Half the kingdom - again we see this being said by the king. It isn't a literal meaning of I will actually give you half the kingdom but it was a "stock phrase used by ancient monarchs to express favor." There's that word again... everywhere around Esther is favor. It's a promise to grant anything that is asked. My footnotes say that "Xerxes knew Esther would not dare approach him unless she had a very important reason. Esther had succeeded in arousing both his admiration and curiosity."
Grant me life and that of my people - Esther's requests were already half granted. Xerxes granted Esther her life when she came before him unannounced and he extended to her the scepter. As for her people, he didn't even know who they were. Slavery didn't have the same "negative connotation" as it does today. So for slavery she wouldn't have risked everything.
Haman nails his own coffin - The word says that pride comes before a fall. Not all people's pride leads to hanging but in this case, Haman's did. Not only did he threaten the queen and her people but then he appears to throw himself at her leading to more of the kings wrath. For a king like Xerxes, an explanation just wouldn't do. He had sealed his coffin before he could even begin to explain. To add insult to very serious injury... he was hung on the gallows that he intended to humiliate the very person who received all the honor he expected. Ouch!
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Favor has dropped from heaven above over Esther. Her faithfullness and willingness to sacrifice by fasting for her people has pleased God! Not only did God reveal to the King the decite of Haman but he also revealed Esther's heart for her people. God will always honor a pure heart but a prideful heart will need to be taken care of before future ministry or personal heart desires will be granted. Dear Jesus, please take any pride out of my heart so I can be your vessel for Kingdom Purposes.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Laura, that God's favor just hovered or poured over Esther. God tested Esther every step of the way. This was not an easy task she was assigned to. Being human, she was subject to failure at any time. But she set her mind to do God's will, and He met her at every turn. God could have given Esther just enough favor to get by, but He poured it over her. My thought about this is that God is so attracted to a heart that walks in complete surrender and humility, that He will go to any length to pour out his favor upon that person.
ReplyDeleteMordecai received a fitting punishment. The Bible says that pride goes before a fall, and here we see a perfect example of that.
A lesson I take away from this is: it's easy to want to see our enemies get their "just dessert." Haman considered Mordecai his enemy and was so focused on destroying him that he totally forgot about every blessing that had been bestowed on him. So let us also remember God's goodness in our own lives.