Esther Invites the King and Haman to a Big Dinner
5 On the third day Esther put her royal robes on. She stood in the inner courtyard of the palace. It was in front of the king’s hall.
The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall. He was facing the entrance. 2 He saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard. He was pleased with her. So he reached out toward her the gold rod that was in his hand. Then Esther approached him. She touched the tip of the rod. (NIV)
5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, opposite the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne inside the palace opposite the entrance to the palace; 2 and when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter. (RSV)
Before doing such an important and risky mission (appeal for the life of her people), Esther, her maids, and all the Jews in Susa city fasted for 3 days (not sure whether it is 3 days 3 nights, or 2 nights 1 day).
Application: Before an important event/task, we should pray and fast.
Esther put on her royal robes/apparel when she went to see the King.
Application: Do we wear appropriately when we go to church? In our work and our social life, we need to dress appropriately according to the occasion and place. By wearing appropriate clothes, we are more likely to find favour with the people we meet.
When Esther went to see the King without being summoned, the King was at his royal throne, Esther went to inner courtyard (probable quite a distance from the King) and stood there, waiting to be noticed by the King. This was done hopefully, when King Xerxes saw her, he would let her come in. True enough, when King Xerxes saw Esther in the inner courtyard, he lifted his golden scepter thus accepting her coming in.
Application: We should not be too hasty in our action. At times, it makes sense to pause for a short while. We need to pause to ponder and consider. We need to pause for other people to feel relaxed, which is a "neutralising" effect. If we go to see the boss, we should not be too hasty to complain or to say what we want; a short pause may be useful to get the boss' attention.
When Esther approached the King, she went near enough and touch the King's golden scepter. A touch of intimacy and submissiveness.
Application: If we need to appeal for something, we should approach the Decision Maker with softness, humility and humbleness. If we appear to "demand" or "complaint", it would be likely that our request/appeal would be turned down.
3 The king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want? I’ll give it to you. I’ll even give you up to half of my kingdom.” (NIV)
3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” (RSV)
Esther did not speak first. She waited for the King to speak first.
Application: When we have an appeal or a request, one tactic is NOT to speak out our appeal/request directly. Pause and wait for the Decision Maker to speak first. This way will help us find favour with the Decision Maker.
"I will give you up to half of my kingdom" is only figure of speech. This was not to be taken literally. What it meant was the King was willing to grant Esther whatever she asked for, provided he can afford it, provided that her request was reasonable.
5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, opposite the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne inside the palace opposite the entrance to the palace; 2 and when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter. (RSV)
Before doing such an important and risky mission (appeal for the life of her people), Esther, her maids, and all the Jews in Susa city fasted for 3 days (not sure whether it is 3 days 3 nights, or 2 nights 1 day).
Application: Before an important event/task, we should pray and fast.
Esther put on her royal robes/apparel when she went to see the King.
Application: Do we wear appropriately when we go to church? In our work and our social life, we need to dress appropriately according to the occasion and place. By wearing appropriate clothes, we are more likely to find favour with the people we meet.
When Esther went to see the King without being summoned, the King was at his royal throne, Esther went to inner courtyard (probable quite a distance from the King) and stood there, waiting to be noticed by the King. This was done hopefully, when King Xerxes saw her, he would let her come in. True enough, when King Xerxes saw Esther in the inner courtyard, he lifted his golden scepter thus accepting her coming in.
Application: We should not be too hasty in our action. At times, it makes sense to pause for a short while. We need to pause to ponder and consider. We need to pause for other people to feel relaxed, which is a "neutralising" effect. If we go to see the boss, we should not be too hasty to complain or to say what we want; a short pause may be useful to get the boss' attention.
When Esther approached the King, she went near enough and touch the King's golden scepter. A touch of intimacy and submissiveness.
Application: If we need to appeal for something, we should approach the Decision Maker with softness, humility and humbleness. If we appear to "demand" or "complaint", it would be likely that our request/appeal would be turned down.
3 The king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want? I’ll give it to you. I’ll even give you up to half of my kingdom.” (NIV)
3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” (RSV)
Esther did not speak first. She waited for the King to speak first.
Application: When we have an appeal or a request, one tactic is NOT to speak out our appeal/request directly. Pause and wait for the Decision Maker to speak first. This way will help us find favour with the Decision Maker.
"I will give you up to half of my kingdom" is only figure of speech. This was not to be taken literally. What it meant was the King was willing to grant Esther whatever she asked for, provided he can afford it, provided that her request was reasonable.
21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” (Mark 6:21-23) (NIV)
In the story of Herod and John the Baptist,
Herodias' daughter had pleased King Herod. King Herod wanted to give her a reward. He asked what she wanted. He wss willing to give her whatever she wanted if he could afford it, if it is reasonable ("up to half my kingdom"). The expression is similar to what King Xerxes said to Esther.
Management concept: If we please the boss, it is likely that the boss will grant us what we request. Of course, our request has to be reasonable, and within the capability of the boss.
In the story of Herod and John the Baptist,
Herodias' daughter had pleased King Herod. King Herod wanted to give her a reward. He asked what she wanted. He wss willing to give her whatever she wanted if he could afford it, if it is reasonable ("up to half my kingdom"). The expression is similar to what King Xerxes said to Esther.
Management concept: If we please the boss, it is likely that the boss will grant us what we request. Of course, our request has to be reasonable, and within the capability of the boss.
4 Esther replied, “King Xerxes, if it pleases you, come to a big dinner today. I’ve prepared it for you. Please have Haman come with you.”
5 “Bring Haman at once,” the king said to his servants. “Then we’ll do what Esther asks.”
So the king and Haman went to the big dinner Esther had prepared. (NIV)
4 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come this day to a dinner that I have prepared for the king.” 5 Then said the king, “Bring Haman quickly, that we may do as Esther desires.” So the king and Haman came to the dinner that Esther had prepared. (RSV)
4 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come this day to a dinner that I have prepared for the king.” 5 Then said the king, “Bring Haman quickly, that we may do as Esther desires.” So the king and Haman came to the dinner that Esther had prepared. (RSV)
4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. (KJV)
Esther did not make her request/appeal (for the lives of Jews) immediately. If she did, her request might have been turned down. She made a request that was easy for the King to accept: she requested the King and his buddy, Haman, to a banquet in honor of the King...and nocturnal activity after that. How could the King refuse such a pleasing request from his beloved and beautiful Queen? This was a smart move.
To the King, inviting King with Haman together sounded natural. Probably, the King and Haman often had dinner together as seen in Esther 3:15 (... The King and Haman sat down to drink; ....)
To Haman, he was delighted and honoured to invited by Queen Esther to join King Xerxes and Queen Esther for banquet dinner. Haman felt good. What a contrast of his feeling toward Mordecai; Mordecai refused to honour and pay reverence to Haman by a simple bow/kneel. Queen Esther had honoured Haman by inviting him to attend a special banquet dinner of the King and Queen; because Haman was the King's right hand man. Mordecai felt so great!
6 As they were drinking wine, the king asked Esther the same question again. He said, “What do you want? I’ll give it to you. What do you want me to do for you? I’ll even give you up to half of my kingdom.” (NIV)
6 And as they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” (RSV)
6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. (KJV)
At the banquet dinner, there was sumptuous food and free flow of wine. The King was very happy and pleased. He remembered that Esther had something she wanted. For a second time, he asked her what she wanted. For the second time, he committed to give her whatever she wanted on condition that he could afford it and her request is reasonable ("up to half of my kingdom").
Throughout the banquet dinner, Esther did not say what her request was. She waited for the King to ask.
Management concept: Slow and steady approach when we have a HUGE request. Don't be too direct and don't be too hasty, less we are thought to be too Demanding. Do it slowly, progressively, step by step. Put the request into WORDS when the Decision Maker is totally ready and receptive.
7 Esther replied, “Here is what I want. Here is my appeal to you.8 I hope you will show me your favor. I hope you will be pleased to give me what I want. And I hope you will be pleased to listen to my appeal. If you are, I’d like you and Haman to come tomorrow to the big dinner I’ll prepare for you. Then I’ll answer your question.” (NIV)
The King had asked Esther the second time about her request/petition. Yet she did not say out her petition/appeal for the lives of her people. Instead, she invited the King to come together with Haman for another banquet dinner the next day. She would say out her request during the banquet dinner the next day.
Slow and steady approach. Delaying tactic. Delaying the HARD (difficult) request. Buying time to please the King.
24 Again the anger of the Lordwas kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” 2 So the king said to Jo′ab and the commanders of the army,[a] who were with him, “Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.” (2 Samuel 24:1-3) (RSV)
Back to Esther chapter 6.
13 Yet all this does me no good, so long as I see Mor′decai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” 14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mor′decai hanged upon it; then go merrily with the king to the dinner.” This counsel pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made. (RSV)
Haman's pride is so huge that he could not withstand seeing Mordecai not paying respect to Haman himself. Despite being rich, blessed with many sons, honoured by the King, having a position higher than all other nobles and officials, respected by the Queen, Haman was still not satisfied. Haman was so proud that he could not stand the idea of one person who regularly does not pay respect to him.
Management concept: We must have Tolerance. We must Tolerate people who dislike us. Tolerate people who hate us. Tolerate people who disrespect us. Tolerate people who ignore us. Tolerate people who do not befriend us.
Management concept: Do not share our dislike and hatred to our friends. Friends may say something to aggravate the dislike or hatred further.
Management concept: Do not plan vengeance for people who hate us. Do not plan vengeance for people who disrespect us. Do not plan vengeance for people who despise us.
TOLERANCE is the key to feeling of being dishonoured, disrespected by other people.
Sun, Dec 29, 2013.
Michael Yeap
NIV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=esther%205&version=NIRV
RSV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=esther%205&version=RSV
KJV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=esther%205&version=KJV
Commentaries:
1) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Esth.5.1-Esth.5.8
2) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Esth.5.9-Esth.5.14
Esther did not make her request/appeal (for the lives of Jews) immediately. If she did, her request might have been turned down. She made a request that was easy for the King to accept: she requested the King and his buddy, Haman, to a banquet in honor of the King...and nocturnal activity after that. How could the King refuse such a pleasing request from his beloved and beautiful Queen? This was a smart move.
To the King, inviting King with Haman together sounded natural. Probably, the King and Haman often had dinner together as seen in Esther 3:15 (... The King and Haman sat down to drink; ....)
To Haman, he was delighted and honoured to invited by Queen Esther to join King Xerxes and Queen Esther for banquet dinner. Haman felt good. What a contrast of his feeling toward Mordecai; Mordecai refused to honour and pay reverence to Haman by a simple bow/kneel. Queen Esther had honoured Haman by inviting him to attend a special banquet dinner of the King and Queen; because Haman was the King's right hand man. Mordecai felt so great!
6 As they were drinking wine, the king asked Esther the same question again. He said, “What do you want? I’ll give it to you. What do you want me to do for you? I’ll even give you up to half of my kingdom.” (NIV)
6 And as they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” (RSV)
6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. (KJV)
At the banquet dinner, there was sumptuous food and free flow of wine. The King was very happy and pleased. He remembered that Esther had something she wanted. For a second time, he asked her what she wanted. For the second time, he committed to give her whatever she wanted on condition that he could afford it and her request is reasonable ("up to half of my kingdom").
Throughout the banquet dinner, Esther did not say what her request was. She waited for the King to ask.
Management concept: Slow and steady approach when we have a HUGE request. Don't be too direct and don't be too hasty, less we are thought to be too Demanding. Do it slowly, progressively, step by step. Put the request into WORDS when the Decision Maker is totally ready and receptive.
7 Esther replied, “Here is what I want. Here is my appeal to you.8 I hope you will show me your favor. I hope you will be pleased to give me what I want. And I hope you will be pleased to listen to my appeal. If you are, I’d like you and Haman to come tomorrow to the big dinner I’ll prepare for you. Then I’ll answer your question.” (NIV)
The King had asked Esther the second time about her request/petition. Yet she did not say out her petition/appeal for the lives of her people. Instead, she invited the King to come together with Haman for another banquet dinner the next day. She would say out her request during the banquet dinner the next day.
Slow and steady approach. Delaying tactic. Delaying the HARD (difficult) request. Buying time to please the King.
Haman Brags About Being Invited to Esther's Dinner
9 That day Haman was happy. So he left the palace in a good mood. But then he saw Mordecai at the palace gate. He noticed that Mordecai didn’t stand up when he walked by. In fact, Mordecai didn’t have any respect for him at all. So he burned with anger against him. 10 But Haman was able to control himself. He went on home.
Haman called his friends and his wife Zeresh together. 11 He bragged to them about how rich he was. He talked about how many sons he had. He spoke about all of the ways the king had honored him. He bragged about how the king had given him a higher position than any of the other nobles and officials had.12 “And that’s not all!” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to come with the king to the big dinner she gave. Now she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. (NIV)
Haman's anger was due to root cause of pride. Haman was so powerful that he was above all other princes, generals, nobles, governors, officials. Haman was second only to King Xerxes. When Mordecai did show respect to Haman, Haman felt so angry. Haman was so angry that he tried to control himself. Vengeance was in the mind of Haman.
Management concept: If we climb high in the social ladder or corporate ladder, we must not be overcome with pride, and always demand to be honoured and respected. Remember that: Respect has to be earned. 80/20 principle: 80% will honour and pay respect to the Top Leader, but there may be another 20% who will not. Do not be upset or angry with the 20% who do not show the necessary honour and respect to the Top Leader or high level Leader. Take it easy.
Haman bragged about his many successes.
1) Bring rich.
2) Having many sons.
3) The many ways the King had honoured him.
4) The King appointed him a position higher than any other nobles and officials.
5) Being invited by Queen Esther to banquet dinner with King and Queen.
Haman was so filled with pride.
Management concept: Do not be overcome by PRIDE. Because of David's pride, he ordered for a census, resulting in God's wrath and seventy thousands die as a result. Because of David's adultery with Bathsheba and his plot to murder Bathsheba's husband, God punished David by the death of his baby with Bathsheba. The story of David and Bathsheba is in 2 Samuel chapter 11 and 12.
2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.)Then she went back home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” (2 Samuel 11:2-5) (NIV)
26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27 After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord. (2 Samuel 11:26-27) (NIV)
Haman's anger was due to root cause of pride. Haman was so powerful that he was above all other princes, generals, nobles, governors, officials. Haman was second only to King Xerxes. When Mordecai did show respect to Haman, Haman felt so angry. Haman was so angry that he tried to control himself. Vengeance was in the mind of Haman.
Management concept: If we climb high in the social ladder or corporate ladder, we must not be overcome with pride, and always demand to be honoured and respected. Remember that: Respect has to be earned. 80/20 principle: 80% will honour and pay respect to the Top Leader, but there may be another 20% who will not. Do not be upset or angry with the 20% who do not show the necessary honour and respect to the Top Leader or high level Leader. Take it easy.
Haman bragged about his many successes.
1) Bring rich.
2) Having many sons.
3) The many ways the King had honoured him.
4) The King appointed him a position higher than any other nobles and officials.
5) Being invited by Queen Esther to banquet dinner with King and Queen.
Haman was so filled with pride.
Management concept: Do not be overcome by PRIDE. Because of David's pride, he ordered for a census, resulting in God's wrath and seventy thousands die as a result. Because of David's adultery with Bathsheba and his plot to murder Bathsheba's husband, God punished David by the death of his baby with Bathsheba. The story of David and Bathsheba is in 2 Samuel chapter 11 and 12.
2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.)Then she went back home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” (2 Samuel 11:2-5) (NIV)
26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27 After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord. (2 Samuel 11:26-27) (NIV)
13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for[a] the Lord, the son born to you will die.” (2 Samuel 12:13-14)
15 After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.
18 On the seventh day the child died. (2 Samuel 12:15-18a) (NIV)
24 Again the anger of the Lordwas kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” 2 So the king said to Jo′ab and the commanders of the army,[a] who were with him, “Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.” (2 Samuel 24:1-3) (RSV)
24 Again the anger of the Lordburned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census ofIsrael and Judah.”
2 So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.” (2 Samuel 24:1-2) (NIV)
9 Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.
10 David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”
11 Before David got up the next morning, the word of the Lordhad come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer: 12 “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lordsays: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’”
13 So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come on you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”
14 David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercyis great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”
15 So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.16 When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
17 When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd,[c]have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.” (2 Samuel 24:9-17) (NIV)
Back to Esther chapter 6.
13 “But even all of that doesn’t satisfy me. I won’t be satisfied as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the palace gate.”
14 Haman’s wife Zeresh and all of his friends spoke up. They said to him, “Get a pole. In the morning, ask the king to have Mordecai put to death. Have the pole stuck through his body. Set it up at a place where it will be 75 feet above the ground. Everyone will be able to see it there. Then go to the dinner with the king. Have a good time.”
Haman was delighted with that suggestion. So he got the pole ready. (NIV)
13 Yet all this does me no good, so long as I see Mor′decai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” 14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mor′decai hanged upon it; then go merrily with the king to the dinner.” This counsel pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made. (RSV)
Haman's pride is so huge that he could not withstand seeing Mordecai not paying respect to Haman himself. Despite being rich, blessed with many sons, honoured by the King, having a position higher than all other nobles and officials, respected by the Queen, Haman was still not satisfied. Haman was so proud that he could not stand the idea of one person who regularly does not pay respect to him.
Management concept: We must have Tolerance. We must Tolerate people who dislike us. Tolerate people who hate us. Tolerate people who disrespect us. Tolerate people who ignore us. Tolerate people who do not befriend us.
Management concept: Do not share our dislike and hatred to our friends. Friends may say something to aggravate the dislike or hatred further.
Management concept: Do not plan vengeance for people who hate us. Do not plan vengeance for people who disrespect us. Do not plan vengeance for people who despise us.
TOLERANCE is the key to feeling of being dishonoured, disrespected by other people.
Sun, Dec 29, 2013.
Michael Yeap
NIV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=esther%205&version=NIRV
RSV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=esther%205&version=RSV
KJV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=esther%205&version=KJV
Commentaries:
1) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Esth.5.1-Esth.5.8
2) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Esth.5.9-Esth.5.14
No comments:
Post a Comment