Esther chapter 6 - Mordecai honoured

Esther Chapter 6.

Mordecai Honoured.

6 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

3 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.

“Nothing has been done for him,”his attendants answered.  (NIV)

6 On that night the king could not sleep; and he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written how Mor′decai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands upon King Ahasu-e′rus. 3 And the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mor′decai for this?” The king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”  (RSV)

Application:  We should recall on the good things that God had blessed us. We should thank and praise God for every good thing and event in our life. We should count our blessings.

Application:  We should think of the good things our subordinates, our peers, our superiors, our customers, our vendors, our friends, our family and relatives have done to us. We should appreciate and thank them. Say something nice to them. Recognize them. This will help us improve our relations with other people. This will help us fulfil the commandment of "Love your neighbour as yourself."

Earlier on, although Mordecai discovered and reported the plot to assassinate  the King, Mordecai had not been recognized, honoured and rewarded. When the King knew about it as the book of chronicles was read to him, King Xerxes decided to reward and honour Mordecai. Reward was better late than never.

It is easy for the high-level people to forget the good deeds of the lower-level people. If we are at the top management, we must remember and notice not only the middle management, we must must also take note of the contribution of the lower-rung people and ordinary workers.

4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.

5 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”

“Bring him in,” the king ordered.  (NIV)

4 And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about having Mor′decai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.5 So the king’s servants told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.”  (RSV)

The night before, Haman had a banquet dinner with King Xerxes and Queen Esther. He bragged about his successes and expressed his disdain for Mordecai who did not pay respect to him. His relatives suggesting constructing a high gallows to hang Mordecai. Early in the morning, Haman hurried to see King Xerxes. He wanted to get the King's order/consent to hang Mordecai.
On the other hand, the night before, King Xerxes had discovered that Mordecai had saved his life. Mordecai had discovered an assassination plot and had yet to be honoured and rewarded. In the morning, King Xerxes was still thinking about how to honour and reward the person who saved his life.
The first person that came into the palace to see the King was Haman. The King was pleased to ask Haman's opinion. After all, Haman is the King's most trusted person, the King's right-hand man.

6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” 7 So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’”  (NIV)

Management concept:  It is good to have self-confidence. However, we should be over-confident.

Application: We serve God, we remain dedicated, committed and faithful to God. We think God will definitely want to use us. When the Leadership election/appointment is done, we don't get elected/appointed into the Leadership position, we feel so disappointed.
Do not be over-confident. God works in amazing and surprising way. We don't know God's plan. God has a plan and purpose. Our intelligence will tell us that Route A is good and God will open the door A. Instead, God closes the door A and opens another door B.

When King Xerxes asked Haman how best to honour the man that the King delights, Haman automatically thought that the person to be honoured would be Haman himself. Why? Just the night before, Haman had the privilege and top honour of a closed-door banquet dinner with King and Queen. Secondly, Haman was the King's favourite person, often dining and drinking with the King. Thirdly, Haman was the second most powerful person, second after the King. Who else did the King wanted to honour if not Haman?

Haman was thinking of the highest possible honour he himself could obtain. He wanted something closest to what the King had. Thus he suggested the highest honour.
1) Royal robe - which had been worn by the King.
2) Royal horse - which has been ridden by the King, with royal crest on the horse's head.
3) The most noble prince to robe the Honoured Person with royal robe, lead the Honoured person to the royal horse.
4) The most noble prince to lead the Honoured Person throughout the city proclaiming ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’

10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”

11 So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”  (NIV)

Haman had suggested a very high level of honour to be bestowed. As the King was veru grateful to Mordecai who saved his life, King Xerxes agreed to Haman's suggestion. In fact, King Xerxes told Haman to implement everything that he proposed, not leaving out anything.

Haman had to eat the humble pie. Instead of Haman getting King's consent to hang Mordecai, Haman being the highest-level noble had to robe Mordecai with royal robe, seat Mordecai on the royal horse, and lead Mordecai throughout the Susa city proclaiming the King's honour upon Mordecai.

12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, 13 and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.

His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!” 14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.  (NIV)

A sudden turn of event. Haman was the King's favourite. Because Mordecai had discover the assassination plot and thus saved the King's life, the King has bestowed high-level of honour upon Mordecai. Haman was feeling grief, that he might soon be displaced.

When he discussed about the event with his advisers and his wife, they predicted Haman's downfall. Haman was scheming against Mordecai and the Jews, planning to destroy and annihilate them. Suddenly, the scenario had changed. Mordecai, a Jew, is now deemed by the King as his saviour. The King was grateful to Mordecai, and had given Mordecai a high-level of honour.

Before he could ponder further, the King's eunuchs had arrived to fetch Haman to the banquet dinner of Queen Esther.

Management concept:  Do not be too proud or confident of our current success. Times can change. Success can suddenly reverse.
We can be the Top Leader. However, at any time, without foreseen notice, the Top Leadership could be changed over to someone else. Maybe to someone that we have never thought off.

Success is not forever. Riches and wealth is not forever. Power and honor is not forever.

Nothing is permanent except Change.

Monday, Dec 30, 2013.
Michael Yeap.

NIV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=esther%206&version=NIV

RSV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=esther%206&version=RSV

KJV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=esther%206&version=KJV

Commentaries:
1)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Esth.6.1-Esth.6.3
2)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Esth.6.4-Esth.6.11
3)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Esth.6.12-Esth.6.14

Esther chapter 3 - Harman's plot to destroy the Jews

Esther chapter 3.
Haman's Plot to Destroy the Jews

3 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite,elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.  (NIV)

3 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.  (KJV)

King Xerxes (in KJV, King Ahaseurus) had promoted Haman to be the Prime Minister. He was above all Princes, Generals, Governors, and Officials.  He was so powerful and influential that everone (except the King) bowed in honor and reverence to Haman.  With such high position, second to the King, it is only natural that Haman had also become proud.

However, Mordecai did not bow/kneel to Haman, did not honor and reverence Haman. Why?
Possible reasons:
1)  Jews worship only one God, and do not worship and bow to other gods. Act of bowing/kneeling is akin to worship. Hence, Mordecai refused to do it.

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:2-6)(NIV)

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.  (Exodus 20:2-6)(KJV)

Second possible reason, Haman is Amalekite. Amalekites are natural, long-time enemies of Jews.

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. (NIV)

3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. (KJV)

5 And when Haman saw that Mor′decai did not bow down or do obeisance to him, Haman was filled with fury.6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mor′decai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mor′decai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mor′decai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasu-e′rus.

Mordecai's act of NOT kneeling/bowing to Haman is deemed to be an act of defiance against the King's command. In KJV, the word "transgress" is used just like transgression of sin.
Haman was very angry with Mordecai. He knew that Mordecai did not kneel/bow to him because Mordecai was a Jew, and because of Jew's religion. So, he wanted to kill and annihilate Mordecai and all the Jews. There is also possibility of the factor of the enmity between Amalekites and Jews.

7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on[a] the twelfth month, the month of Adar. (NIV)

Jewish festival of Purim is after the word "pur."  Purim is in remembrance of this event whereby Jews had deliverance against their enemies. This story is stated in the book of Esther.

8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”

10 So the king took his signet ringfrom his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.11 “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.”  (NIV)

Haman did the backstabbing. He said about the bad things about the Jews before suggesting the punishment.
This is also a management concept. Tell the justification and reasoning. After that, suggest the action to be taken.

Haman attempted bribery to get what he wants (annihilate the Jews). He offered 10,000 talents of silver to contribute to the Government. From here, we could also see that Haman is not only powerful, he is also very rich and wealthy.

12 Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. 13 Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.  (NIV) 

12 Then the king’s secretaries were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king’s satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the princes of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language; it was written in the name of King Ahasu-e′rus and sealed with the king’s ring.13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to slay, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.14 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went in haste by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the capital. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Susa was perplexed.  (RSV) 

12 Then the king’s scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded—to the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king’s signet ring.13 And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions.[c] 14 A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day.15 The couriers went out, hastened by the king’s command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
King's edict to destroy and annihilate the Jews was applicable throughout the kingdom/empire. Edict was sent to all the provinces, to all the satraps, governors and princes. Edict was translated in all languages.  (KJV) 

Imagine the degree of seriousness.  People of all nationalities/ethnicities were ordered to kill and destroy the Jews. This would be worse than the annihilation of Jews by Hitler in German-controlled countries during World War 2.
In a single day, all the Jews, young and old, men and women, would all be annihilated. An entire race would be wiped.
Praise the Lord. God was going to save the Jews by making use of Esther (Hadassah) and Mordecai. The story in book of Esther shows that God has not forsaken the Jews. God can save the Jews using indirect means. This method differs from the heroic warriors like Saul, David, Gideon, Samson.
If we become willing and ready instruments for God, God could make use of us irrespective of our occupation, spiritual standing, etc. Serving God does NOT mean we need to be pastor, preacher, evangelist, teacher, or mission worker. We can serve God in indirect and informal capacities.

15 The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.  (NIV)

King Xerxes (King Ahaseurus) and Haman had a close relationship, drinking together.
Haman was very happy with the immediate distribution of the edict. Haman happily celebrated this evil plan by drinking together with the King.
Haman had probably sold on the benefits of destruction and annihilation of the Jews to the King.

Fri-Sat, Dec 27-28, 2013.
Michael Yeap.