1

If I die, I will die

2

"Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me.
Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do.
When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish,
I perish."
(Esther 4:16)

3

During the time of King Ahasuerus, the 4th king of the Persian Empire, Haman, an Amalekite, became the highest nobleman of the empire. In response, all the palace officials knelt down and bowed in unison when Haman passed by.
But one of the Jews, a man named Mordecai, did not kneel or bow down to Haman.

4

When Haman found out that Mordecai would not bow down to him, he was very angry. Knowing that Mordecai, who would not bow to him, was a Jew, he took this opportunity to find a way to kill all the Jews at once. Those who joined Haman in killing the Jews cast lots (the pur) to set a day to kill them.

5

Haman set the day to kill the Jews and said to King Ahasuerus.

“There is a people scattered among the other peoples in all the provinces of the kingdom over which the king reigns. They live only among themselves.
They have customs unlike any other nation, and they do not obey the king's laws.
Therefore, I don't think it's right to let them live in the kingdom of the king.”

6

Haman promises to give the king a very large sum of money to get the king's permission.

“If the king likes it, give the order to completely destroy the people.
Then I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the official in charge of the king's finances and put them in the king's treasury.”
King Ahasuerus accepted Haman's request, removed his signet ring, and allowed Haman to take care of all the authority.

7

Haman recruited the king's scribes and wrote an edict in each local language and stamped the king's signet ring. The contents of the decree are as follows.

[On the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, the twelfth month, the Jews were to be killed, young and old, women and children, and all their property was to be taken away.]

Eleven months later, on the 13th of the month of Adar, it was a decree that Jews could be killed and all their property taken away.

8

Haman planned and carried out an evil plan to kill all the Jews because one Mordecai did not bow down to him. Upon learning of this, Mordecai tore his clothes, put on coarse sackcloth, and ashes, went into the city and wept loudly.
he other Jews who saw the king's decree were also very sad and fasted and wept.

9

This news was also heard by King Ahasuerus' queen, Esther. Queen Esther was also a Jew. However, neither the king nor anyone in the palace knew that Esther was a Jew.
Her queen, Esther, was a cousin to Mordecai. Esther, who had no parents, was raised by Mordecai as his own daughter.
Through her own eunuch, Esther learned all about Haman's evil plans by receiving the decree from Mordecai and all that had happened.

10

According to the Persian law, if a queen appears before the king without being invited, the queen cannot live unless the king holds out a golden scepter.
Esther was also 30 days old when the king hadn't called her. If Esther did not step forward now, all the Jews living in the land would have been killed by Haman.

11

Esther told the eunuch to go and tell Mordecai.

“Gather all the Jews in the city of Shushan and fast for me. Let them not eat or drink for three days and three nights. I and my maidservants will also fast.
After that, even if it is against the law, I will go to the king. Then, when I die, I will die.”

Esther decided to stop this at the risk of her own life in order to save her people.

12

On the third day after fasting, Esther broke the law and went out where the king could see her. When the king saw her Esther, she looked so pretty.
So the king held out the golden scepter in his hand to Esther. Esther touched the tip of the king's golden scepter. "Esther, what's going on? What do you ask of me?
I'll give you even half of my country if you want.”

13

Esther invited the king and Haman to her banquet. The king and Haman attended Esther's banquet and had a good time. The king again told her Esther that he would give her half of his kingdom if she wanted anything from him. Esther asked the king to come to the banquet with Haman one more time the next day.
The king readily agreed.

14

That night, after being invited to the queen's banquet, Haman was happy when he saw Mordecai. That night, Haman's friends urge Haman to ask the king to hang Mordecai on a high pole to kill him.
Haman said he would, and ordered his men to build a pole to hang Mordecai on.

15

The king and Haman also attended the banquet on the second day.
The king asked Esther what her wish was. Esther told the king to spare her life. The queen reveals that she is a Jew and she informs the king that someone is planning to kill all of her people. The king asked who the man was.

16

Esther revealed before the king that the man was Haman. The king was furious with his head. Haman was led away with his face covered.
When the king heard that Haman had a 50-cubit pole prepared to kill Mordecai, he ordered his men to hang Haman there. Haman died by hanging himself on a pole he had made.
As Esther requested, the king made a new edict.
[If anyone tries to attack a Jew, he can kill their wives and children and take away their property as well.]

The king made a stronger decree that no one could touch the Jews.

17

The Jews celebrated the day they were saved as the Feast of Purim. Haman made an evil plan to kill the Israelites who served God by escalating his personal affairs.
God does not allow anything to harm God's people. In the end, he died hanging from a pole he had made for his sin of trying to kill God's people.

God protects his people wherever they are. If you ever face difficulties because of your belief in Jesus, let's remember today's words. And let us become people of faith who believe that God will protect us to the end and wait for God's salvation.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)