SCRIPTURE; ESTHER 5
ESTHER’S REQUEST TO THE KING (vs. 1-8)
On the third day, Esther dressed on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on the royal throne facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out for her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. Then the king asked :”What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” (v, 3). Esther replied: “If it pleases the king, let the king together with Hyman come today to a banquet I have prepared for him” (v. 4). Then the king brought Haman and sent to the banquet Esther had prepared. As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.” (v. 6) Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare. Then I will answer the king’s question”.
HAMAN’S RAGE AGAINST MORDECAI (vs. 9-14)
As Haman went out and saw Mordecai, he was filled with rage because Mordecai was at the king’s gate and he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence. But Haman restrained himself and went home. Upon reaching home, he called his friends and wife Zeresh and boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. He also boasted that he was the one being invited by the queen to the king’s banquet. And tomorrow, he will be attending another banquet hosted by queen Esther. But he will never be satisfied seeing Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate. So his wife Zeresh suggested to build a gallows 75 feet high and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. So Haman had the gallows built.
THOUGHTS;
Hatred and bitterness had prompted Haman wanted to kill Mordecai. His wife suggested to build a 75 feet gallows to hang Mordecai so that all the people of the city could see Mordecai’s death. Ironically, at the end, Haman was the one who was hanged in the gallows he made. Do not let hatred and its resulting bitterness build in your heart. If bitterness is not completely removed, it will grow and make matter worse.