Lessons from Esther: What a difference a day makes

10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 12 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. Esther 6: 10-14

Haman has given the king “advice”. Now he is waiting for the king to honor him. Imagine his shock and surprise when the king replies, “Great idea, please go and do all those things to Mordecai, the Jew.”

Haman is mortified. What did the king say? Mordecai, the Jew? He wants me to give all this honor that should be bestowed on me, to Mordecai, the Jew? Haman disapprovingly obeys. He knows better than to speak out to the king. He walks through the city proclaiming the name of Mordecai and shouting through the streets, “This is what is done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”

When the presentation is complete, Mordecai, humbly, goes back to the king’s gate, where he normally sits. Haman, on the other hand, is humiliated, shamed, and totally embarrassed. Haman covers his head in disgrace and runs home.

Haman relays the story to his wife and friends. Basically their reply is, “looks like your days are numbered, the tables have been turned.” While he is feeling the entire weight of the world on his shoulders, a knock is heard at the door. The chamberlains are waiting on Haman to bring him to Queen Esther’s banquet.

One can almost hear Haman’s heart stop for a second. His breath is uneasy and he feels like fainting, but he needs to attend the “feast.”

What will be presented at the banquet? Join me the next time to observe the scene.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from Esther: Who is in the court?

4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 7  And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. Esther 6:4-9

As we continue from the last time, the king desires to honor Mordecai. Ahasuerus wants to show his appreciation for saving his life. He wonders what to do to honor Mordecai. He asks the servant who is in the court, looking for someone to consult with.

The servant tells Ahasuerus that Haman is waiting outside. The king is greatly relieved; he will be able to ask his “second in command”. He will surely know the proper way to show honor to Mordecai.

Haman is quickly brought before the king. Notice what the king asks, “What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor”. Ahasuerus does not mention the name of the person. He is basically looking for someone to give him ideas.

The prideful Haman mistakenly assumes the king is talking about him. Haman pours out his corrupt heart. “O King this would be the perfect thing to do for the person you wish to honor, bring out the robes that you use to wear, get the best horse that you ride and don’t forget to bring the beautiful royal crown to place on the head of the honoree. Then, O King, once the person is arrayed in “all his glory” have one of the princes walk through the town, leading the horse with the honoree and proclaim, “This is what is done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”

Haman is “beside” himself, he cannot wait to be presented in the streets of the city. He is so sure the king is talking about him.

Join me the next time to find out what happens when Haman realizes who will be honored.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from Esther: A sleepless night

On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. Esther 6:1-3

Have you ever had a sleepless night? What do you do? Read? Clean the house? Just lay in bed?

After the first banquet King Ahasuerus had just that kind of night. He could not sleep no matter what he did. He finally got up and read. Well, he was the king so he didn’t do the actual reading but had someone read to him.

The book that was read was not the latest novel or the current biography but “the book of records of the chronicles”. It does not sound interesting to me, but then again, I’m not a king.

Jamieson, Fausett and Brown commentary: “In Eastern courts, there are scribes or officers whose duty it is to keep a journal of every occurrence worthy of notice. A book of this kind, abounding with anecdotes, is full of interest. It has been a custom with Eastern kings, in all ages, frequently to cause the annals of the kingdom to be read to them. It is resorted to, not merely as a pastime to while away the tedium of an hour, but as a source of instruction to the monarch, by reviewing the important incidents of his own life, as well as those of his ancestors. There was, therefore, nothing uncommon in this Persian monarch calling for the court journal. But, in his being unable to sleep at that particular juncture, in his ordering the book then to be read to him, and in his attention having been specially directed to the important and as yet unrewarded services of Mordecai, the immediate interposition of Providence is distinctly visible.”

As the chronicles were being read Ahasuerus hears something he did not know. Mordecai had reported a plot to kill the king. The king could not believe what he heard; this account was never brought to his attention. What honor was Mordecai given for his quick action in saving the life of the king?

The answer to the question was another shock to the king; nothing had been done to honor Mordecai.

Join me the next time to find out Mordecai’s “reward”.

Have a blessed day,
Donna