MORDECAI’S PROMOTION AND THE SALVATION OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

When Haman entered , the king asked him, ‘What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honour?’ Haman excitedly calculated in his heart, ‘Whom would the king delight to honour more than me?’ Haman measured his words in reply,’ For the man whom the king delights to honour, ‘Let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest on its head. His conceited spirit persisted,

‘then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honour. His haughtiness was in full flight, ‘Then parade him on horseback, through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honour.’ (6:9)

The king’s response jarred Haman, ‘ Take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate. Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.’ Disgraced, ‘ Haman took the robe and the horse, and grudgingly arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honour.’ As the Lord of history, God master-minded a total reversal for these two characters. Within my life-time I have seen the Lord remove Nazi and Communist leaders, whose influence and power seemed limitless.

Honoured and uplifted, Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. Chastened, Haman hastened to his house, mourning and with his head covered. This illustrates how Christ preached of the judgment of the sheep and the goats. Peeved and humbled, Haman told his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His wife and his wise men ( counsellors ) said to him, ‘If Mordecai before whom you have begun to fall is of Jewish descent (and he was), you will not prevail against him, but will surely fall before him.’ Remarkable, exact prophecy.

The drama unfolded as ’ The king’s eunuchs came, as they were talking with him, and hastened to being Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.’ Haman did not realise God had numbered his hours.

At the banquet, the king again said to Esther, ’What is your petition, Queen? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half my kingdom? It shall be done.’ (7:2)

Pale with shock, Esther replied, ’ If I have found favour in your sight, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.’ Then Esther exploded , ’For we have been sold, my people and I , to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated.’ she continued, ’ Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could neve compensate for the king’s loss.’

Indignant and amazed, ’King Ahasuerus thundered, ’Who is he, and where is he, who would dare to presume in his heart to do such a thing?’ Brave Esther choked the words,’ The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.’ Stunned, ’Haman was scared stiff before the king and queen.’ Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet, and went into the palace garden; but Haman stood before queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king. Ahasuerus was enraged, for on his return from the palace garden, he found that ’Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was.’ ‘Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house? ’As the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.’

‘Look! The gallows, 23 metres high, which Haman made for Mordecai, is standing in the house of Haman,’ said one of the eunuchs. ’Hang him on it,’ the king commanded. God’s justice prevailed, for ’They hanged Haman on the gallows, which he had prepared for Mordecal.’ All his property was assigned to Esther, who now confided in her king that ’Mordecai was related to her.’ At which, ’The king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Furthermore, Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman. (8;2)

Esther implored the king with tears ’ to counteract the evil plot of Haman , the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews‘. Esther’s faith showed out when the ’King held out to her the golden sceptre.’ She responded.

The radiant and charming Esther rose and stood before her king.’ ’If it please the king, and I have found favour in his sight, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews, in all the king’s provinces. Her heart overflowed, ‘How can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people, or the destruction of my kindred?’ He directed Esther’ to write the decree for the Jews, as you please , in the king’s ( all-powerful) name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring, which no one can revoke.’ As believers, hold the Name of our beloved King Jesus, and seal it with His golden promises.

‘It was written by Mordecai, the new Prime Minister, to the princes from India to Ethiopia, in its own script and to every people in their own language .and to the Jews in their own Hebrew script and language. ( 8:8) ’It was sent by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds.’ Our risen Lord commanded us to ’Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature ‘( every language or dialect ) : Mordecai’s edict parallels the gospel call. The couriers hastened, and were pressed on by the king’s command.

‘Mordecai went out from the presence of the king, in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city rejoiced and was glad. ‘ He illustrates the Holy Spirit, guarding Esther, preserving the king, exposing the shameful sin of the conspirators and also the wickedness of Haman. We shall give just recognition to God’s Holy Spirit. Spiritual awakening followed for ’Many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell on them.’ ’Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent. ’ ‘The Jews were triumphant over all their enemies.’ (9:5)

Queen Esther requested the king , on his insistence ‘That Haman‘s ten sons be hanged on the gallows,’ so that the evil of the father should be wiped out in the following generation.

Under Esther and Mordecai the Jews instituted the feast of Purim, significant for each generation among the people of Israel. They celebrated the day with ’gladness and feasting.’

The Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month was turned from sorrow to joy.

This previews our rescue from all the power of the enemy, satan our personal Haman’; and the glorious victory of our Lord Jesus in His atoning death and bodily resurrection. Do you know the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour and Liberator?

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