Esther, Chapter 5-6: Esther Banquet for Haman

Esther, Chapter 5-6: Esther Banquet for Haman February 23, 2019

Jesus is working behind the scene

Haman wanted to kill all the Jews, plan set in motion, in the Persian Empire.

Remember:

Mordecai told Esther she will not escape what will happen to the Jews.
Who knows if you have come to your royal position for such a time as this
Esther said to Mordecai to fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, Esther said if I perish, I perish!”

This is a key lesson for each of us. We are here, at this time of history, for a reason.

Esther approach to the King, prepares a Banquet

Esther 5:1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.

After the days of fasting, she puts on appropriate clothing for the occasion to approach the king.

There are times, We really do not want to go a particular place or do something, but we have to. This is a tough spot for her, she will know if she wins or loses.

Things we do not want to do, but sometimes we have to.

Esther 5:2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Esther showed special courage to go before the King. Threat of death is gone now, her plan is now in progress. Wonder who help her to plan this.

Esther 5:3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

He sensed her desire for a special request.
The “half of the kingdom” was only a common phrase, a figure of speech.
The king was surprise because she risk her life walking in like that
He wonder why would she do it.

Esther 5:4 “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”

While, that is easy to do. Simple: …and guess who’s coming to dinner.

The pairing also speaks toward Haman’s status, the prime minister.

We see Esther showed tact by not giving out her request right away.
She wanted to first win the king’s confidence in her
She wanted Haman at the banquet to ultimately expose his wickedness

Ordinarily the king and queen dined separately, each in their own apartment. To invite not only the king but another male guest, not a relation, was a remarkable act.

Esther 5:5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

The king was in a relaxed mood, addressing his wife as Esther, not Queen Esther, and prepared, after being feasted, to give her anything she asked.

Esther 5:6 As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

The king understood that it was not for mere entertainment that Esther had put her life on the line. His curiosity on why is now getting to the king.

Esther 5:7-8 Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: (8) If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

Esther put off the request for one more day, promising to reveal her petition at a second banquet on the next day.
This turns out to be a critical, delaying period
It was not the right time to speak and put off her petition
Why, was it the Spirit telling her?
What was her reason, who really knows,
We know from the story, God had His reason
This 24 hours was essential for God’s purposes. We will see, reading?

Haman Plans to Hang Mordecai

Esther 5:9 Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai.

Mordecai would not worship him and Haman became frustrated with rage.

Esther 5:10-11 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, (11) Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials.

Haman was so consumed about Mordecai

He could not enjoy his good position and opportunity
God would not allow the fury of Haman to take action until all is ready
Just pure hate, he could not enjoy it.

To relieve himself of his rage about Mordecai

He gathered his family and friends
Spent time boasting about the wealth he had amassed
Ways the king had honored him
How he was elevated above all others, except the king

Esther 5:12 “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow.

Haman is really enjoying being with the King and Queen.
He had no concept of the influences which were working against him.

What has God done so far, three things come to mind

Given Mordecai faith
Had Strengthened timid Esther
Had Haman erect the necessary gallows

Esther 5:13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

He admits his wealth and position availed him nothing:
His hatred for Mordecai poisoned his peace and enjoyment.
Complains to his wife and all his friends

Esther 5:14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.

Fifty cubits = about 75 feet high, in own front yard.
Haman wanted a public, execution of Mordecai on gallows
Impalement: More likely a staff for an impaling, not a hanging gallows.

The Persians in-vented cruciﬁxion, passed on to the Greeks,
Later widely adopted by the Romans for extreme crimes of noncitizens.
Same irrational hatred that made man want to hand Jesus on a cross

The King Honors Mordecai

The entire course of history change,

Haman was going to ask the king to impale Mordecai
Haman probably could not kill someone without the Kings approval
Esther did not know what was going to happen with Xerxes
Xerxes during the night could not sleep. (Jesus at work)

A sleepless night

Esther 6:1 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.

History writers were attached to the Persian court
Attended the king wherever he went.
Interesting, the King is the master of 127 provinces, but master of 10 min sleep.

Esther 6:2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

Of all the texts that could have been selected by the librarian,
A book of remembrance of records
From the records of Xerxes’ 12 years of rule up to that time,
The one that contained the account of Mordecai’s uncovering the assassination was read to the king;
Jesus hand is involved, bring the one book, one page, telling the story of Mordecai and he saved the King from assassination.
Sleepless night for the king worked together for Mordecai’s honor
Haman’s plot worked together for Mordecai’s elevation and safety

Xerxes actually later lost his life through a conspiracy formed by his,
The captain of the guard, with a eunuch and chamberlain.

God has a Book of Remembrance for His Saints

Malachi 3:16-18 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored {or thought upon} his name. (17) “On the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. (18) And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

Is this is what is happening right now as we discuss this book – filling in this Book of Remembrance.

Jesus is listening to HIS people. Is this why Matthew wrote:

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” *Matthew 18:20,

The question we can ask, when a book of remembrance is opened, what would be found written about you and me?

Esther 6:3-4 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered. (4) The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.

The King wonder what honor was given to Mordecai for this?
Gratitude is a duty and a virtue in Persia.
Five years had passed without recognition for saving the Kings life
This oversight was, itself, a gross breach of Persian law.
Royal Beneﬁciaries formed a distinct class
They had their names inscribed on a special list.
Now Haman was come in the morning: Wonder why?

His early morning haste to effect Mordecai’s destruction led to his being deputized to do him the highest honor!

Esther 6:5-6 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” the king ordered. (6) When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?”

Haman pride is coming through now.
He was there to ask for the execution of Mordecai,
King wanted to honor Mordecai at just that moment.

When it seems that bad things happen to us, we must trust God’s total plan, realizing the following.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Esther 6:7-8 So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, (8) have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head.

Esther 6:9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!'”

Can you see Haman visualize this coming – great

Haman responded by mentioning several things that should be done for the person the king wished to honor:

Have the appearance of royalty
By wearing a kingly robe and riding a royal Horse
Man should be served by one of the most noble princes.
Take the man through the city on this horse
Clearing the way before him
Pointing out to all that this man was honored by the king.

Esther 6:10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”

It would be something to see Haman face at that moment,
To see that the King took his advice completely,
But gave the honor to his enemy.
Because Haman came to ask for his execution, gallows was already done.

Esther 6:11 So Haman got the robe and the horse. He arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”

Wonder what Mordecai thought and his reaction.

What a turn of events; whom he hated, had to be honored by Haman
That morning he had planned to supervise Mordecai’s impalement.
Everyone knew Haman hated his enemy and then had to do this

Esther 6:12 Afterward Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered in grief

When Haman had left his wife in the morning he had been elated
Now the bottom had fallen out from under him, and it’s just beginning
Haman pride had been dealt a death blow

Esther 6:13 and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!”

Persians believe in omens, were very superstitious
They just said you are on a losing streak.
Haman’s wife and his advisors could see the future well enough.
Haman would not prevail against Mordecai,
But Mordecai would prevail over Haman

Esther 6:14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.

He was late for supper.
Haman was taken to Esther’s second banquet
Haman once looked forward to the banquet, now dreaded it
He may wondered what the king would say to him at the banquet.
Now, with his world crashing down around his head, what is going to happen

In the Persian religions, much was made of omens and signs.

Fate, chance, and luck were considered important in everyday life.
The Book of Esther stands against such a negative view of the world.
We can see God working behind the scenes.

Next chapter, Esther Reveals Haman’s Plot – now things gets interesting, What happens, then, that, is for next week.

Esther, Chapter 5-6: Esther Banquet for Haman

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