May the mumbling commence!
Are you and I worthy in the sight of the King? Worthiness is at issue in Esther chapter six. Read a majority of the chapter below:
That night the king could not sleep; 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.
"What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?" the king asked.
"Nothing has been done for him," his attendants answered.
The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had erected for him.
His attendants answered, "Haman is standing in the court."
"Bring him in," the king ordered.
When Haman entered, the king asked him, "What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?"
Now Haman thought to himself, "Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?" So he answered the king, "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!'"
"Go at once," the king commanded Haman. "Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended."
So Haman 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!"
Afterward Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, and told Zeresh (his wife) and all his friends everything that had happened to him. (Verses 1-13a)
Haman was mortified by the royal honoring of Mordecai. Haman thought that the king wanted to honor him. After all, Haman had risen to be the highest ranking official in the king’s court. Haman even possessed the signet ring of the king, which allowed him to write laws in the name of the king. Haman was also invited to eat in the exclusive audience of the king and his queen. Why would Haman have any reason to doubt that the king wanted to honor him?
So Haman immediately described how he would like the king to honor him – above the king’s own sons and before the entire kingdom. He had visions of ascendancy to the throne one day – surely his request for the hanging of Mordecai could wait until such honor was rendered unto himself.
Then, God humbled the arrogant. What a nasty surprise for Haman! Imagine the thoughts that ran through the mind of Haman as the name Mordecai the Jew spilled from the lips of the king. I bet Haman was grateful that he had not first asked permission for hanging the same Mordecai from a seventy-five foot high gallows. Haman’s own neck would have been stretched before he had time to give advice to the king.
Mordecai the Jew had sought to protect the king from assassination. Haman was seeking the future throne when the king wasn’t even dead yet. Service rendered unto the king warrants either honoring or dishonoring. Mordecai humbled himself before the king, while Haman exalted himself before the king.
Each man got their just desserts. Haman was dishonored by being hung on the very gallows that he had built for Mordecai. Mordecai was lifted up from his mourning not by a new set of clothes but by the king giving him the position of power that once belonged to Haman.
God has given His children position and power. Each Christian is endowed with spiritual gifts and wiring and passions so that we may honor the King of kings and Lord of lords and so that we may benefit others. How are we using our gifts?
Are we using our gifts for our own advancement, like Haman? Or are we using our gifts for the benefit of God and others, like Mordecai? The way we use our gifts will result in hearing either, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” or “Depart from me, wicked and lazy servant.”
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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