Verses 1-8, “Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter. And the king said to her, 'What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!' So Esther answered, 'If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.' Then the king said, 'Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.' So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared. At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, 'What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!' Then Esther answered and said, 'My petition and request is this: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.' ”
Esther walked by faith when she appeared before the king uninvited. She did not know how the king would respond, and had every reason to be concerned, especially in light of what happened to the previous queen, Vashti. The king did, however, choose to hold out his scepter and gave Esther the opportunity to make a request. Thankfully, we do not need to approach our Heavenly King with fear of death. He promises to receive us. Luke 11:9-13, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Verses 9-14, “So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. Moreover Haman said, 'Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.' Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, 'Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.' And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made.”
Rather than blurting out what she knew of Haman, Esther held her tongue and said she would speak about it at a banquet the next day. But Haman, in his pride, became more emboldened, thinking he was better than others because he received an invite to the queen’s banquet. This pride only fueled his hatred for Mordecai, because he would not honor him. At the suggestion of his wife and friends, Haman prepared a gallows to end Mordecai’s life. We see how bitterness can easily lead to hatred in one's heart, which is where murder is conceived. A root of bitterness, if not addressed, will grow evil fruit of unrighteousness which leads to death.
Attention and glory seekers are not yielding to godly wisdom, but rather the demonic wisdom of the world. Real wisdom should be evident by our good conduct, done in meekness. James 3:13-18, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
In this chapter, Esther appeared before the king, and had the boldness to ask him and Haman to appear at the banquet she would have. Esther wasn't called into the king, so this took courage and faith in God to do this. The King gave her her request, and then at the banquet she asked the same thing for the next day. She ultimately would expose Haman's wickedness before the king. She was obeying God and trusted in Him!
ReplyDeleteAs Christians, we need to solely rely on God for strength, protection, courage, boldness etc. God will protect us when we are doing His will! Even if things appear bad in the flesh, God can keep us from harm by other people, etc. Nothing happens if God doesn't first allow it! God tells us not to fear. Deuteronomy 31:6- "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Haman saw that Mordecai wasn't afraid of Him, and that made him mad. He had just been with the king and queen, but because one man doesn't approve of him, he's all mad. God didn't allow him to do anything to hurt mordecai in that moment. He restrained Haman as it was not a part of God's plan. Haman then went to his wife and got advice to hang mordecai on the gallows. Haman's flesh liked this advice, so he took it and had a gallows made. May we not heed advice because it appeals to our flesh! God warns us about taking worldly council!Psalms 1:1-2- "Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord , And in His law he meditates day and night."
Many times what our flesh wants to hear and what God tells us is two very different things. May we not heed the advice that appeals to our flesh, but truly listen to what God tells us and accept it! Many times people won't like the advice that one person has to give, so they go around until they find some they like. This "advice shopping" is completely wrong! We should be seeking out what God wants to tell us and show us, and pray that our hearts receive the truth!