Esther
chapter 5 reminds me of how easily we can get distracted from
enjoying the joys around us. As the chapter
begins, Esther had been preparing to visit with the king with prayer
and fasting. The fate of the Jewish people rested on her convincing
the king that Haman’s plan was evil. She knew one of the possible
consequences of coming before the king without his permission was
death. We read, “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. When he saw Queen
Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to
her the gold scepter“. This was a
sign of his acceptance and invitation to enter. The king gave his
full attention. “What is it, Queen
Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be
given you“. Remember, the date
for the Jewish extermination was eminent. I’m sure she felt the
pressure to act now. Most of us are impatient people and waiting is
difficult for us, but God’s timing is perfect. Esther, instead
proposed, “Let the king and Haman
come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will
answer the king’s question“.
Upon
hearing the news, Haman was ecstatic. He was on the fast track to
success and now he was being invited to a banquet by the queen. All
was right in the world except one thing. “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“.
I’m sure he thought to himself, “Doesn’t this guy know how
important I am?”. We read that he went home and boasted to his
wife and friends, “about his vast
wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him…
And that’s not all… I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to
accompany the king to the banquet… tomorrow“.
But Haman was so wrapped up in himself, he couldn’t enjoy the
moment. He grumbled, “But
all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai
sitting at the king’s gate“.
What is the one thing keeping you from enjoying the blessings of
today?
As the chapter ends, Haman’s wife and all his
friends joined in with his pity party. They help stoke the
frustration with a suggestion. “Have
a gallows built, seventy-five feet
high, and ask the king
in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king
to the dinner and be happy“.
Have you noticed that when we get frustrated at home or work, we look
for people to back us up in our indignation? We always look for
people to support our selfishness. And the chapter ends the same
way, “This suggestion delighted
Haman, and he had the gallows built“.
1 Timothy 2:1-6, gives us the solution to getting mired our own
frustrations. Simply put, focus on the needs of others! “I
exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in
authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all
godliness and reverence. For this is
good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all
men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there
is one God and one Mediator
between God and men, the
Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all“.
Don’t let bitterness ruin your day.