WOMEN OF CHRISTMAS - ESTHER CHAPTER 5 - HAMAN'S EGO STROKED BUT THEN HIS ANGER PROVOKED

ESTHER CHAPTER 5

HAMAN’S EGO STROKED

BUT THEN HIS ANGER PROVOKED

Esther 5:1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. 2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

After fasting for three days, Esther prepared to do as she had promised Mordecai. Obedience to Mordecai and, therefore, to God put her in the precarious position of disobedience to the law of the king in that no one was to approach him unless he called for them. But obedience to the King of kings supersedes obedience to the king of Persia. She dressed in all her queenly finery. I don’t know if this was protocol for a visit to the king’s room or if she was dressing for confidence or if she felt the king needed a reminder that she wasn’t just any member of his harem but his chosen wife and queen. The king was facing the entry hall and saw Queen Esther standing there waiting. She had already advanced to the place of danger, being inside the court even though the king had not summoned her. The king was pleased when he saw her. According to Proverbs 21:1 (ESV), “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.” Even though God is not mentioned by name in the book of Esther, we can rest assured that God orchestrated Esther’s favor with the king. He extended the gold scepter allowing her to approach the throne unscathed.

5:3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

The king was really asking something akin to “What is troubling you?” Perhaps she looked gaunt after the fast, or maybe he just realized she would not dare to enter his presence uninvited except under extreme circumstances. The thought of Jewish annihilation had to be causing her inner torment. Perhaps that showed in her countenance. Would the king literally give Esther half of his kingdom? Probably not, but the exaggeration expressed his desire to completely satisfy his chosen queen. On the other hand, this king had the bad habit of saying and doing things in haste. Maybe he would have given her up to half the kingdom.

Esther 5:4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.

Esther does not at this time present the dilemma that she and the rest of the Jews face due to Haman’s evil edict. She does not present the problem that is troubling her immediately. Instead she makes the seemingly simple request that the king join her for a banquet and bring his second in command, Haman, with him. She states she has prepared the meal to honor him. She knew this would inflate his narcissistic tendencies; and, therefore, she would be elevated in his good graces.

Esther 5:5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Q – Why do you think the king who had so hastily punished Vashti for disobeying by failing to appear, accepted Esther when she disobeyed the rules and appeared unsummoned? Why is he so eager to please her? Is it simply deep love, or do you think the truth of Proverbs 21:1 had something to do with these events? God was making certain Esther would be a “Woman of Christmas.”

The king wasted no time but commanded that Haman be found immediately. He made it clear that he was accepting the queen’s invitation. The king instructed his servants to make whatever Esther desired happen.

Esther 5:6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. 

Nothing is said of the dinner conversation between the royal couple and Haman during the main part of the banquet. During the final course of a long meal, the wine course, the king gave Esther another open opportunity to present him her wish list. The king was anxious to hear her request, but Esther did not jump in quickly with her demands even with the king pressing her for details. She was wisely cautious.

Esther 5:7  Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; 8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king hath said.

Scripture does not tell us why Esther put off her answer by asking the king and Haman to a second banquet the next day, so we are not sure if this was part of her original plan or if she just felt queasy about what she needed to do and used the second banquet to stall. Maybe she used the delay of the second banquet to bolster her confidence. However, the rest of chapter 5 and chapter 6 shed light on the reason for the delay from the perspective of divine providence. Whatever Esther’s reason for the 2nd banquet, God had plans for the intervening time.

Esther 5:9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. 11 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.

Only the highest of society were invited to dine with the king and queen, so Haman thought he had arrived beyond all others since he was the only official invited. Therefore, he could consider himself an intimate of the king and queen in his inflated mind. However, when he saw Mordecai still sitting at the king’s gate, his happiness vanished into thin air. Mordecai’s lack of fear or any kind of response caused seething anger to billow up out of Haman as out of a volcano. Haman squelched this anger for the moment until he was in the privacy of his own home. He and his wife entertained friends for the evening. Haman always needed to stroke his ego, so he engaged in this behavior every chance he had. That night he strutted his stuff like a peacock. He bragged on his position, his ten sons, his wealth, and his close relationship with the king.

Esther 5:12 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. 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

Haman is a legend in his own mind. He is under the delusion that Queen Esther prefers him over all the other officials of the court. How ironic is that? He brags about the invitation to dine with the king and queen not only once, but again the next day. Then he confessed that there was something robbing him of his happiness. His hatred for Mordecai outweighed his pleasure and enjoyment of all the good that had happened to him that day. The Lord had hidden that fact that Mordecai had raised Esther from Haman, so he made no connection between them.

Esther 5:14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

Zeresh actually strategized the plot to have Mordecai executed by impalement on a pole. The proposed height of this pole would have been about the same as an eight story building, perhaps even constructed on top of a building to allow for this height. Since Jews were taught that being hung on a tree symbolized being under a curse from the Lord (Galatians 3:13), this would be particularly humiliating. This was exactly what Haman wanted to do at all times, humiliate Jews, especially Mordecai. Zeresh then put forth the idea that after the grizzly demise of his enemy, Haman would be able to eat, drink, and be merry with the king and queen! This shows that Zeresh knew that Haman would have no remorse and, therefore, could party with the king with no thought of what he had just orchestrated. Since this fed Haman’s hatred, he thought it was an excellent idea. However, chapter six will prove that God was still in control and had other plans for Mordecai.

APPLY THIS TO YOUR LIFE:

1.                 God had a purpose for Esther to fulfill and gave her favor with the king. If God has called you to a task, He will enable you to accomplish it. Rely on His power and not your own.

2.                 When delays and even dilemmas arise in your life, trust that our sovereign Lord is still in control and is using circumstances to mold you into the image of Christ. Read Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 6:33, Isaiah 41:10, Romans 8:28-29.