Daily Devotional Sunday 6th June 2021
by William Moody
Esther 6
The King Honors Mordecai
6:1 On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana1 and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 4 And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows2 that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king’s young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown3 is set. 9 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.’” 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” 11 So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”
12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. 13 And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”
Esther Reveals Haman’s Plot
14 While they were yet talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.
Footnotes
[1] 6:2
Bigthana is an alternate spelling of Bigthan (see 2:21)
[2] 6:4Or wooden beam (see note on 2:23)
[3] 6:8Or headdress (ESV)
Haman has just decided to approach King Xerxes to have Mordecai put to death on the gallows. But that night by God’s overruling grace the king can’t sleep and is reminded of Mordecai’s faithfulness in stopping him being assassinated (v1-3). These events remind us that God is in control over everything, even in the life of unbelievers.
Just at the time when Xerxes discussed Mordecai deserving to be rewarded, Haman comes with the intention to have Mordecai executed (v4). Xerxes speaks to Haman of an appropriate reward and Haman in his pride thinks it’s for himself (v6-9).
Haman must have been so horrified and humiliated at having to do this. Here we see Haman scheming but God is far ahead of him in his planning. Evil cannot take on god and win. Haman goes home in grief and fear (v11-14).
This great chapter brings home to us the truth that while evil plots and schemes, God is never caught out by surprise but works everything, even the scheming of the wicked, to turn around for the good of His people (Romans 8 v28). This means we can and must trust God fully in every situation.
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