Thought for the Week

The banquet had only begun. The king is sipping wine as an appetizer but his impatience is upon him. So, again he asks his question and again makes his promise that he will grant Esther’s request up to half his kingdom. This may have been an exaggeration but it certainly shows the king wants to be generous to the woman he loves. He has already lost one wife he loved and this may have multiplied his concern for Esther. She has now gotten up her courage. God worked on Xerxes during the night and may well have helped Esther. Meanwhile, Haman must be in a state of befuddlement. He started the day with high hopes of getting rid of the man he hated most. Suddenly that man was supremely honored by the king and Haman has no idea why. Nor has he any idea the queen is a close relative of Mordecai. Esther begins, “If I have found favor in your sight, (and she most certainly has but this gives the king an opportunity to think through just how important she really is) protect me from being murdered and in addition protect my family from the murderer as well. This is my request. I and my people have been condemned to be destroyed, annihilated, and slaughtered. If we had merely been sentenced to slavery, I would not have even bothered the king about. It.” It must have been like a lightning strike on the king. He roars, “Who would dare to do such a thing?” I think at this point Esther must have pointed her finger at Haman as she replies, “Our murderer, and our enemy is this wicked Haman.” The eyes of both the king and queen focus on Haman, who is also lightning struck by the accusation and terrified as he sees the face of his king change from astonishment to wrath. The king leaps up, filled with rage, and leaves the room to go to the garden to sort this all out in his mind. Haman knows things are going terribly for him. His wife’s pronouncement of doom still rings in his ears. The queen’s accusation echoes as well. Remembrance Mordecai, the Jew’s honor this morning jolts him again. He is desperate. He sees no hope in the king, whose temper is wild and who has little regard for human life unless it helps him. He flings himself at the feet of Esther. Though she has accused him he knows she is still a gentle woman and there is at least hope she may somehow offer relief. Remember the custom is to recline on low couches at meals, so she is likely lying on her couch as Haman grovels at her side, perhaps even clutching at the hem of her gown. This is what the king sees as he returns. He immediately jumps to a conclusion and shouts his own accusation, “Will he even molest my queen in my presence?” There must have been servants standing by who knew exactly what to do. They cover Haman’s head. Harbona, a member on the king’s council since he became king, and perhaps has dreams of taking Haman’s place, says, “Haman has constructed a gallows 75 feet high to execute Mordecai, the man who saved the king’s life.” The king seizes on this and shouts, “Hang Haman on it.” There are several options here. The gallows could simply be a sharpened stake, on which the victim is impaled, or a true gallows on which the victim is hung or even a cross on which one is crucified. No matter, Haman is executed. The wrath of the king is appeased.

Scriptures to Read

Esther 7:1-2

Esther 7:3-5

Esther 7:6-7

Galatians 6:7-10

Psalm 37:32-40

Job 4:7-9 & Proverbs 22:8

Proverbs 16:2-5 & 13