Good morning! Everything is just so green today. Praise God!!!
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Good morning! Everything is just so green today. Praise God!!!
Healing and Discipleship 
Esther 5 continued WEB
6 The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”
7 Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is this. 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.”
Good morning all! Seeing Him in all the beauty we took in on our walk this morning!
Good morning all. Yes I love the green of spring and all the other colours of the spring flowers. My favourite time of year.
In vs7-8 Esther seems like she has thought this through very carefully and knows what she wants to accomplish. She is not in a rush, but Patiently wants to set the stage for Haman to in effect hang himself. That is a good model to follow, it is hard for us to be patient and see God do His work, we or at least I want to see things happen right away.
Wendy
“waiting on the Lord” may well be one of the most under practiced and undervalued Kingdom Keys around. The imagery of the seed is so powerful here. There is are some things we can do to create optimal environments for seeds to sprout.. but at the end of the day, seeds themselves have a certain range of time that they need to acually sprout. There is no way to override this inherent time delay and no way for the seed to sprout if the necessary elements are not present. God is really talking to me about this whole germination portion. If we do not water the seed, and do not wait patiently and do not guard it from the critters who would love to pluck them from the ground, it never comes to the place of harvest.
It is interesting that most people when the read the verse “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…..” tend to think it means to passively wait. There are times that it will mean that for sure. However to wait on the Lord also means to serve Him. We also use this form of the word wait in our English word waiter. It means to make our sole occupation to serve someone with full attention to their needs and desires. Nehemiah exemplified this in his service to the king and it won him great favor with him.
We see in the story of Esther the same principle. She not only waited, as in did not move out of proper timing but she also “waited on the King.” She served him a banquet.
Amen!!! Yes.
Its interesting to me that she was given a step by step plan, in how she was going to approach the King and reveal this plot. It doesn’t tell us but it seems reasonable to think that Mordecai, having encounters with Haman new that they could use his vanity and ego against him.KC
I love that she understood this was not her battle alone and cried out for the support of the whole community as part of the process. So encouraging that we can be led this clearly by the Lord. I do think Esther was well rehearsed in obeying and submitting to the authorities around her.
vs 6 What a beautiful reception Esther gets from the King. I am always amazed at how much more smoothly things go in my life where the way has been “paved” in preparation and prayer. I think most of us would be blurting everything out at this moment. The self control demonstrated here is something else.
Esther 5 WEB “9 Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home. There, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife. 11 Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12 Haman also said, “Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king. 13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet.” This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.”
“9 Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
As Mordecai responded to Haman, let that be our response to Satan and his.
Rob
Yes, Amen WR
Such a great picture of how one very small thing can ruin your life. Haman wanted all power and it irked him that Mordecai would not bow. His wife and friends were not good counsellors. But it pleased his power hungry ego and so he followed their advice. He had definitely lost perspective and that is the danger that I know I have to always come back check with the lord and my trusted councillors about my motivations. Things definitely go better when I do that.
Wendy
So true.. the small foxes that ruin the vineyard…
13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet.” This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.”
This verse comes to mind – 2 Cor 2:8 None of the rulers of this age recognized and understood this wisdom; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;
Haman and his family were so killed with evil fed by the enemies of God, they missed God’s moving.
Rob
Yes the mindset of Satan is that Yeshua was in the way of his own prideful happiness and if he could only get rid of Him …not realizing that by inciting others to kill Him …he was sealing his own demise. God is so awesomely brilliant! KC
This story has the same kind of humour in it that the fairytale “ The emperors new clothes” does .Pride exposed is such an empty ,arrogant thing in the face of Righteousness. Haman seethed with anger simply because Mordecai was so unimpressed with Hamans self importance and refused to bow to it . Haman surrounded himself with people who supported him because it was to their advantage to do so…KC
Powerful picture of those who plot evil building the gallows on which they themselves will hang in the belief that they can snare and harm God’s people.
Esther 6 World English Bible (WEB)
6 On that night, the king couldn’t sleep. He commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king. 2 It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus. 3 The king said, “What honor and dignity has been given to Mordecai for this?”
Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had come into the outer court of the king’s house, to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5 The king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman stands in the court.”
The king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in. The king said to him, “What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?”
It always amazed me that the King so quickly forgot that Haman had saved his life. Good thing that they were so diligent to write things down back then and that he was reminded of it. I love vs 6 where the king without knowing it sets up Haman for a great humiliation in front of the people. It brings me back to Jeremiah 32: the last part of vs 44, “for I will restore their fortunes and release them from exile,‘says the Lord.”
Wendy
These verses to me reveal the hand of God in all of this. Do you think God helped him to forget until exactly this time and then reminded him? I suspect so personally. The timing and every detail is perfect.
Yes I would agree. WR
I love this whole passage. That Haman’s great pride and ego was going to lead to his great humiliation and he was the one who actually was the crafter of it. Brings to mind Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.“ Both Rob and I noticed vs.13 and had never really heard it that way before, that his wife and counsellors said basically that he didn’t have a chance if Mordecai was a Jew.
Wendy
I meant Mordecai saved his life, not Haman.😳WR
Lol I think you meant that Mordecai saved his life. ..But here we have an example I think of how God can sometimes be in the experiencing of waking up in the middle of the night to speak to us or make us aware of something and move His agenda of salvation forward… and move us to act on something I pray and believe that God can redeem the hours of lost sleep especially for you Rob!KC
Oh the sad irony of vs 5. Not only did Haman build his own gallows.. he also orchestrated and prepared the reward. This reminds me of the verse that they will eat from the fields they didn’t plant, and drink from the vineyards they didn’t establish.. also reminds me of the story of the rich man who built extra storage and all that he had ended up going to the poor upon his early demise.
Now Haman said in his heart, “Who would the king delight to honor more than myself?” 7 Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let royal clothing be brought which the king uses to wear, and the horse that the king rides on, and on the head of which a royal crown is set. 9 Let the clothing and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man whom the king delights to honor with them, and have him ride on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’”
10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Let nothing fail of all that you have spoken.”
11 Then Haman took the clothing and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and had him ride through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!”
12 Mordecai came back to the king’s gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered. 13 Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before him.” 14 While they were yet talking with him, the king’s eunuchs came, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
Never saw this before.
Amplified vs13 Then Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise counselors and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall in status, is of Jewish heritage, you will not overcome him, but will certainly fall before him.”
Zeresh and his friends certainly have a view of the Jews I missed.
Rob
Wow… and they foresaw his demise and fall at this point. A dime short and a day late. What comfort we can take that God is vigilantly on guard against those who would harm His faithful ones.
Yes ,to know this is the end and destiny of all the ‘Haman type spirits at work in this world is extremely comforting. Our God knows the beginning from the end even if there be plots against His people which look impossible to undo He is able to turn it all around!KC
Yes that gives me great comfort. WR
Verse 10 doesn’t fill in the details but I can’t help imagining the look on Haman’s face at this point…KC
Esther 7 World English Bible (WEB)
7 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 2 The king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, queen Esther? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”
3 Then Esther the queen answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. 4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for male and female slaves, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king’s loss.”
5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, “Who is he, and where is he who dared presume in his heart to do so?”
6 Esther said, “An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman!”
Again, the king’s favour toward Esther repeated is striking. She clearly had been so well pleasing to him in their former interactions… the phrase “pick your battles” comes to mind.
I’ve seen others use their imaginations to depict ( in the kids veggie tales telling, and one other re in act meant I saw) the personality of the King as kind of unaware ,a little dense and impulsive. All speculation of course but I’m wondering if perhaps there needed this gradual build up to the big reveal of Hamans intentions given Esthers intimate knowledge of the King’s personality ? KC
Vs 3 Esther is not at all approaching the King from a place of entitlement but rather humility and drawing out his mercy and grace in her approach. She would be an incredible mentor to walk with for a season.
Yes!KC
Esther’s ability to remain composed and patient when there is such a threat against the lives of her precious ones is deeply encouraging and inspiring.
Yes I love how she approached the whole exchange, like you said not rushing to condemn Haman, but really establishing her own humility and deference to the King. How she says in last half of vs4 “Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the King” She made it clear that she would not have bothered him except that it was her life and the life of her people that was at stake. I think that it speaks to the love that he felt for Esther to be so outraged that someone might kill her and take her from him.
Wendy
Yes ,the great Love and affection the King had for Esther set her apart from all the others and is clearly revealed throughout this story… revealing how we His people His remnant who humbly seek to be in His Presence face to face, have been set apart for His pleasure and enjoyment. I really sense that the King just loved being in Esthers presence. Oh that we can be the same kind of pleasure and reward for His sufferings!KC
Well said!!!
Rob
Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. 7 The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden. Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. 8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman had fallen on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in front of me in the house?” As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
9 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were with the king said, “Behold, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, is standing at Haman’s house.”
The king said, “Hang him on it!”
10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was pacified.
8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman had fallen on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in front of me in the house?” As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
Always viewed this as God having a sense of humour. I mean, things couldn’t get much worse for Haman. But then…
Rob
Ohhhhh so true…. it really just sealed things…
I know right? You can read this over and over again and have new things revealed each time So many insights into God’s character and all the human characters as well!KC
vs 9… too much… Now Haman is looking presumptious and foolish and arrogant… and treasonous…. It is an interesting parralel with what is going on in the US these days with the unmasking case involving high levels of government.
Praise God! Let the things hidden in darkness arrogantly thinking they can usurp God’s authority ..be exposed! KC
Haman had so seriously tried to stir this wrath of the king up against Mordecai and yet succeeded in stirring it up against himself and with his own life, ended up pacifying it…
I wonder how our King’s wrath will be pacified? As much as I pray “mercy triumphs over judgement” I am looking to the day when these filthy abominable principalities And powers will be judged or be unblinded so that they can see the true God, not the one that they have been duped into following. Then the resulting unblinding and the hearing restored to the people that have been taken captive by those rebellious spirits in their attempt to destroy God’s plan and His family. For my part I know that I need to keep in a state of worship and extreme gratefulness, for it is His vengeance not mine. Romans 12:19 “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.” And trust Him. Deuteronomy 32:35 “Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.”
Wendy
My prayer too!KC
Esther 8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 On that day, King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the Jews’ enemy, to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her. 2 The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3 Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his plan that he had planned against the Jews. 4 Then the king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose, and stood before the king. 5 She said, “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seems right to the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that would come to my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my relatives?”
The transfer of property from the enemy to the righteous is absolutely a biblical theme. When the destroyer is caught, recompense is required of him. Here we see that all that Haman owned was transferred to Esther as a result of this plot God is truly a God a justice. I have heard many many testimonies in this vein where God blessed those who have been attacked with double.. like Job. The highest I have heard of scripturally is thousandfold. Deuteronomy 1:11 “11May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times over and bless you as He has promised. ” BSB
The whole story of Esther is to be fulfilled in us. We the condemned and slaves to this darkness and its prince are purchased and redeemed by God through Jesus Christ and are given this redeemed world to rule on Gods behalf as One with Christ!!!!! Heaven to earth displacing all His enemies.
Rob
Right? So so so encouraging.
7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, “See, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Jews. 8 Write also to the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring; for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may not be reversed by any man.”
9 Then the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month Sivan, on the twenty-third day of the month; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the local governors, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing, and in their language. 10 He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bred from swift steeds. 11 In those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to defend their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions, 12 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. 13 A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. The decree was given out in the citadel of Susa.
This part of the story puts me in mind of “the courts of heaven” in that even though Haman was judged hung and gone there was still a ‘legal land mine “ that had to be undone . Th “legal set -up” with the Kings decree still left the Jews vulnerable. It was only undone by the King giving them a legal right to defend themselves. So again we have access through the blood to shut down those points of access that the enemy has into our lives as w come before Him as righteous judge.KC
15 Mordecai went out of the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and was glad. 16 The Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor. 17 In every province, and in every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness, joy, a feast, and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
vs 17. This is the absolute highlight of the day.. The intention was to villify and stir the wrath of all against God’s people. Instead they end up in light, gladness, joy and honour. WOW!!! AMAZING and AWESOME turn around. “Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews had fallen on them.” Oh let that be so here today in Canada and the world.. In Yeshua’s name.
Amen. Esther is one of my very favourite books of the bible and there is no mention of God in it, only that His fingerprints and his design and nature is all through it. There is just so much that is encouraging about this book, especially in this time In history we are in right now.
Blessings for a wonderful Sabbath and weekend.
Love and hugs, Wendy❤️