Day #267

Sermon - Audio
Esther 6-10 - Audio
Esther 6-10 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

6

The most original act of the bungling King Ahasuerus is to have a sleepless night (v. 1). By means of this coincidence, the king comes to have the chronicles of his “memorable deeds” read to him, which in turn uncovers that he has done nothing to honor the man who saved his life (vv. 1–3). Haman’s early arrival at court shows his eagerness to execute Mordecai (vv. 4–5). But Haman’s overweening pride (what the Greek tragedians called hubris) is his undoing when, thinking that the king cannot possibly want to honor anyone more highly than him, he prescribes a litany of honors that he is immediately commanded to perform for his mortal enemy Mordecai. Again a note of satiric humor dominates the story. -ESVLB-

*This is just one of the few instances we see God working behind the scenes in the book of Esther.

*The king wants to reward Mordecai for his efforts.

6-9 = Haman believes that the king is talking about him, so he gives an answer that Haman would want done for himself (exaltation).

10-11 = His jaw must have dropped.

12-14 = Haman must think quick or all of this will come to pass.

7

The second banquet that Esther stages for the king and Haman brings the plot against the Jews to defeat. Speaking briefly but courageously, Esther acquaints the king with the plot against her nation and makes an accusation against Haman (vv. 3–6). The inept king’s most decisive act results from misinterpreting Haman’s intention when he sees Haman falling on the queen’s couch to plead for his life (vv. 7–8). The downfall of the villain is climaxed with poetic justice when Haman is hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. -ESVLB-

1-4 = Notice that Esther still has not said that she herself is a Jew.

5 - The king has no idea who would have done this to Esther and her people, and is angered.

9-10 - The climax and resolution of the story...Haman dies.

8

1-2 - Mordecai is put over the house of the guy who tried to kill him. As a king's official, Haman would have been rather wealthy.

4-6 - The decree still stood as of now...even if Haman was dead.

7-14 - This may be hard for us to understand, but a king was unable to take back a decree. His word was as if it came from God. So, the king issues a counter-decree encouraging all of the Jews to fight for themselves if anyone tries to kill them.

17 - Many people were now being influenced by God's people...the way it should have been all along.

9

1-5 - Some within the king's kingdom still tried to carry the original decree out, but with little success. Now we see Mordecai not only being promoted, but gaining favor in the kingdom.

6-10 - They killed the people coming after them, but left the plunder to the cities/king.

11-17 - "They did not lay a hand on the plunder." This is used 3 times in this chapter meaning that there is significance. The Jews were not trying to "take over" anyone/anything.

“Now it was God’s intent that a last conflict should take place between Israel and Amalek: the conflict which began with Joshua in the desert was to be finished by Mordecai in the king’s palace.” -Spurgeon-

Ending - Mordecai writes down the happenings so the people would never forget. A festival, Purim, would be instituted in honor of the events...It is still a popular Jewish festival.

10

Mordecai is 2nd in the kingdom...huge honor/influence. The final resolution to an epic story.