INTRODUCTION: Though it seemed at one time that all hope was gone for the Jews, God brings deliverance in the end. But when God delivers, it is not just a partial deliverance. He gives an absolute, miraculous deliverance from Haman and from the decree to destroy the Jews. We can learn much about the mighty power and the supreme goodness of God from this lesson.

1. ESTHER’S PETITION (Esther 7:1-6)
1. The Second Banquet (Esther 7:1-2)
1. With the king and Haman (Esther 7:1)
2. With the king’s promise (Esther 7:2; compare Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 7:7-11; Philippians 4:6; James 4:2)
1. Her petition to be granted
2. Her request to be performed to the half of the kingdom (compare Matthew 6:23)
2. Her Request for Deliverance (Esther 7:3-4)
1. For her life (Esther 7:3)
1. If she has found favor in the sight of the king
2. If it please the king
2. For the life of her people (Esther 7:3-4)
1. They are sold
2. They are given to be destroyed
3. For the king’s benefit (Esther 7:4; Genesis 12:1-3)
1. Slavery would have been a better option
2. For slavery Esther would have held her tongue
3. But the king’s loss would still have been great. Note: countervail means to make up for; that is, Esther’s people are valuable to the king and no matter how much Haman (“the enemy”) might pay for their destruction (Esther 4:7), he could not recompense the king for their loss.
3. Her Revelation of the Enemy (Esther 7:5-6)
1. At the king’s request (Esther 7:5)
1. Who is this man?
2. Where is this man?
3. Who would dare do this thing?
2. Before the king’s face (Esther 7:6)
1. He is the wicked Haman
1. The adversary (1 Timothy 5:14; 1 Peter 5:8)
2. The enemy (Matthew 13:39)
2. Haman was afraid
2. HAMAN’S DEATH (Esther 7:7-10)
1. The Anger of the King (Esther 7:7-8)
1. The king’s walk in the garden (Esther 7:7a)
1. He arose in his wrath
2. He went to the palace garden
2. Haman’s pleading with Esther (Esther 7:7b)
1. He stood to make request for his life
2. He saw the evil determined against him (1 Samuel 25:17)
3. The king’s accusation against Haman (Esther 7:8a; compare Esther 3:8; Psalm 7:14-16)
1. The king returned from the garden
2. Haman was on Esther’s bed pleading for his life
3. The king accused Haman of attacking Esther. Note: just as Haman made false accusations against the Jews, so Haman in the end receives a false accusation against him. However, he was also guilty and deserving of the death he received.
4. The covering of Haman’s face (Esther 7:8b; Romans 3:19); at one point, those who have rejected God will not be permitted to speak for themselves any more.
2. The Hanging of Haman (Esther 7:9-10)
1. The discovery of Haman’s gallows (Esther 7:9)
2. The death of the Jews’ enemy (Esther 7:10)
3. MORDECAI’S PROMOTION (Esther 8:1-8; Psalm 75:6-7)
1. The Gifts of the King (Esther 8:1-2)
1. The house of Haman to Esther (Esther 8:1)
1. The king is told of Haman’s gallows
2. Haman is hanged on his own gallows (Psalm 7:15; Proverbs 26:27)
2. The king’s ring to Mordecai (Esther 8:2; compare Esther 3:10)
1. The king’s ring was taken from Haman
2. The king’s ring was given to Mordecai
3. Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman
2. The Queen’s Second Petition (Esther 8:3-6)
1. Her entrance to the king (Esther 8:3-4)
1. She approached the throne yet again (Esther 8:3)
2. The king held out the golden scepter (Esther 8:4)
2. Her request for a reverse decree (Esther 8:5-6)
3. The Commissioning of Mordecai (Esther 8:7-8)
1. His blessings to Esther (Esther 8:7)
1. Esther has the house of Haman
2. Haman is hung on his own gallows
2. His blessings on the Jews (Esther 8:8)
1. Write also for the Jews
2. Seal it with the king’s ring
4. THE KING’S DECREE (Esther 8:9-14)
1. The Writing of the Decree (Esther 8:9-10)
1. To every people (Esther 8:9; this is the longest verse in the Bible)
1. Written on the 23rd day of the 3rd month
2. Written according to Mordecai’s commandment
3. Sent to the 127 provinces of Persia
4. Given to all according to their own language
2. In the king’s name (Esther 8:10)
2. The Content of the Decree (Esther 8:11-12)
1. That the Jews protect themselves (Esther 8:11)
1. That they gather together
2. That they destroy those who would assault them
3. That they take the spoil of their enemies
2. On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (Esther 8:12)
3. The Publishing of the Decree (Esther 8:13-14)
1. The making of the copies (Esther 8:13)
2. The sending of the posts (Esther 8:14; compare Psalm 2:7; Psalm 60:4; Psalm 68:11)
5. THE JEWS’ GLADNESS (Esther 8:15-17)
1. The Clothing of Mordecai (Esther 8:15)
1. Royal apparel of blue and white
2. A great crown of gold
3. A garment of fine linen and purple
4. Among the rejoicing of the city of Shushan
2. The Joy of the Jews (Esther 8:16-17)
1. The happiness of the Jews (Esther 8:16)
1. Light (Psalm 97:11; Proverbs 4:18)
2. Gladness
3. Joy
4. Honor
2. The feasting of the Jews (Esther 8:17)
3. The outreach of the Jews (Esther 8:17)
1. Many people became Jews
2. The fear of the Jews fell on them (Zechariah 8:20-23)

CONCLUSION:  One of the great joys God’s people have is to see the Lord work out insurmountable problems in His own special way. This working of God to bring all things together for good in the lives of believers is called providence. We must thank God for His providential working.

Esther 8:16 – The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

Psalm 7:15 – He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: