Not Even Feet Obey

Esther 7:1-10

Last week we didn’t end on a cliffhanger, but we definitely were left with a “to be continued” feeling.  At this point in our study of the book of Esther, we have four key people.  First of all, Esther, of course.  She is the queen of the Persian Empire.  She is also Jewish, a fact which not even the King knows.  Then, we have the king.  He, like many kings, has more than one name.  In some translations he is referred to by his Greek name Xerxes.  In others, he is referred to by his Hebrew name Ahasuerus.  Until I was working on this message, I hadn’t really thought about the fact that neither of these is Persian.  I went looking for his Persian name, and found one Iranian writer who called Xerxes a ridiculous simplification.  But when I stumble over the Persian, I think you will appreciate the benefit of simplification.  His Persian name is Khshāyarsha.  The king is a rather static person in Esther.  He doesn’t appear to change over the course of the book which covers a period of 10 years.

Then, we’ve got Haman.  Haman is one of the king’s best buddies.  He’s been elevated to second in command in the Empire.  Haman has character issues.  He’s totally obsessed with the fact that Mordecai, who we’ll come to in a minute, doesn’t pay him proper honor.  Additionally, Haman brags a lot to his wife and friends about how the king thinks he’s great and all his prestige.  He’s so upset about Mordecai that he has manipulated the king to make an edict to have all Jews killed throughout the entire Persian Empire, and now he’s had a gallows built to kill Mordecai on immediately.

Mordecai is an older cousin of Esther.  Also Jewish, he adopted Esther after the death of her parents.  He works in the Persian government.  He has encouraged Esther to plead for the Jewish people using her position as queen at great risk to herself.  Esther has so far approached the king and received a favorable response, but has not yet asked the king about delivering the Jews.

I think that’s enough background.  Let’s pray and go to our passage for today.

Lord, speak to us now.  We need You and Your direction for our lives.  Thank You that You are never far from us.  Help us to draw near to You now and always, we pray in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.” –Esther 7:1-2 NIV

The king and Haman went to eat with Queen Esther for the second time. The king again asked Esther, “What do you want? I shall give you anything, even half of Persia.” –Esther 7:1-2 HSP

So Esther approached the king in the throne room where he accepted her approach.  Then, he accepted her invitation to a first banquet.  At the first banquet, he accepted her invitation to a second banquet.  Now, we are at the end of the second banquet.  The king’s offer to Esther is the same.  Esther now sees it is the right time to make her crucial request.

Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.” –Esther 7:3-4 NIV

Esther said respectfully, “As you please, if I have found favor in your eyes, please spare my life and my people. Your wife and her family have been destined for death and destruction; our honor is in your hands. I speak for your sake, O king! Would you ever allow your queen to be sold into slavery, let alone killed? If your queen is disgraced, others will mock your name. Do not let us, or yourself, be put to shame.” –Esther 7:3-4 HSP

Esther is seeking deliverance for herself and her people, the Jews.  Keep in mind she has not previously revealed that she is Jewish.  We can consider this another of the “coincidences” that Mordecai had strictly instructed Esther not to reveal her heritage.  When I say coincidence here, I mean the movement or leading of God which brings about a blessing or protection which could not have been foreseen.

King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”

Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”

Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. –Esther 7:5-6 NIV

King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, “Who plans to humiliate your people? Where is this evil person who challenges my honor as your husband and king?”

Esther said, “This evil man is Haman, the enemy of my people.” Haman’s face turned red before the king and queen. His plan was backfiring before his very eyes. The disgracer felt disgraced. –Esther 7:5-6 HSP

Esther has found her courage.  She does not merely bring the accusation.  She also accepts the king’s description of such a person and declares Haman vile, evil.  Haman’s plan has indeed fully backfired.

The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. –Esther 7:7 NIV

The king was infuriated and stormed out of the room. Haman fell facedown at Esther’s feet to beg for his life. Knowing he had fallen out of favor before the king, Haman now pleaded with the Jewish queen to spare his life. –Esther 7:7 HSP       

What was the king’s thought at this moment?  Was he attempting to remain composed before Esther?  I almost find a sweetness in such a reaction.  Perhaps though, he is simply beside himself with the immutability of Persian law coupled with the feeling of having been manipulated and just can’t sit still.  Haman apparently has seen the king have such strong reactions before.  He also witnessed Esther’s success in getting the king to be sympathetic.  He directs his last ditch effort at self-preservation to Esther.

Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.

The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”

As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. –Esther 7:8 NIV

When the king returned from outside, he found Haman next to Esther. The king became even further outraged. “Now you assault my wife? Before my very eyes and in my own palace! You traitor—how dare you claim my royal throne by taking the queen!” The king’s words covered Haman’s face with great shame. –Esther 7:8 HSP

It was not uncommon for meals to be eaten in a reclined position rather different than what we are accustomed to with tables and chairs.  I looked some, but wasn’t satisfied with the pictures I could find.  The examples here come from before and after this time period but from Etruscan and Roman civilizations rather than Persian. 

We can envision Haman on his knees practically laying on the queen to beg for mercy.  Such a position would be very easy to misinterpret, especially if you were already agitated as the king clearly is.  We considered several times the coincidences that have allowed Esther and Mordecai and the Jews to be saved.  Haman on the other hand is the victim of “coincidences” which seem to cause unexpected failure at every turn.  This is a Biblical concept as well.  I think of the story of the wise and foolish builders.  One built his house on the rock and the house stood firm.  The other built on the sand, and the storm destroyed the house, “and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:27)  Proverbs also is filled with warnings about and condemnation of the wicked person.  Perhaps most fitting for this passage is Proverbs 11:8, “The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.”  The trouble which Haman has stirred up is about to come home to rest.

Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” –Esther 7:9a NIV

Then a royal attendant pointed out, “You know, my king, Haman just built an eighty-foot tower to hang Mordecai, Esther’s uncle who saved your life. And the punishment for treason is death without honor.” –Esther 7:9a HSP

We don’t know anything about Harbona except that he is named back in chapter 1.  He must have been an attendant of the king for at least 10 years.  He does not hold back from bringing forth a suggestion.  While the king may not know what is going on with Haman, the king’s attendants do.  Harbona also reminds the king that Mordecai is an ally, one who helped the king by revealing an assassination plot.

The king said, “Impale him on it!” So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided. –Esther 7:9b-10 NIV

“That’s perfect!” said the king. “Hang Haman from his own tower in the middle of Susa. That will avenge his disloyalty before everyone.” Haman ambitiously pursued the trappings of royal honor but never sought to be honorable in character. Such hubris caused his downfall. Haman was hanged and the king felt vindicated. –Esther 7:9b-10 HSP

The honor shame paraphrase makes a key distinction here about Haman, perhaps becoming a bit more like a commentary than a paraphrase.  “Haman ambitiously pursued the trappings of royal honor but never sought to be honorable in character.”

On the one hand, we can take warning about this.  God does not look at the outward appearance either physically or status-wise.  God looks at the heart.  (I Samuel 16:7) What we do is an indicator of what is on the inside.  Ultimately, God is seeking men and women after His heart.  (I Samuel 13:14)  God is looking for the one whose heart is completely His. (II Chronicles 16:9)  We, of course, cannot achieve this by our own strength, but we can accomplish all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13).  Likewise, God doesn’t just clean us up when we turn to Him.  He puts new life in us, His Spirit which has the very character of God. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Here in our passage, Esther has turned to an earthly king for deliverance.  We can also take this as a prompting to consider where does our help come from?  Our help comes from the Lord. (Psalm 121:2)  Let’s close with familiar verse also from Philippians chapter 4 …

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:6-7

Let’s pray.

God thank You that You are ever present to hear our cries.  Help us to persevere in seeking You.  May we not grow weary in coming before You.  The evil one would deceive us into thinking we have asked too much, or our requests are insignificant, or our needs are not legitimate to deserve Your concern.  But You never get tired.  You are for us.  Thank You for Your love.  Help us to find our rest in You.  All this we gladly pray in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.