Esther 6 Commentary
Heaven should have a sense of humor! One preacher jokingly remarked how Haman’s noisy works on his 23-meter tower kept the king awake all night!
The call was so urgent that the contractors worked overnight to ensure the tower was ready by morning! The tower was meant for Mordecai’s head. In fact, that explains Haman’s presence at the palace. He must speak to the king about impaling Mordecai.
The height of the tower is meant to set an example for everyone who dares disrespect the mighty Haman. Today and now, he must carry with him Mordecai and make his death a public show of Haman’s power.
Of course, Haman does walk out with Mordecai, but not as planned. By the order of the king, Haman must carry Mordecai on the king’s horse. Mordecai is to be royally dressed and crowned, and publicly proclaimed as the man the king wishes to honor. Ironically, it’s Haman who must do it!
It is easy to remember this text: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” But there is more. “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Every good work is recorded. A time comes when the records are read before the King of kings.
Two stories are running in parallel. As Haman’s tower is going up, the records are being read at the palace. The subject of Haman’s tower is Mordecai. He must be impaled on the tall tower. The subject of the records at the palace is Mordecai. He must be honored. The lesson here is simple: if a man is honored by the LORD, everything else becomes unimportant.
Poor Mordecai is unaware of the two stories in the background. The saint often is unaware of the happenings behind the scenes. But the saint should know. The LORD is all at work, reviewing the records and plotting an all-important welcome party for the believers.
We can jokingly refer to the sinner’s lack of sleep because of the noise generated by angels working on the saint’s mansion in heaven. It shall end well for the saint.
This chapter draws our attention to the other story in heaven, which is more important than the earthly story.
Look at Xerxes’ question again. “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?” The word “king” in the statement is best read as “King”. It’s all about the King of kings and His planning! Mordecai’s good works were forgotten on purpose – this purpose!
The Book hasn’t ended yet. There is another banquet by Esther to enjoy and, importantly, a request to hear. So Haman is hurried off to another state engagement – a banquet. Talk about speed! Haman hardly has enough time to lick his wounds. Things can be terrible for the sinner!
Haman’s wise friends and his wife Zeresh are all “wisdom and solutions” before this point. In fact, the 23-meter-tall pole for Mordecai’s head is Zeresh’s idea.
But today and now, the same team can only deliver bad news to Haman. His fall has begun in earnest.
You wonder why this wisdom didn’t prevail yesterday. They knew Mordecai was a Jew. They should have known Haman’s battle with Mordecai had one winner, and it wasn’t Haman!
We can learn a few lessons from this story. The enemy won’t stand down even when they know they stand to lose. Their loss isn’t important, but your victory!
The enemy’s loss is written in steel and concrete, but they can meddle with your victory, hence the effort!
The demons know their fate. There are no questions about it. However, the saint’s victory can be delayed, compromised, or even halted.
Chapter 6 highlights the work of the LORD God behind the scenes. Mordecai’s unrewarded goodness and the king’s sleeplessness are but elements in God’s master plan.
The starting position for each and every battle that the saint faces is known. The saint sits in the winner’s box. The enemy fights to alter this result.
This book is notorious for its lack of mention of the name of God, or indeed, any direct reference to God. But God’s name is written all over the book. Haman’s friends and his wife Zeresh knew something about Mordecai’s God, hence the admission of defeat.
The New Testament saint can look at the saint’s victory through the lens of what the LORD Jesus said about victory. It’s this definition of victory that makes the difference between frustration and joy.
In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33b
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