He is always faithful.

Esther 7

A turn of events, I mean the mother of all turns is going on in the mind of Haman, two days ago he is on top of the world building a 75-foot tall gallows to hang his enemy, Mordecai.  He wants to walk in the king’s chambers and ask what should I do for the man the king wants to honor?  Haman is so full of self that he is sure it is him the king wishes to honor so this is what he said.  “And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set. And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’”

Have you been there, sure that you got the job, only to find out you were not in the running and even worse than that is to find the person you had disdain for is the one that will be your new boss?  If so, you’re not even close to the emotion Haman is experiencing.  And when things go wrong, and you share it with family and friend, they tell you that you are toast and that is not helpful and that counsel Haman received from both wife and friends, after his going all over the city proclaiming what a great man Mordecai was.

One might wonder, are the gallows going to be used at all, and if you keep reading in chapter 7, you will find the answer.  So let us move into chapter 7, and how a eunuch of the king showed up at Haman’s home and rushed him to the king’s banquet Esther had prepared.  We have the king and Haman coming to the feast, and it is the second day of good wine and food, and the king is so happy with his queen, and ask again what can I do for you, up to half of the kingdom.  Now as stated before, that’s not going to happen but what did catch the king by surprise?

“Queen Esther answered, “If I have obtained your approval, my king, and if the king is pleased, spare my life—this is my request; and spare my people—this is my desire. For my people and I have been sold out to destruction, death, and extermination. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept silent. Indeed, the trouble wouldn’t be worth burdening the king.”  Not what the king was expecting, this was a well thought out request, and it caught both the king and Haman by surprise.  With one exception, the light came on for Haman, and I am sure his first thought was I am toast, she a Jew.

But the king has a question: “King Ahasuerus spoke up and asked Queen Esther, “Who is this, and where is the one who would devise such a scheme?”

Esther answered, “The adversary and enemy is this evil Haman.”

Haman stood terrified before the king and queen. Angered by this, the king arose from where they were drinking wine and went to the palace garden. Haman remained to beg Queen Esther for his life because he realized the king was planning something terrible for him. Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the house of wine drinking, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually violate the queen while I am in the palace?” As soon as the statement left the king’s mouth, Haman’s face was covered.”

The party is over and as that great scholar “Dandy Don” Meredith said, when a game seemed lost, “and the fat lady had sung.”  That is where Haman finds himself on that day, and things go from bad to it does not get worse than this.

“Harbona, one of the royal eunuchs, said: “There is a gallows 75 feet tall at Haman’s house that he made for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.”

The king commanded, “Hang him on it.”

They hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger subsided.”

The lesson should be clear, do not set your heart on evil, do not oppose what God calls his own, and forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Mordecai and Esther waited on the LORD to give instruction, and He is always faithful.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice