Esther: Overcoming an adversary and an enemy

The height of the story of Esther begins on the second banquet. Esther, the queen of Persia had invited the King and Haman to a banquet she had prepared for them. On the first banquet, the king asked Esther for her request and the queen replied that  “My petition and my request is this: If the king regards me with favour 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 for them. Then I will answer the king’s question” (Esther 5:7‭-‬8). Between the first and second banquet was just a night and a day. But, a lot happened to change the lives of the different people in the book of Esther. The king honoured Mordecai and Haman built a pole to hang Mordecai on it. The king’s honour was urgent that Haman’s pole was not used that day. Instead, Haman shamefully paraded Mordecai through the city proclaiming: “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour!” (Esther 6:11b). Haman attended the second banquet as a broken man. Before he left for the banquet, his wife and friends told him this: “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!” (Esther 6:13b). On the contrary, the king attended the banquet with a good cheer. King Xerxes looked forward to hearing Esther’s request. 

Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. (Esther 7:6)

The second evening would have been quite intense for Esther. It was time to tell the king to save her life and that of her people. Haman thought that he was just so lucky to be the only guest the queen invited together with the king. As they were drinking wine, the king asked again, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted” (Esther 7:2). Esther replied to the king: “If I have found favour with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.” (Esther 7:3‭-‬4). Imagine the look on the face of the king to know this terrifying truth. Who in his right wisdom will sell the queen and her people to be destroyed, massacred and eliminated? Haman didn’t know the queen was Jewish and in his zeal to destroy Mordecai had issued a death sentence for even the queen of the king. King Xerxes was furious. “King Xerxes exploded, “Who? Where is he? This is monstrous!” (Esther 7:5 MSG). Esther replied, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen (Esther 7:6). Haman would have been shaking and panicking. He didn’t know that Queen Esther was a Jew. Haman knew that his life was hanging on a hook. Xerxes got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life (Esther 7:7).

Haman, the vile man who wanted to eliminate a whole people group was scared for his only life. He begged for his life while he had cunningly condemned thousands if not millions of people to death. When the king returned, he saw Haman falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?” As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face (Esther 7:8). Haman had been condemned already. Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king” (Esther 7:9a). When the king heard this, he said, “Impale him on it!” (Esther 7:9b). Haman raised a pole for Mordecai but he ended up being hung on the same pole. Proverbs 26:27 reiterates this, “whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.” Haman’s evil schemes backfired and he became the victim of his own imagination. That same evening, they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided (Esther 7:10).

This story teaches valuable life lessons. First, you do unto others what you want them to do to you. Second, when you plot evil for others, you might end up as a victim of your own wickedness.  Again, don’t look down on people. Even if they do not have big titles, they have a big God! Haman saw Mordecai as a rebellious Jew but he didn’t know the higher powers behind Mordecai. 

Haman entered the banquet as the king’s favourite noble, he left as the king’s worst noble. Haman saw it an honour to be the guest of the Queen. But, in reality, it was to expose his vile intentions. When you wish the downfall of others, remember that you are likely to go down before them. Love people genuinely, don’t raise emotional poles for people. You can’t please everyone and neither will all be pleased with you. 

Esther: The requests of the Queen

As we continue our study on Esther also known as Hadassah, we have come to a critical point of Esther’s salvation of the Jews. From the previous posts, we have seen that Esther was an orphan who rose up to become the Queen of Persia. She replaced Vashti, because Queen Vashti dishonoured king Xerxes through her disobedience. In all her journey to the royal throne, Esther won the favour of Hegai, the keeper of the harem, she won the favour of those who saw her as she moved to the Palace for her one night with the king. Ultimately, Esther won the favour of the king. Esther seemed to have a blissful moment until one man,  Haman, was promoted as the second in command to the king. Haman was angry at Mordecai, Esther’s uncle for not bowing down to him. Instead of Haman to punish Mordecai for what he did, Haman decided to exterminate all the Jews in the Persian kingdom. Esther had a secret and the secret was that  her nationality was unknown to the king. Thus, Haman, the king’s second in command, declared death for the Queen. Esther had to do something about it but she was afraid that if the king did not extend his scepter, she would be killed. Esther requested that the Jewish people fast for her as she and her household also fast for three days. 

Thus, Esther and the Jews prepared for Esther’s meeting with the king. Esther had to let go of the luxuries of the palace for three days. She denied herself pleasure. She subdued her flesh in order to uplift her spirit. She humbled herself to God through fasting. She demonstrated her neediness for superior help. She understood that her position as queen was not enough to turn the verdict. She knew the systems and dynamics of authourity. In fasting and committing the situation to God,  Esther and the Jewish people brought King Xerxes under God’s superior authourity. Esther understood that in the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that He channels toward all who please him (Proverbs 21:1). Esther understood that to please the king, she must first please the Lord. After dealing with the spiritual side of the battle, this is what happened, “On the third day Esther put 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 his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.” (Esther 5:1). Esther made a move, she went to the court of the palace even though she had not been summoned. Thus, the fasting did bring the king to Esther, but Esther had the courage to face the king. Thus defeating her greatest fear and uncertainty. The second victory was this, “When he (King Xerxes) saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.” (Esther 5:2). The king favoured Esther, the Lord directed the heart of the King towards Esther. Instead of condemnation, Esther received acceptance. 

Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” (Esther 5:3)

Finally, after Esther had gained courage to meet the king, received favour for acceptance before the king, something happened. Esther didn’t even say a word, but the king spoke and asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” (Esther 5:3). Imagine! The Queen wanted less than half of the kingdom, she went to plead for her life and that of her people but she was offered half of the kingdom. Indeed God turned the heart of Xerxes towards Esther. You would have expected Esther to quickly state her request that she wants the Jews spared. But, she knew better that the court was not the right place.  Esther’s request was this, “If it pleases the king, let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.” (Esther 5:4). Esther invited the King and Haman (the man who wants her and her people dead) for a banquet. It sounds ridiculous but Esther did just that! The king’s reply was this, “Bring Haman at once, so that we may do what Esther asks.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared (Esther 5:5). At the banquet, the king asked again, “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.” (Esther 5:6). Esther’s reply was this,  “My petition and my request is this: If the king regards me with favour 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 for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.” (Esther 5:7‭-‬8). Esther was not quick to answer. God was working behind the scene to honour Mordecai. If Esther had let the cat out of the bag on the first night, maybe Haman would have been killed but Mordecai’s honour would have been different.  The delay was for God to bring the perfect opportunity for Mordecai to be honoured and Haman to pay for his vile intentions. 

The night after the dinner was a long one for the king and Haman. While the king couldn’t sleep, Haman couldn’t sleep either. The king’s sleeplessness was because Mordecai had to be honoured. Haman’s sleeplessness was because he wanted Mordecai killed. In just one night, two forces competed for Mordecai (honour and dishonour). But, Mordecai, Esther and all Jews had fasted and brought the case before the Chief Judge of all (the Lord). The matter was settled in heaven and earth had to align to heaven’s verdict. Esther’s request was for a second banquet with the king and Haman. Between the night of the first banquet and the evening of the second banquet, the heavens declared the heart of God. The tables turned and Haman walked straight into the pitch he dug for Mordecai. We shall continue this…