Good morning,
The festival of Purim celebrates God’s deliverance from a plot to destroy all the Jews. This year the celebration begins on the evening of 25 February and ends on the evening of 26 February.
Today we will look at Chapters 4-6 Mordecai informs, Jews fast, Esther prepares to go to the king, the courage of Esther and the pride of Haman, and Mordecai Rewarded and Haman shamed. Please read these chapters for the full story.
Chapter 4 Mordecai informs, Jews fast, Esther prepares to go to the king
“And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.” (4:7-8)
“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (4:14)
“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” (4:16)
Chapter 5 Courage of Esther and the Pride of Haman
“And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.” (5:2)
“And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow am I invited unto her also with the king.” (5:11-12)
Chapter 6 Mordecai Rewarded and Haman shamed
“And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.” (6:2-3)
“Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor.12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. (6:10-12)
These three chapters tell of God’s intervention in the affairs of men. We will see the courage of Esther and how Haman’s pride is turned to Mordecai’s honor.
Chapter4
Mordecai gets a copy of the king’s commandment to destroy the Jews. He cried with a loud and bitter cry. The Jews of the provinces were in great mourning, fasting, weeping, and wailing.
Mordecai challenges Queen Esther to go to the king for deliverance. Initially she hesitated. However, Mordecai made a convincing argument and she decided she would go.
Chapter 5
Esther goes and the king held out the golden scepter. She requests that the king and Haman come to a banquet she has prepared for them. Then she invites them to a second one the next day.
While this is going on, Haman is boasting to his family how great he is. He is also encouraged to go to the king and request to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had built.
Chapter 6
The king could not sleep. They brought the book of records of the chronicles and they were read to him. They read the entry about how Mordecai saved the king’s life. The king asks, “What honor and dignity hath been done to honor Mordecai?” the answer was that nothing had been done for him.
Mordecai has come to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows.
The king asks Haman, “What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?” Haman’s pride kicks in and he describes what he would like the king to do for him. When he gets finished, the king tells him to all these things for Mordecai. The irony is that Haman had to honor Mordecai. Haman was utterly shamed. It gets worse for Haman.
Tomorrow the story concludes. Will the Jews be saved? Does Haman’s plot come to fruition? What happens to Esther and Mordecai? How is Purim initiated?
Come back tomorrow and find out!
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com