eye a wary eye out on that opponents Queen. Where is he moving her to guided my if you want to summarize up to this point, the book of Esther and the downfall of Persia's prime minister payment you could do it in one sentence. Heyman had failed to keep his eyes on the Queen. She was about to become his most dreaded opponent. Now when we last studied this drama together.

You never Esther has wrist life or something that would seem inconsequential or or so it seems the king probably think she was or clothing, or maybe some property or maybe you're a little palace extension she invites the king and his prime minister Heyman to dinner in order to deliver her special request and then to our surprise and probably I believe to hers. She doesn't ask her petition. She chokes out as it were. When you come back tomorrow night and then I'll ask you tomorrow night with my petition. None of this is a surprise to God. In fact it's going to be during the intervening nights when the hand of God will be most visible. God inspired insomnia first affects the king, he can't sleep so he calls for the Persian Congressional record to be brought up from the palace library that will not about any as a servant. Just begin reading the servant chooses to read several years back at a place where Mordechai this Jewish man saves the king's life and discovers in the reading of that.

That night that the key has not rewarded him properly for what is done, he has become one of the king's benefactors.

This Jewish movement Mordecai just across town but same time he's reading or hearing this Heyman is constructing of a gallows. Seven stories tall upon which to hang Mordecai not knowing what's going Heyman finishes building the gallows changes I was work was rushes the palace early this is going to be the greatest day of my life. Anything gets there in time to hear the king asking him why honor a man how I make one of my benefactors and Heyman lays it all out, assuming to be him and discovers it's to be Mordecai's leading Mordechai through the town square daughter is Heyman declares the glory of the one seated upon this horse Kings and effector.

He backed it all out ahead of time. He worked it all out in his mind and for Heyman. The game of life had become the game of chase, it failed to keep his eye on the Queen's were about the discovery of her study to pick it up there.

Chapter 7 verse one. This only adds to his problems and to the shock ultimately his death. King and Heyman came to drink wine with Esther the queen literally party with Esther the queen. This is the second and king said to Esther on the second day.

Also, as they drink their wine banquet is the meals over now. What is your petition. Queen Esther don't fear he's implying is going to be granted to you. So what is your last half of the kingdom, it shall be done then here's what Queen Esther replied verse three. If I have found favor in your sight. Okay.

And if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition and my people, as my request for we have been so old I had my people now Esther borrows by the way, from the language of the actual use the same three verbs in the same order as Heyman wrote it out by my people are going to be destroyed, to be killed to be annihilated. She doesn't want trinkets after all. Just one more stuff. She wants her life and she wants the life of her people as well. In fact, if you missed it you can help and pick it up in this very courageous diplomatic wise speech that there's a change obviously happening for little more than five years. She's kept his secret safe. Hermano has been in life I knew and no one will ever find out that I thought about what with the oxen could have been for her.

If it's possible she could have tried to maintain the masquerade walked in her petition would have been something like king. I've heard about this edict, and I think Jewish people are nice.

I some attendants who work for me, that are Jews, and I wish you just stop this edict on the her plan involves coming out with the secret twice in this courageous speech you could circle that personal pronoun in your text IN my people, my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. I need to understand is this drama unfold. And it's in fast forward anomaly continue to hit the pause button. You need to understand the king isn't quite catching on. Although Heyman's heart is immediately beginning to race as soon as he hears this come out of this. She's unfinished. He goes on to create even more suspense harbors for now. Okay if we if we only sold as slaves, men and women I would've remained silent for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king. In other words, it just be sold into slavery. I wouldn't bother you with it. So were going to be slain, and this is absolutely stunning news to both of these men. The king is finding out for the first time that his wife's life is in danger. He really doesn't know why Esther wisely avoids implicating him friendly. I believe the king doesn't even know at this point that it is the Jewish people that he's condemned to death in the edict that Heyman drew up, and in his callous disregard for life.

He is simply allowed Heyman to drop the edict attempt to get rid of some people that have been causing some problem in the kingdom and and and that's okay go ahead with in fact it's not until later on according to chapter 8 that Esther will give the king the total picture, including the fact that she and Mordechai are cousin, but for now, Esther is wisely refraining from giving too many specifics because she wants her husband to get the one thing he needs to know that your husband's to Lotta details and you know is probably going to miss most of them and so just get this one thing this one thing, and the one thing is that yes somebody wants to kill me and my extended family, and that grabs his attention. Heyman, on the other hand, at this moment has just discovered shop that Esther is Jewish. He knows exactly what Esther is saying here because he wrote the edict and she will have to say anything more to Heyman for him to get the full picture. Heyman and use those three verbs in the same order that Esther has quoted from the Jews are to be destroyed, killed, annihilated, and he has been licking his chops to take off their heads. In fact, he can't wait for 11 months to come, when the edict will be fulfilled. He wants Mordechai's head now not to his horror he discovered that all the people in the kingdom Esther the queen is one of them. He had never really taken note of the queen and the mist providence of God he sick his stomach immediately lurching his heart racing, wondering what's next, the king is enraged again two entirely different reasons. Some of these after his wife and frankly I think is probably more trouble with the fact that that means someone is trying to affect his authority. Verse five thinking hazards as Queen Esther, who is the where is he who would presume to do this and Esther said a file and an enemy is this wicked Heyman devastating opponent.

This queen was by no I do not just blurt out his name. She had to say what she continues to raise attention and delivered to the king.

The fullest verdict of this man, with each word a flow and maybe this Heyman is immediately terrified. The text tells us in writing so the king verse seven gets up and goes out in the garden. The text indicates that there is a rapid succession of movement. He rushes shocked and now shocked all over again. He's got quite a predicament on his hands doesn't mean we think about all the layers. How can he punish Heyman for an edict that he is stamped with his own royal seal. How can he deal with Heyman without implicating himself.

How can he rescind an edict which is now the law of the Medes and Persians. How could he soften the edict when it leaves no loophole that the Jewish people entirely are to be completely destroyed. Can he somehow protect Esther's life, all at the same time protecting his own reputation bettered him more than anybody and if he can't protect her. How in the world is he going to explain her death apart from his own culpability is probably thinking why did I trust Heyman so completely why in the world that I let him sign that edict. And why not. I read the fine print.

One other summarizes.

As you know, you think about the fact hazards would've signed multiple he thinks the day. Who knows how many pressing matters of government were on his mind. Get countless decisions to make when Heyman was concocted this scheme and Heyman was a trusted official had proposed it in such a way that it easily was simply solving little problem in the kingdom kingdom, but he knows none of the matter because his own signature is effectively on the king doesn't know it yet, but he's about to be immensely helpful for the foolishness of his prime minister before we get there. Think of the problem is a bigger problem is effectively condemned queen for seven king arose in his anger from drinking wine and went into the palace garden but Heyman stayed the back for his life from Queen Esther, in other words, he makes a split second decision.

He weighs his options in that moment and decide he will not follow the king out to try to talk him into sparing his life. He has seen the expression of the king, and he knows the king is determined against the can't run that's an option but to run would imply guilt all the king has to do is send the soldiers after no killing on the spot so he chooses the only other option you can imagine stays to beg his life from Esther the queen and I want you to understand the irony of this he's begging for his life from someone he has condemned to die. In fact, she can't save his life.

She is now under the law of Medes and Persians condemned in about 11 months from now.I so anything about chapter 7 was just happened. Consider the fact that they are both begging for their lives and they can do nothing about it entirely or so would seem bound up in the decision of the king.

It was noted in the text tells us that in his terror and implied anger and threatening behavior.

I don't want you to miss that Heyman is falling on the couch where Esther had reclined for dinner. You need to understand that, according to well a Persian law. No man was allowed within seven steps of any member of the king's harem affect Persian kings if a man rode his horse along the church. Just take a look at the king's heritage road past the carriage. He would be put to death. Furthermore, Persian wall held that touching the king's wife in any way was penalized by death, because what the king is going to say read back in there and and and picture a little bit of a different scene. Heyman in his his terror and his passion and his anger which leads him to effectively threaten her. The king will see the he falls on her couch. More than likely kneeling over her.

She's reclined, perhaps even grabbing her by the shoulders. We don't know for sure, but I can only guess this man's hatred for the Jews would've spilled out all over the scene was something like who do you think you are on the prime minister of Persia, you're just a little shoe SL die. How dare you trap me while he's threatened her in some way shape or form. The king walks back in from the garden sees what's going on and in the latter part of verse eight says, and will even assaulted queen with me in the house right here in front of me.

Verse eight is the word without the king's mother covered him in space.

In other words, according their custom. He's not worthy to look upon another human being and no human needs ever to look upon him to be a life sentence. What leads the king ultimately to move forward in executing according to Herodotus, historian who lived during this time and talk quite a bit of a Persian law.

It required at least two serious accusations that would stand up in a court of law. In order for the king deliver this verdict to serious accusations and now he has their shaky but he could perhaps prove his point and maybe, and I'm sure because of the fear of this man, he would win Heyman's plot to kill the Jews could be construed as a direct threat against the king's own wife, perhaps attempting to prove that he knew she was a Jewish that might hold up that would be one offense, but then Heyman has approached the Queen's got me on this seven step distance in fact is probably touched. Probably grabbed her by the shoulders, hatred in a threatening manner, threatening physical harm.

But what really ties it all up is something Esther had not planned on something surprising in the drama at that moment. Out of nowhere certainly beyond Esther's choreographed events that she's worked out in her mind.

What settles it. Beyond dispute, and puts Heyman on the fast track to his own execution is what happens next.

Then at that moment Harmon, one of the UNIX who stood before the king said, behold, indeed, the gallows standing in Heyman's house 50 cubits high which Heyman notice made for Mordecai who spoke good on behalf of the king. God is the ultimate stranded game belongs.

Even when he's silent, is present.

Remember, even when he seems removed. He remains sovereign even when he seems behind schedule and off the clock laying his purposes are fulfilled at the right second just the right moment when the manager sent me an email this week.

It read while we were eating lunch after church. My youngest son asked me what was the biggest number I have ever counted up to the great. I said I didn't know then I asked him how high he ever counted and immediately responded 5372. Wow, that's a win when you count the number. He said today I said why did you stop there. So the sermon was over.

Counting kids are not finished yet. Okay, one of the wake your mom and dad back up to me makes for observations quickly about strategy of God as he works the game of life through his myriad of providential ways. Number 1.often uses reversals in our lives to move us forward and make us deeper thing on the fact that things are done so well for quite some time. Esther won the crown.

How amazing is that she's able to promote Mordecai to CFO in the kingdom part of the king's own administrative staff and then wham out of nowhere. All because of one little man who got all bent out of shape over the fact that Mordecai would not grovel at his feet but but look beyond that for just a moment. Listen, if that edict had never been signed. If this reversal had never taken place in their lives. Esther would still be holding onto a secret so would more. In fact, we have every reason to believe they would've lived in hypocrisy of the day they died got off and secondly uses unlikely things to carry out his of all the planning I just love of God inserts his plan, and certainly we plan she had no idea that the final blow would be delivered by one of the certain who provided sort of the last nail the Heyman's coffin. Have you ever lost a game of chess because of the poem. I have, I'd rather be crushed by the Queen were nailed by a bishop exactly what happens in unlikely person to bring about God's purposes.

You know why, so that in the end of the day we can all say not as master clever.

All right, Esther and Mordecai are they together no God lives. Thirdly.often puts us through the greatest difficulty for providing delivered.

The truth is God's. And we wanted to deliver as he could do it quickly and painlessly. Right is not after deliverances after development if the Lord only want to make us comfortable, he would allow roadblocks, reversals and trials in hopeless conditions or situations where were Roland's goal in working all things out together for good to those who love them. Romans 820 is found in its purpose, and fulfillment. Romans 829 so that we would not be comfortable, but that we would be conformable to the image of his son why he isn't as interested in delivering us from the challenges of life, as he is in in developing us through the challenges to God often not only puts us through great difficulty before providing deliverance.

He not only uses unlikely thing to carry out his thought, he not only uses reversals to move us forward and grow us deeper.

One more got offers a special partnership with those who submit to his problem is the code laboring principle that exists to our day between us and our great God's mystery to me.

This is what the apostle Paul wanted to maximize with his own life. He talked about fruit according was a laborer about the same time recognizing the power the labor belong with God. He would like to the Corinthians. Now he who plans and he who waters are one of the same body, but each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor prescriptive. This was not a somebody has a greater more powerful position, or more important job or some service.

The point is that we serve in whatever way were never replaced as we submit just like that grandfather we saw on the video. Kids are waiting to see you submitted to that particular point of service wherever placed on the chessboard by the providence of God when we are Queen for a night or bishop or point we are all one.

This was Paul's encouragement to the Philippian church financially supported him.

This is a staggering concept. He wrote to them the things for supporting and then he informs them of this principle that because of their support for him.

He writes in Philippians 122 and also for 17.

He says the fruit is a laborer will abound to their account. Who would want to have the dividends of the apostle Paul's labor. He says you're over here and you're not on the missionary journey when you're supporting me and I want to know my fruit bounding your account stand serve submit the providence of God thanks for joining us today here on system. This is the Bible teaching ministry of Stephen Davey. You can learn more about us.

If you visit our website which is wisdom online.org. Once you go there you will be able to access the complete archive of Stephen's Bible teaching ministry. There are many other resources as well, and one that I want to highlight today is Stephen's commentary through the book of Esther. It's a practical and pastoral look through each verse in Esther, our supply is limited. Right now, but were making those that we have available at a discount. You'll find this book Esther on our website. We also have a monthly magazine. It's called heart to heart. We send heart-to-heart magazine to all of our wisdom partners but we be happy to send you the next three issues. If you'd like to see it for yourself.

You can sign up for it on our website or you can call us today our number is 86 648 Bible. That's 866-482-4253. Call today for so glad you were with us and I hope you be with us for our next Bible message here on wisdom