Esther

So let's, let's pray and then we're gonna, we're gonna, get into this story. Father, we thank you so much for this this amazing tale, and, we thank you for how entertaining it is and how wonderful it is and how true it is. And, we pray that you would help us, not just to understand the flow of the story, but how these these truths apply to our hearts and we ask it in Jesus' name. Oh, man. Oh, man.

Let me get this, title thing up. There we go. Now as I was, as I was sort of thinking about, this week's talk, I was, having a look at some some ancient, some ancient stories and legends from the ancient world, which I know absolutely nothing about, in general. But as I was preparing, I came across this really cool story, about Alexander the great and the Gordian knot, than if anyone's ever heard of that particular story. It was totally new to me.

I'd never heard of it. But it is good. It's, it's set in the ancient city of Frigia, which at the time of the story was without a king. And in the ancient world, if you didn't have a king, you were toast, basically. It was no good for you.

But then there was a prophecy 1 day. This prophecy came from an oracle who lived in the city, and they said that the next person to come through the city gate riding on an ox cart would become the king of Frigia. Didn't matter who it was or where they were from they would become the king. And so a short time later, a peasant farmer named Gordius came through the gate riding on an ox cart and as the prophecy said, he became the king of Frigia. And out of gratitude to the gods for their kindness, his son decided to tie the oxcart to a post with the most impossible knot that you could imagine so that this oxcart would stay there forever as a thank offering to the gods for their kindness.

And according to the legend, the several knots were so tightly entangled that it was impossible to see how they were fastened together. So this is worse than any tangle in your headphones that you could ever imagine. When you're trying to go somewhere, you get it out to listen to some music it's just a big ball of wire, and it's just a nightmare. It was much worse than anything like that. It was an impossible problem.

But with this knot came another prophecy, the oracle of the city said that if if a person could untie this knot, they were destined to be king over all of Asia. And history has it that soon after that Alexander the Great, came into the city and when he saw the knot and when he heard the prophecy, he became obsessed with undoing it. And so he looked at it and he thought about it and he tried to work out ways he might untie it until suddenly he had this eureka moment. When he realized that according to the prophecy, it didn't matter how the knot was untied as long as it was untied. And so he drew out his sword and he just sliced the thing clean in half and separated the ox cart from the post.

And from that moment on, Alexander the grape went from strength to strength. By the time he was 30 years old, he had 1 of the largest empires of the ancient world, and many people would say today he is 1 of the most successful military leaders, of all time. And so this story and the Gordian knot has gone down in history and and apparently is used by people, although I've never heard anyone use it, to describe an impossible situation, which needs a bold and creative solution. A situation which humanly speaking and using normal methods is gonna be impossible to work out, but with a spark of creativity and a bit of courage, it can be undone. And I think Esther I think they've nicked it off Esther chapter 5, 6, and 7.

I think right here in the heart of these chapters is the biggest gordian knot ever. It is 1 heck of a tangle. The law has gone from the king. That in 11 months time, all the Jews across the entire empire will die. The laws of the medes and the Persians can never be undone.

Mordicae has commanded Esther to beg before the king, but no 1 can go to the king unless he summons them or they will die. Ester also happens to be a Jew and she hasn't revealed that yet, but when she does, it means she's gonna be on the hit list as well. And to make things even worse, the king has been ignoring her for the last 30 days. If this knot is gonna be undone. It's gonna take more than just creativity and boldness.

It's going to take a miracle. And with that, we come to the next section of this story in the book of Esther. Now between chapters 1 and 5, which we've already looked at in the few weeks, we've covered about 9 years of history in those first 2 talks. But in chapters 5, 6, and 7, we're covering just over 24 hours. Give or take.

It's hard to tell exactly how long, but it's definitely less than 2 full days. And when that kind of happens in a book, it's like yellow lines on the road telling you begin to slow down and pay attention. There has been this massive build up we've covered a huge amount of history, but now we're being told to slow down and to recognize that everything is gonna hinge on the next few hours in this part of Persia. And so what we're gonna do this morning is just to go through the timeline and see what the lord did and what he accomplished in these amazing, amazing few hours. And the first point, is this.

So we're just gonna work through the days. The first point is the first day sunrise. Have a look at chapter 5 and verse 1. On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes. Now, that is a bit confusing.

That's the third day of her fast, but it's the first day, for this little section. Okay? So just there we go. That's that's done now. Stood in the inner court of the palace in front of the King's Hall, The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall facing the entrance.

Now just imagine the tension of this moment. Okay? Ester is standing in the inner court in front of the king's hall. At this point, he can see her. He would be looking down into the entrance as she waits.

You could see her there waiting in the outside. Humanly speaking, her life and the future of god's people hanging the balance. The next move Xerxes makes, the next words he says, are gonna shape the course of history. Will this plan that they have hatched be enough to undo the gordian knot. Well, have a look at verse 2 to 5 again.

When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and he held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter, then the king asked What is it, Queenesta? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you. If it pleases King replied Esther let the king together with Hayman come today to a banquet that I have prepared for him, bring Hayman at once the king said so that we may do what Esther asks.

So it's weird because she what she doesn't do, and we might wonder why she doesn't do it. Is just blurt out the problem straight away. This is her opportunity. This is the moment that she's been waiting for. The king has said whatever you want, even up to half the kingdom, it would be yours.

That is exactly the words that she wanted to hear. So why not just come out with it straight away? Well, she reckons that that would be too hasty and too risky How is he gonna react to that sort of challenge and request after 30 days of no contact? It'd be a little bit forward, a little bit risky to go for it straight away. And so instead, she decides to play the long game and it it it is a stroke of genius he does because it wasn't exactly a secret that the king was into his banquets.

He loved his banquets. He loved his feasting. He loved his drinking. It was not a difficult sell for her. It wasn't hidden knowledge either that Hammond loved to feel good about himself.

And he honestly doesn't mind being the biggest third wheel in history if he can just sit there at the banquet with them. He doesn't mind that because he can then boast about how he and no other was invited to this royal banquet. So to these 2 men, simple pleasures, it's an irresistible offer. It's like saying to a football fan, look, you, you know, you probably can't make it and I'm sure you're busy. You've almost certainly got other things on, but I've got their ticket to the World Cup final.

And, you know, I don't know if you'd want to come with me, perhaps you would. You know, it's not exactly hard to free up your diary in order to attend something like that. And so the bait is set and Zerksis bites, he thinks it's a great idea. And so with that, we are straight into the first bank And once again, the king makes his offer, even up to half the kingdom, and it will be given to you. And it's probably true that when he says that, he doesn't actually mean it.

I think even someone as foolish as xerxes would not actually be willing to give away half his kingdom. I think it's him saying, look, I've had a few drinks. I'm feeling pretty generous. What do you want? Ask for anything and it'll be yours.

Okay? And once again, Esther is not ready to show her hand. She must have been tempted just to get this weight off her chest, but instead she proposes another banquet, and that will be the time when she makes her question known. And so with that new date in the diary, you can see the author actually moves away from Esther and he comes back to Hammond. We're still in day 1, but the focus now changes to him.

Let's have a look at chapter 5 and verse 9. Hammond went out that day happy and in high spirits But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage. Against Mordicae. Nevertheless, Hayman restrained himself and went home. Now let's just sort of work through this this character of Hayman again is our first kind of bit of application.

Here here is a man of great, great power. If he decides that a whole race of people should die, he can get it done. But when it comes to his own reputation, it's like holding a snowflake in your hand. He just he just melts away. It's the same with xerxes in chapter 1.

This kind of pride makes a person very, very volatile. But it's also irrational and it stops you thinking straight. I mean, think about it. When when when Hayman was invited to the party, he felt happy because his ego was stroked. When he saw mordecai, he was crushed because his ego was deflated but in reality nothing had changed for him.

The power that he had did not decrease when he saw Mordecai and his authority did not increase when he was invited to the banquet. What people thought of him didn't actually affect his status at all, but he couldn't get this irrational fear out of his mind He's so up and down. He's happy and in high spirits and then 1 little man won't bow the knee to him and he is filled with rage. He's fuming about it. And although as we were reading it, I think this story is meant to be funny.

The problem is it's not just Hayman's heart. It's your heart. And it's certainly mine. You see, when our when our happiness and our identity is tied up with Jesus Christ. It is forever and ever safe.

Thieves can't break it. Moths can't eat it away. Rust won't weaken it. People can't touch it. But when our treasure is here on earth in our cell, it becomes so vulnerable.

And so this kind of up and down and up and down and up and down and sudden emotional highs and furious lows in response to what people think of us is a sure sign that our identity isn't that safe. With the lord after all. It's probably tied up right here on earth. And as followers of Jesus, we can fight this by simply remembering that we already have the highest status in the universe. As a Christian, you are a child of the living god.

Jesus Christ, the king of glory, gave up his life and died to win you. He has buried your sin in the grave. He has put royal robes on your back and he delights in you. So why is it that the kind of ever changing opinions of men matters so much to us? The colleague who kind of loses their smile every time we mention church and seems to wanna get away from us as soon as we can, maybe a Christian friend who's gone lukewarm and they want you to be like that as well.

They're pressuring you to be like that. Why why why why do the opinions matter so much? Haiman shows us that to let ourselves be controlled by what other people think is not only destructive, it's irrational. And so when we look at Hammond's heart, I think we need to repent of this ourselves. He was on the top of the world day after day, but there was no joy because his identity was in himself.

And that's why he then has to go home and justify his existence to his own wife. It's kind of weird, isn't it? I don't know what you thought of verse 11 to 14, but it is it's toe curlingly cringy. What happens there, isn't it? Let's have a look at verse 11.

Hammond boasted to them including his wife about his vast wealth and his many sons, and I always find that funny he's boasting about his own sons to his wife. As if she didn't have anything to do with that. I mean, I probably did. And about and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had been elevated elevated him above the other nobles and officials, and that's not all Hammond added. I'm the only person, Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the bank which she gave.

And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow, but all of this gives me no satisfaction. He's up and down. As long as I see that Jew, Mordecai sitting at the king's gate. His wife Zheresh and all his friends said to him, why not have a pole set up reaching to a height of 50 cubits and asked the king in the morning to have Mortacaim paled on it, then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself. And here he goes up again.

This suggestion delighted Hayman, and he had the poll set up. And so with that little plan, delighting his heart, day 1 sunrise moves into day 1 after dark, and that's the second point first day after dark. Now, maybe you remember a time or maybe it happens a lot to you when you just can't sleep. And no matter what you do in the evening, whether try to avoid alcohol and avoid caffeine and avoid screens, you just lie there and something is still lodged in your mind and it just won't go away. And so you lie there getting hot for what feels like hours working yourself up into a tease.

Mostly about something you can do nothing about. And on top of all of that, next to you is a happy snoring lump. Enjoying the peace that you deserve than if you've ever had that experience. In those moments, there's a number of things you can do. You can go downstairs and watch television.

You can try to read a book, you can count sheep, you can wake the other person up, so that they have to share in your in your pain. All of those good ideas, but the best strategy of all is surely this. You order 1 of your servants to read you all the amazing things you've done in your life. Now, for some people and definitely me, that would be a very, very short book and it would not be worth publishing or listening but for xerxes, it was clearly a multi volume man booker prize winning, best seller of a volume. And the amazing thing is, right here, in the middle of this bizarre scene, in the middle of the night with this poor servant who's had to get up and read this book while everyone else is sleeping, god was about to show his hand again.

Have a look at chapter 6 verses 2, to 4. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed big fauna and Terrace 2 of the king's officers who guarded the doorway who had conspired to assassinate king xerxes. What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this, the king asked, nothing has been done for him, his attendance answered, which is bad news because if you want people in your empire to be sort of telling you about these kind of plots, the least you can do is record, you know, reward them in some way. The king said, well, who was in the court? Now Hammond had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.

And what follows, could well be the greatest moment of irony in, in all of history, I think. So let's move from first day after dark. And we're gonna go into the second day sunrise because at some point in verses 4 to 10, that first night must blend into the second day. And here we have Xerxes who has just decided that Mordecai must be honored for saving the king, but we also have Hammond who has come into the court to suggest he be impaled on a 75 foot pole. So, Zurich sees when he thinks of Mordaki is thinking premier league winners.

They're on an open top bus. They're riding around the city with a sea of loyal fans supporting them. When Hammond thinks of Mortacay, he thinks relegated from the conference back to Sunday League shame. Okay? Those are the 2 different visions that they have.

These are 2 men with very, very, very different agendas for Mordecai at this moment. And so in verse 6 to 10, when Hayman entered the kit entered The king asked him, what should be done for the man the king delights to honor? Now Hammond thought to himself, well, who is there? That the king would rather honor than me? So he answered the king for the man the king delights to honor and he's thought about this.

Let them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden. 1 with a royal crest placed on its head, then let the robe and horse be entrusted to 1 of the king's most noble princes, let the row, let them, robe the man, the king delights to honor and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him. This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor. Go at once the king commanded him, get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for mordecai the Jew. And in that moment, he must be thinking, sorry, your majesty.

Can you just say that again? It it sounded like you said, for more to Kai the Jew. But you must have meant more die the Jew. Is that what you meant more dies the ju- more Jews must die? Cause I understand that.

More died of Jews. I agree with you. That's why I've come, actually. More Jews must die. What a nightmare?

He has just described his perfect day, bathing in the glory of Persia. He cannot imagine someone more worthy of praise than himself. But not only will Mordai receive his dream, but Hayman has gotta make it happen. Now if you were mordecai, it would be hard to resist rubbing it in, wouldn't it? As he was tying the robe around your shoulders, and as he was handing you the scepter, it it would be hard not to have a huge smug grin on your face asking him just to remove that little bit of dirt.

From your shoe as you rode around the thing, and maybe he did do that. Who knows? But for Hammond, this is a this is a disaster. And so once again, he limps home like a wounded puppy, hoping for some support. But unfortunately, when he does arrive back in his safe space, he's in for a shock.

Have a look at verse verse 13. The second part of it. His his advisors and his wife Zheresh said to him, since Mordechai before whom you're down for has started is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him. You will surely come to ruin. It's encouraging words from a wife, isn't it?

But it's very, very interesting because it actually reveals that the Persians must have known quite a lot about Jewish history. Had they heard about Egypt When against all of the odds, the Israelites were saved and taken into the promised land. Did they know that in history, no matter what happens to the Jews, And no matter who stands against them, they always seem to come out on top. How do they do that? Their god always seems to come through for them his wife seems to know it, and so she warns him.

It's like when pilot's wife sends a message to him, just before he hands Jesus over to death and she warns him don't have anything to do with that innocent man. Just before the end, a prophecy comes. But before Hammond even has the chance to respond, There's a knock on the door, and it's time for the second feast. And so from the second day sunrise, we move to the second day after dark. Have a look at, chapter 7 verse 1.

So the king and Hammond went to Queen Esther's banquet and as they were drinking wine on that second day, the king asked queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted. So here we go.

She's maneuvered him into the best position possible is now or never. It can't be another banquet coming shortly. And so in verse 3, then Queen Esther answered if I have found favor 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 with justified disturbing the king. King Zurich, he's asked Queen as to who is he and where is he? The man who is dared to do such a thing. Ester said an adversary and an enemy, this vile Hammond. And I think it makes you wonder why she was ever nervous I mean, this is genius what she does here.

She starts with a little bit of full fat rich butter. O king your majesty. He loves to hear words like that. Oh your majesty. She then moves on to her situation.

I and my people sold for destruction. In other words, she's saying, look, I am a Jew and I'm under threat. I didn't tell you before, but here it is, This is who I am, and if this goes ahead, you're about to lose your queen, and then she seals it with just this amazing political gloss. Basically, she says if the Jews became slaves, or who's gonna kick up a fuss about that, we wouldn't have minded being slaves, and at least there'd be some economic advantage for you. At least you'd have the benefit of an army of slaves across the empire, but to be destroyed, what a waste?

Why bother with that? She's absolutely nailed it. Alexander worked it out and he used his sword to cut the knot but this is Ester's way of taking the impossible situation to pieces. And so verse 6 You can see what she says. Esther said an adversary and an enemy, this vile Hammond.

And that must have taken some thinking as well because because at this point, she could have done what the prophet Nathan did If you remember that story with King David, he told King David a story to convict him of his sin, and he told him a story about a peasant farmer who owned just 1 little lamb which he treasured with all his heart. It was so precious to him, it was like a daughter. And then there was a king who was so rich and had so many sheep and flocks that 1 little lamb was nothing to him, and that rich man took the only little lamb that this poor man had and killed it for a banquet, and David is so riled by that story. And so so angry that anyone would do that He says, who is it? Who's done this?

And he simply says, you are the man. Esther could have said, you are the man, You are the man. You've done this. It's your law. It's your signet ring on it.

It's you who didn't bother investigating it. It's you who got drunk and authorized it. It's you. It's you. You did this.

You're irrational. You are the man. But know there's a plan, and she probably knows that not every political wrong can be put right in a single moment. And so she sticks to it. Have a look at verse 6 the second half.

Then Hayman was terrified before the king and queen. The king got up in a rage, and he left his wine, and he went out into the palace garden, but Hammond realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg queen Esther for his life. And it's interesting the fact that king Zurich storms out like that and goes to get some fresh air. And people kind of have different ideas as to why he did that. Did he just go out there to cool down and to clear his head?

And to sort of vent his rage in the call of the Persian night. Or what was he doing out there? But I think more likely he went outside to think because he's now got his own gordian knot to deal with. He cannot just be done with Hammond because he authorized the plan. It was his ring on the order.

It was his messengers who sent it out. He authorized it. You can't justly kill Hammond for that idea because it was your idea. You did it. And so how's he gonna do this without dobbing himself in?

Well, verse 8, perfect, isn't it? Just as King returned from the palace garden to the banqueting hall, Hammond was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, will he even molest the queen while she is with me in this house. It is the most devastating combination of events for Hammond. And of course, in this moment, his fate is sealed.

The wife's prophecy is about to come true his own plans are gonna collapse upon his head. His honor will turn to shame. Zurich, he's has all the armor he needs. To get the job done. But before he even has a chance to speak, this guy, Harbonner, up, and I have to say he's a bit of a snake, isn't he?

I mean, even though he's basically doing the right thing, it's, you know, I mean, listen to him. You don't want a friend like this, do you? Then Harbona, 1 of the king's units attending the king said, sorry, you know, sorry to interrupt, just just so everybody knows, hole reaching to a height of 50 cubits stands by Hammond's house. He set it up for Mordukai, just to remind everyone, Mordukai is the 1 who spoke up to help the king, that that's the mordecai we're talking about. This is the ultimate no no.

You know, you don't dab someone in like that in front of the authorities. It's like when you're at school, there's an unwritten covenant that you don't do that with your friends. You you know, you don't dob them in in front of the teachers, but there we go. That's what he's done. He clearly has no conscience issue there.

And so, verse 10, they impaled Hammond on the pole. He has set up for mordecai. Then the king's fury subsided. What a difference that they can make? In just a few hours, he has gone from number 2 in the world to cursed on the gallows.

And why has that happened? Well, how about this for an explanation? These verses from proverbs? In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the lord establishes their steps. The lot is cast into the lap, but it's every decision is from the lord.

From 1 angle, you could say that Hayman was just unlucky. He was in the wrong place of the wrong time and it didn't work out for him. But that that will never satisfy anybody as an explanation. As we've seen week after week in and it's no trouble to say it again. Every decision is from the lord.

To read this book is like looking out of your window into the garden. And although you can't see the wind, you can see the effects of it everywhere. You can see the grass rustling and the leaves dance seeing it in the wind. You can't see the wind, but everywhere it leaves its fingerprints. And so it is here.

There is a sovereign god in the universe so large and so awesome that even galaxies must bow down to him. And yet he is so concerned with little details that he can turn this decision of a dice this way or that in order to get his way. And that means that if this god decides that the most powerful ruler in the world should be turned to die, it'll be done in a matter of seconds. The enemies of god are not nearly as power as they think they are. And in Esther 5 to 7, we really see who has the power.

It's quite interesting. 14 times the phrase queen Esther is used in this book. 13 of those times happen after chapter 5. No longer is she just a beauty? Just a just part of the Harim, 1 of them 1 of the people, this is the queen.

She's the queen. When she suggests a banquet in chapter 5, it's literally the king did according to her word. The king did according to her word. So although, of course, always the lord has the power, in this story today, we see the balance of power shifting for the first time. And so when people like Hammond, rise up to oppose him.

They're only gonna succeed in destroying themselves. And that's why in the Bible, we're told that god laughs at those kind of plans. He laughs. He scoffs at those kind of plans. Have a look at Psalm chapter 2.

Our kids song was all about this really. Why do the nations conspire in the people's plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the lord and against his anointed saying, let us break their chains and throw off their shackles. The 1 enthroned in heaven laughs. The lord scoffs at them.

Now, that doesn't mean he laughs because he thinks their sin is funny, but because how can a snowman wage war against the sun? How can a little ant on its own bring down the mighty lion? The difference in scale and power and authority is so is so big, it's funny to imagine it. And that is clearly how Esther is written, the story of Hammond is deliberately funny, is meant to be funny, not because evil is funny, but because god is making a mock of these kind of power claims. And I think this is actually a big part of our spiritual armor for us today, this this kind of attitude, as we feel the pressure of an anti Christian world in all kinds of different ways ESster shows us that however threatening those powers can be, the idea of trying to over power god and wipe away his people is so futile, so destined to fail, it is laughable.

It doesn't matter what new laws come in or what people get promoted into high places or what British values are suddenly enforced. Even if the gospel seems to be a little bit eclipsed for a while. God has installed a king in heaven. Jesus Christ is lord, and he will have the victory to stand against him is laughable Now, of course, it's 1 thing to believe that here, and it's quite another to believe it in northern Cameroon when Boca Haram are on your borders, but this point holds true wherever wherever the church exists. God's enemies cannot win.

Eve will have its day, but god will have the final say. And so we can laugh. And if we need further proof about that, we only need to look to the cross of the lord Jesus christ. In acts chapter 4, when the authorities like Hammond have turned against the disciples They gather together to pray. And what Psalm do they quote?

They quote Psalm chapter 2. Have a look. Sovereign Lord, they said, you made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our Father, David. Why do the nations rage and the people's plot in vain?

The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the lord and against his denointed. Indeed, herod and pontius pilot met together with the gentiles than the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed. Haiman conspired to wipe out the people of God. These guys conspired to execute the son of God. That was their grand plan.

But they did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, lord consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. From 1 angle, The death of the lord Jesus Christ on the cross was the greatest tragedy of all. But as we know, in the place where god's enemies thought they had won. Jesus had won.

With his blood, he had paid for all of our sins. With his resurrection, he had broken the chains of death and hell, and 1 day we're told that he will be at the front of a great victory parade, leading all of his enemies, people like Hammond behind him. This is what god does. He can bring about the most unexpected reversals. And as Christians here, I think our response to all of that should just be amazed worship.

It's the kind of thing Paul says over depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of god, how unsearchable are his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out who has known the mind of the lord, or who has been his counselor, whoever gave to god that god should repay them for from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever and ever are men. And if you're not a Christian this morning or perhaps still thinking a bit about Christianity, I think these these verses come with a warning for us. You see, you might not be like Hammond planning to destroy all of god's people here in Kingston and in every other province of this of this nation. But if you are living in rebellion against your creator, you are sowing the seeds of your own destruction.

And sooner or later, the knock will come just like it did for Hammond, and you won't be whisked away to a banquet but to everlasting judgment. There is only 1 place that we can go to avoid such a terrible end and that is to run to the man who god delights to honor. The man who god has honored above all others Jesus Christ. For Hammond, his time had run out, but god is giving you time this morning to turn to Jesus and to be forgiven. Psalm too contains that very instruction Have a look lastly.

Serv the lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling, kiss his son or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction. For his wrath can flare up in a moment, blessed are all. Who take refuge in him. Jesus Christ is lord. Will you submit to him.

Will you kiss the sun? Will you take refuge while you can so that when all is said and done, you will be found to be on the winning side along with him and his people. Let's pray together. Start just with a moment to be quiet and maybe you want to just sort of spend some time talking to the lord and praying about some of the things that we've learned today. Lord god, we thank you that you are the almighty sovereign king of this universe and that you will reign forever and ever and ever.

There have been all kinds of people in history who have tried with all their energy and might to oppose you and to silence your word and they have fallen. And there will be all kinds of people both now and in the future who will try to do the same and they will fall but you will remain. You are the sovereign we pray that you would help us to trust you, and we ask it in Jesus' name. Our men.