He was joyful after feasting with the king and queen. He was filled with anger when a man did not humble himself as to a god in his presence. Before friends and spouse, he spoke of his great riches, his children, his promotion and how the king advanced him above others. He gloried in banqueting with the king and queen, but lamented, “Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” His wife and friends suggested to him, “Let gallows be made, 75 feet high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” This idea pleased Haman. [1]
Haman didn’t realize that the Creator of the universe was watching.
“That night the king could not sleep.” A servant read to him of how Mordecai foiled an assassination plot against him. The king wanted Mordecai to be rewarded. He asked Haman to give him ideas for honoring a hero. Haman assumed that he was the king’s hero. He suggested to array the hero in the king’s robe. Let a noble prince parade the hero through the city. Not knowing that Haman wanted to execute Mordecai, the king ordered Haman to honor Mordecai. Haman publicly paraded and honored Mordecai before the city’s people. Afterward his wife and friends said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him.” [2]
“God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked? Selah! Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked.” [3]
The world feasts its eyes on those who heap up praises and blessings for themselves. God favors those who care for the poor and fatherless; the afflicted and needy; the rescuers of the abused from their abusers!
“Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! ...Those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, ‘Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation...’” [4] “Yes, God, rescue Your humble servants who honor You by serving others from the crafty plots of those who seek only their own glory.”
Wisdom advises, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” [5]
What example did Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, set for us? An example of sacrifice for others! “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” [6] God our Father honors Christ... “being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name.” [7]
[1] Esther 5:9-13
[2] Esther 6:1-13
[3] Psalm 82:1-4
[4] Psalm 83:1-4
[5] Proverbs 4:23
[6] Hebrews 10:10, 14
[7] Philippians 2:8-9
Bearing witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus!
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