Lessons from Esther: Haman’s plan

10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. 11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. 14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made. Esther 5:10-14

Haman continues his journey towards home. He is angry, very angry but he controls himself until he reaches his house. Upon arrival he calls all his family and friends together to brag on “his good fortune”. He tells the whole story; he alone was invited to a banquet with the king and queen, not once but twice, for he will be attending another one the next day. One can see Haman is still full of pride.

A few quotes on pride:

 Pride is the ground in which all the other sins grow, and the parent from which all the other sins come. ~ William Barclay

Pride is the only known disease that makes everybody sick except the person who has it ~ Author Unknown

Pride is the master sin of the devil. ~ E.H. Chapin

As Haman continues with his story, he stops “cold in his tracks” as he thinks about Mordecai and the lack of respect shown to him.

Zeresh, his wife, has a grand idea. Build a gallows fifty cubits high to hang Mordecai. Albert Barnes describes a gallows in Haman’s time, “A gallows, in the ordinary sense, is scarcely intended, since hanging was not a Persian punishment. The intention, no doubt, was to crucify or impale Mordecai; and the pale or cross was to be 75 feet high, to make the punishment more conspicuous.”

His wife continues with her idea. Make sure you talk to the king tomorrow at the banquet and let him know about the gallows and this “brilliant” plan. At the end of her dialog, Haman was back to his “chipper self”. He could probably picture Mordecai hanging on the gallows.

Join me the next time to see if Haman’s plan comes to fruition.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from Esther: The Special Banquet

6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. 7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; 8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said. 9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. Esther 5:6-9

The banquet is ready and the food and wine are served. Still very curious about why the queen would request his presence the king asks again, “what is your request?”

Esther does not have complete peace. Fasting for wisdom and guidance from the Lord she knows this is not the time to speak about the situation regarding her people. Esther quickly asks for another banquet. Again she requests the presence of both the king and Haman. The king, as we see from previous chapters, loves a good banquet. He confirms for both of them and I’m sure Esther starts the preparations right away. This next banquet needs to be perfect and the time needs to be right for her to brooch the delicate subject.

Imagine the pride that is welling up in Haman. Not just one banquet but two, he is “beside” himself. Being invited to a private banquet with just the king and queen, could he be any more special.

Haman’s joy is soon turned to indignation when he sees Mordecai. Indigation from the Hebrew means heat; figuratively anger, poison (from its fever): - … In other words, he is so hot with anger that it makes his blood curdle.

There are a few lessons to be learned from this short portion of scripture:

1. There are times to speak and there are times to be quiet.

… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; Ecclesiastes 3:7

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: James 1:19

2. Don’t let pride “creep” in

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. Psalm 10:4

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.  Proverbs 14:3

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Proverbs 29:23

3. Beware of anger

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Psalm 37:8

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.  Proverbs 15:18

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  Ephesians 4:31

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.  Ecclesiastes 7:9

As we travel in our daily life let’s put on the courage of Esther (#1) not the character of Haman (#2&3).

Have a blessed day, 

Donna

Lessons from Esther: The third day

1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. 2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. 3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. 4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. 5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. Esther 5:1-5

The third day arrived. Mordecai and his people and Esther and her people have been fasting for three days. The fast was for a positive outcome when Esther appeared before the king. Remember the Lord’s name is not mentioned in the Book of Esther, but He is seen throughout. They are fasting before God to get an answer and assurance from Him in this difficult situation. Esther is now ready to appear before the king.

Esther adorned herself with the beautiful royal garments. She is ready and waiting for an audience with the king. As soon as the king sees his queen he holds the royal scepter out to her. He does not seem upset or angry but probably glad to see his queen. “What is your request Queen Esther, ask and I will grant it up to half of the kingdom.”

The answer probably surprised the king. “Let the king and Haman come to a banquet I prepared for you.” Without hesitation the king and Haman go to the banquet that Esther already had prepared.

Join me the next time to find out about the special feast that was ready.

Have a blessed day,
Donna