Chapter 7 is the climax of the story of the plight of Esther and her people. At the second banquet that Esther threw for her husband, the king, and Haman, she is once again asked by her husband what she requests. The moment of truth is upon her. In front of her is the king who has decreed to kill her (unknowingly) and her people, as well as the man who tricked the king (Haman)... hanging (no pun intended) on every word.
Esther swallows hard and asks for her life and the lives of her people. She says that she would not even trouble the king if her fate and that of her people were slavery...but to annihilate them was more than she could bear. The king is infuriated. He realizes that Haman has violated the trust given him. He realizes that Haman has set in motion the events that will cost him another queen. The king storms out and Haman begins to beg for his life. Esther is not to be swayed to the point that Haman gets in her face (v.8) just as the king steps back in. Well, it's "curtains" for him. The king orders Haman to be hanged on the gallows prepared for Mordecai.
A couple of observations are appropriate. Haman allowed his own anger and pride to become driving forces in his life. He spent too much time thinking about how cool he was...and ultimately came to believe that he was a "self-made" man. He had become comfortable manipulating or "handling" the king. He had even digressed so far as to violating the trust of his office. Was God not gracious toward him? I think that He was. Haman was given opportunity to turn back from his plan. When the king honored Mordecai (just as Haman wanted him killed), Haman could/should have seen this as a warning and stepped back. He chose revenge over righteousness.
Esther's response is interesting to me. She could have declared all of the injustices of her past. She could have railed against Haman. She could have called the ACLU and asked for counsel. But... she simply asked for her life. She goes on to say that she would not have done so if the king's order had been to enslave the Jews. Only because the order was to annihilate...did she dare speak up to the king. A great deal of humility and courage was displayed by Esther. We can learn from her.
The king demonstrated too what happens when one does not take his office and its responsibilities seriously. He too had become lax in his administration. He had allowed Haman to have authority without accountability. He had made decisions while drunk (without the full faculties of his judgment). He, at this moment, realized that his actions were the source of much of his own pain. So...he does not moan about it. He turns around and begins to set things right. That begins with the judgment against Haman and continues (tomorrow.)
Proverbs 4:7 is the takeaway: "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding." Acquiring wisdom (as used here) means to gain information. Pursue the intellectual curiosity that is inherent in all of us. Don't accept the opinions of others as truth (necessarily); but, learn how things work. Then, apply what you learn (gain understanding.)
Grace,
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
2 comments:
In our life group last night we discussed James. You can't have faith without works or works without faith. They go together like socks and shoes... anyway!!! But we where in a discussion about works are easier to see than faith. This a great story of faith. Faith is not always easy to see but when we look back at the whole story we can see faith. Esther and Mordecai's faith is incredible in my opinion. Mordecai had faith that God was going to use Esther, a new queen with no experience and young. Esther had to have faith when she went before the king and asked for her peoples life. She knew what happened to the queen before her, this could have happened to Esther too. Esther is a great example of how I should have faith. Beleive God is who He says He is. Believe God will do what He says He will do. Believe I am who God says I am. Believe I can do all things who Christ. Believe God's word is alive and active in me... I'M BELEIVING GOD!!!!
Esther's case was simply put and I could learn much from her because I have the habit of "calling in the world" as you noted she did not. I'm trying to work on that, but it is a work in progress.
I think that Haman had been tried and found wanting. While he was getting counsel from his wife and friends Haman was taken to the banquet (chapter 6) where he was immediately hit with Esther's plea to the king.
I found that even though the king realized his mistakes, in the end, he continued to make them. Haman then realized his mistake and afraid that he was doomed, he had fallen on (or at) Esther's feet to beg for mercy. The king, returning from the garden where he had stalked off to in anger, immediately assumed the worst, that Haman was attempting to rape Esther and immediately had him executed in his rage. Key to that is the last verse where it says "Then was the king's wrath pacified."
Proverbs: I agree, that is the key verse of the passage from 5-13.
Post a Comment