SCRIPTURE; ESTHER 6
MORDECAI HONORED (vs. 1-14)
The king could not sleep at night so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. The king then asked if Mordecai had received any honor or recognition. His attendant answered: “Nothing has been done for him” (v. 3).
In the meantime, Haman had just arrived at the center court of the palace. He wanted to tell the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had erected for him. The king then asked the attendant to bring whoever was in the court to him. As Haman entered, the king asked him: “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” (v. 6). Now Haman thought that he was the one to be honored so he gave king this answer: “For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!” (vs. 7-9). So the king told Haman to do what was recommended for Mordecai. Haman reluctantly got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!” (vs. 11). When Haman reached home, his head was covered in grief. He told his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. While they were talking, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.
THOUGHTS:
God kept the king awake to look at the book of records about Mordecai. He had Haman arrived at just the right time. The king asked Haman how to show honor to a man he delights. Haman was thinking that man was him. So he suggested to put in the robes he wanted to wear, put him on the horse he wanted to ride and to lead him through the busiest part of the city. But it so happened it the honor was for Mordecai. Haman was extremely humiliated and disgraced.
God kept the king awake to enable the king to review the history of his reign. When servants read to him about Mordecai’s good deed, he realized that Mordecai had gone unrewarded. God was delaying Mordecai’s reward for the right time. Haman was about to hang him but the king was preparing to give him the honor. God has been working quietly and patiently through our lives. The events that have come together for good are not mere coincidence but are the results of God’s sovereign control over the course of people’s lives.
Haman had wealth. He wanted respect which money cannot buy. His pride and lust for popularity had become an obsession. Don’t let your desire for approval, applause and popularity drive you to immoral actions.