All right. Esther chapter 10, the last chapter in the book. And as you can see, there are a whopping three verses. So we'll see. Why don't we pray first, if you would, join with me. Father in heaven, thank you so much for your word and for our time together in your word tonight, Lord. We're really looking forward to what you have for us. Lord, it is with almost a bitter sweetness that we're going to finish this book tonight.

It's almost with really a sadness to be done with this book. It's been such a blessing.

And you've really ministered so much to us in and through this book as we've just seen your hand, your mighty hand

at work providentially in everything. So Lord, bless our time. We pray. In Jesus' name, amen.

Thank you for your patience with me. I'm still trying to get rid of this cough slash asthma.

So let's jump in verse one. So we're told in the king, King Ahazuras imposed a tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea. Now, verse two, all the acts of his power

and his might and the account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king advanced him,

are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Medea and Persia?

For verse 3 Mordecai, the Jew was second to King Ahazurus and

pardon me, I'm so sorry, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good

of his people, and speaking peace to all his countrymen. So, that's the end of the chapter.

Let's close in prayer. We'll go eat. Not so fast. We're told that it was due to Mordecai's

greatness that the king promoted him to second in the kingdom. This is like Joseph before him because of his greatness as well.

Both Mordecai and Joseph had favor in God's eyes and God made them great, so much so that they became the most powerful men in the world next to in Joseph's case, Pharaoh, and in

Mordecai's case, he was the most powerful man in the world next to the king. We're also told

that he was received well. Can you imagine how word must have spread throughout the

kingdom of all that God had done to not just the Jews but to the Persians as well?

There's something to be said about a man or a woman of God whom God has blessed so powerfully and so in such an amazing

way. And it never escapes the notice of people's attention. And there's a much earned respect for lack of a

better way of saying that. So there's no wonder that he was so well

received by the multitude. And we're told two very interesting details in verse three. The first of which is

that he sought the good of his people. Now contrast that with his predecessor, Haman, who did not seek the good of the Jewish people,

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