administrator, Bureaucrats, bureaucrats, checkuser, editor, emailconfirmed, move, Administrators
3,292
edits
Changes
no edit summary
{{DOD-May}}
In chapter 3 we see [[Satan]] begin to work. Haman's promotion went to his head and turned him into a murderer. Mordecai, [[Esther]]'s cousin and a very faithful Jew, would not bow down to Haman. This made the proud man even angrier. He then decided to destroy all the [[Jews]], just because of his malice toward Mordecai. The decree was written and sent out (verses 7,12), ordering the Persians to destroy, kill, and plunder all the [[Jews]] in the vast reaches of the kingdom.
In chapter 4 we see Mordecai their protector. The old Jew that sat at the king's gate now comes to the front. He is [[God]]'s prepared vessel to [[save]] the nation. In verse 14 [[God]] sent a message through Mordecai to [[Esther]] to remind her of her responsibility. The message convinced [[Esther]] that she must do the bidding of the [[Lord]] and intercede for His people, even at the risk of personal harm or [[death]].
The events in the next few chapters center around three feasts. In chapters 5 and 6 we read about a feast of rejoicing. The [[Jews]] had fasted and prayed with [[Esther]] for three days. It was now time to step out by [[faith]] and intercede before the king's throne. Keep in mind that Oriental rulers were almost like [[God]]s to their people, and their commands, right or wrong, were obeyed. [[Esther]] was truly placing her life in [[God]]'s hands. As she appeared at the entrance of the throne room, the king lifted his golden scepter and called her in. What a fulfillment of the Scripture, "The king's heart is in the hand of the [[Lord]]." Acting very wisely, [[Esther]] did not immediately tell Xerxes her true request. Instead, she invited the king and Haman to a banquet. She knew the king's weakness for food and drink, and with womanly intuition she prepared him for the important request she was about to make. She also gave Haman a false feeling of security by including him. One thing ruined the day for Haman. He saw Mordecai at the gate and decided to bring false charges against him and have him killed, since he would now bow down to Haman. He had a gallows erected, intending to have Mordecai hanged.
Chapter 7 could be called a feast of reckoning. The results of [[Esther]]'s meeting with the king brought justice to all. Mordecai was set free and Haman was hanged.