December 07, 2010
Esther goes into the king. She didn't just walk into the king blindly. She sought direction from God and He gave her a plan. She asks the king and Haman to come to a banquet she has prepared.
Haman thinks everything is going great. He has been promoted to a high position. He's been invited to one private luncheon and is now invited to another. He is part of the "inner circle." But when he goes to leave the palace to go home—there sits Mordecai—and he doesn't bow down to Haman. Haman hides his anger, but he is seething inside. He is so consumed with anger and revenge and indignation at the audacity of someone not bowing down to him that he is literally consumed by anger. Haman goes home and called together his friends and wife. He proceeds to tell them how wealthy he was; how many sons he had; how he was honored by the king; and how he was more important than the royal officers and other important men, etc. He goes on to tell them he was the only person the Queen invited to the banquet and he was to be her guest tomorrow. "But all of this does not really make me happy" because of Mordecai. KJV - "All of this means nothing." NIV - "But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see...Mordecai."
Everything appeared to be going great for Haman. He had wealth, power, prestige, and honor... but he was consumed by the desire to "get" Mordecai. And not just Mordecai, but all Jews, so they could take and possess everything they owned. And he was willing to pay money in order to do it. Haman's wife and friends rise up in indignation with him. How dare Mordecai! They told Haman to build a 75' tower (Overkill don't you think? Does it really take a 75' tower to hang someone?), to go to the king, ask the king to hang Mordecai, and "then go the banquet with the king and be happy." Amazing. Orchestrate the destruction of someone, and then go to a feast, eat, drink, and be merry. So Haman has the platform built.
That night the king couldn't sleep. It just so happened—the king asked for the daily court records to be read. The part about Mordecai warning the king of a plot to kill him was read. The king asks what was done to honor Mordecai and the response was—nothing. It just so happened—that Haman shows up in the courtyard and the king asks for suggestions of what to do for someone he wants to honor. Of course Haman, being the pompous arrogant person he is, thinks the king is wanting to honor him. So, he comes up with this elaborate plan of dressing this person in a royal robe and have him be taken throughout the town on a royal horse with a crown on its head with the person leading the horse announcing, "This is what is done for the man whom the King wants to honor."
The kings says—GREAT! Now go do that for Mordecai. And Haman had to put the robe on Mordecai and he had to lead the royal horse with a crown through the streets announcing, "This is what is done for the man whom the King wants to honor."
After the ride through the city streets, Mordecai returned to the king's gate, but Haman went to his house embarrassed, ashamed, and humiliated. His family and friends told him he was starting to lose power to Mordecai. Esther 6:13 - "Since he is a Jew, you cannot win against him. You will surely be ruined." While they were still talking the king's men came to get Haman for the banquet Esther had prepared.
It just so happened—
God's timing is perfect. He is in control. Nothing surprises him. His will—WILL be done.
Psalms 140:9 - "Let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused."
Haman unwittingly orchestrated his own downfall and death. Esther was taking a huge risk, yet she calmly and discretely followed God's direction. Haman on the other hand was consumed by anger and acted out of reckless conceit.
Next Entry: Esther 7:1 – 8:17
Esther goes into the king. She didn't just walk into the king blindly. She sought direction from God and He gave her a plan. She asks the king and Haman to come to a banquet she has prepared.
(9/2/14 - Esther followed God's plan. She prepared the banquet BEFORE there was proof that the king would accept her coming into his room without permission and BEFORE she knew whether the king would let her live or not. She was taking each step by faith. Faith requires Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead) BEFORE there is proof that God will fulfill His promises.)The king offers to give her half of his kingdom. She asks the king and Haman to come to a banquet again the next day, and then she will tell them what she wants.
Haman thinks everything is going great. He has been promoted to a high position. He's been invited to one private luncheon and is now invited to another. He is part of the "inner circle." But when he goes to leave the palace to go home—there sits Mordecai—and he doesn't bow down to Haman. Haman hides his anger, but he is seething inside. He is so consumed with anger and revenge and indignation at the audacity of someone not bowing down to him that he is literally consumed by anger. Haman goes home and called together his friends and wife. He proceeds to tell them how wealthy he was; how many sons he had; how he was honored by the king; and how he was more important than the royal officers and other important men, etc. He goes on to tell them he was the only person the Queen invited to the banquet and he was to be her guest tomorrow. "But all of this does not really make me happy" because of Mordecai. KJV - "All of this means nothing." NIV - "But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see...Mordecai."
Everything appeared to be going great for Haman. He had wealth, power, prestige, and honor... but he was consumed by the desire to "get" Mordecai. And not just Mordecai, but all Jews, so they could take and possess everything they owned. And he was willing to pay money in order to do it. Haman's wife and friends rise up in indignation with him. How dare Mordecai! They told Haman to build a 75' tower (Overkill don't you think? Does it really take a 75' tower to hang someone?), to go to the king, ask the king to hang Mordecai, and "then go the banquet with the king and be happy." Amazing. Orchestrate the destruction of someone, and then go to a feast, eat, drink, and be merry. So Haman has the platform built.
That night the king couldn't sleep. It just so happened—the king asked for the daily court records to be read. The part about Mordecai warning the king of a plot to kill him was read. The king asks what was done to honor Mordecai and the response was—nothing. It just so happened—that Haman shows up in the courtyard and the king asks for suggestions of what to do for someone he wants to honor. Of course Haman, being the pompous arrogant person he is, thinks the king is wanting to honor him. So, he comes up with this elaborate plan of dressing this person in a royal robe and have him be taken throughout the town on a royal horse with a crown on its head with the person leading the horse announcing, "This is what is done for the man whom the King wants to honor."
The kings says—GREAT! Now go do that for Mordecai. And Haman had to put the robe on Mordecai and he had to lead the royal horse with a crown through the streets announcing, "This is what is done for the man whom the King wants to honor."
After the ride through the city streets, Mordecai returned to the king's gate, but Haman went to his house embarrassed, ashamed, and humiliated. His family and friends told him he was starting to lose power to Mordecai. Esther 6:13 - "Since he is a Jew, you cannot win against him. You will surely be ruined." While they were still talking the king's men came to get Haman for the banquet Esther had prepared.
It just so happened—
God's timing is perfect. He is in control. Nothing surprises him. His will—WILL be done.
Psalms 140:9 - "Let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused."
Haman unwittingly orchestrated his own downfall and death. Esther was taking a huge risk, yet she calmly and discretely followed God's direction. Haman on the other hand was consumed by anger and acted out of reckless conceit.
Next Entry: Esther 7:1 – 8:17
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