Esther 3:1-4:17

After the events of Mordecai uncovering the conspiracy against King Xerxes and the punishment meted out to the villains and, as God would have it, the actions being properly recorded in the annals in the presence of the king, Scripture opens up Chapter Three of Esther with an introduction to vile Haman the Agagite.  It is interesting to note how through these details, which seem to us a bit innocuous, God is setting up His salvation for the Jews.  Remember ladies He is always at work!  Through these actions as well as the crowning of Esther, we can begin to clearly see His hand move.  It is a reminder that every Word of God is important and precious and so worth our pondering over so that we will be thoroughly equipped to join Him in His work.  Remember He works according to His Word:

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

Jesus also tells us:

¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”   Matthew 5:17-18 (NIV)

The Bible tells us that King Xerxes honored Haman by elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles.   This indeed will turn into a very dark and mournful scene as we will soon discover in that it threatened the ruin of all the people of God.  We are not told why he was elevated by Xerxes, only that he was elevated and so much so that all the royal officials at the king’s gate were to kneel down and pay honor to him.  Of course, this did not sit well for Mordecai the Jew who chose to obey God over man and he certainly was not going to bend his knee toward a mere man:

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”    Acts 5:29 (NIV)

Haman appears in Scripture as a flashing falling star his end being made known from the beginning as God will never disown His own.  There are differing interpretations regarding the meaning of the term “Agagite”.  One view suggests that Haman was a descendant of Agag, who was at one time the king of the Amalekites.  Although Scripture tells us in 1 Samuel that Saul destroyed all the people with the sword, he did spare Agag (the leader of the Amalekites) - and everything - in his opinion - which he deemed to be of value – the best of the sheep, cattle, calves and lambs.  This was against God’s command and it certainly did not go over well – to say the least!  1 Samuel tells us:

⁹ But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs--everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. ¹⁰ Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: ¹¹ “I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the Lord all that night. ¹² Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal.” ¹³ When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord's instructions.” ¹⁴ But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” ¹⁵ Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” ¹⁶ “Stop!” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied. ¹⁷ Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. ¹⁸ And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.’ ¹⁹ Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?” ²⁰ “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. ²¹ The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” ²² But Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. ²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”  ²⁴ Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. ²⁵ Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.” ²⁶ But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”   1 Samuel 15:9-26 (NIV)

To be sure, consequences of sin can be generational.  Deal with what God tells you to do quickly and thoroughly as we do not know how our choices will affect either us or the next generation.  Think Adam and Eve, think Sarah and Hagar.  Also, David, Saul’s successor, encountered this same nation.  The Amalekites were a nomadic people who traveled in clans and the destruction of one clan perhaps only affected one group of these people.  Another view is that the term “Agagite” (possibly, “violent one”), used later in the book in connection with the phrase “enemy of the Jews”, was simply an epithet for a contemptible or hateful person.   Isn’t it interesting that King Xerxes still appears to be rash and impetuous in his decisions particularly in regarding who had his ear?  Scripture tells us:

²⁰ He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. ¹¹ If they say, “Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul; ¹² let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; ¹³ we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; ¹⁴ throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse”-- ¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; ¹⁶ for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.   Proverbs 1:10-16 (NIV)

²⁹ A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.   Proverbs 16:29 (NIV)

¹² Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, ¹³ who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, ¹⁴ who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, ¹⁵ whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.   Proverbs 2:12-15 (NIV)

King Xerxes seemed to use no discretion nor understanding in his choices of counsel particularly in making Haman his favorite, his confidant, his prime minister of state.  It is plain that Haman was not a man of honor or justice, or of any true courage but rather proud, passionate and vengeful.  Haman wanted to be revered and lauded and, as previously stated, Mordecai adhered to his principles with a bold and daring resolution not to bend his knee.  He would not comply even after the kings other servants sought to persuade him to conform.  He plainly told them he was a Jew and because of that his conscience would not allow him to do it.  Apparently, no one else had the scruples about conforming to this except Mordecai – his refusal being pious, conscientious and pleasing to God for the religion of a Jew forbade him to do such honors to any mortal man especially one so wicked and prideful as Haman.

A prideful man certainly could not take being shun by someone beneath him and immediately Haman begins to plan his revenge.  It was soon resolved that Mordecai must die yet his life alone would not satisfy the insult to Haman.  No, Haman thinks thousands of innocent and valuable lives must be sacrificed to his ease his indignation.  Since it was against the religion of the Jews to bow their knees to a mortal man, Haman relishes the destruction of them all.  Yet God’s plan cannot be thwarted.  He can overturn man’s diabolical efforts, sometimes by miraculous acts, and sometimes through seemingly acts of happenstance as we will see is about to occur.  Remember, God is always working on behalf of His people.

The lot is cast (or as they call it, “cast the pur”, which is the Babylonian terminology for the same thing) to decide the month and day the extermination of the Jews would take place.  Haman was allowing fate (or so he thought!), by casting the lot to dictate his move against the Jewish nation.  Haman was superstitious and the Persian religious system stressed fate and chance not realizing that God is in ultimate control of all things including the lot casting control of that situation.  Proverbs tells us:

³³ The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.   Proverbs 16:33 (NIV)

God had already prepared a means for delivering His people from Haman’s diabolical plot.  The month chosen was the 12^th month – almost a year later – on the 13^thday.

Haman next proceeds to King Xerxes with his argument presenting him with a false and malicious representation of the Jewish people and their character.  Haman wanted him to believe that the Jews were a despicable people and that it was not in his best interest to harbor them within his realm.  He presents them as fugitives and vagabonds on the earth with differing customs and lack of obedience to the laws of the land.  Basically being a burden on the places where they dwell.  Having their own laws, they did not properly conform to the statues of his kingdom which could end in a rebellion.  He convinced the king that he would be better off if all the Jews scattered throughout his vast empire were exterminated.   Furthermore, Haman was willing to sweeten the pie by putting up ten thousand talents of silver (about 750,000 pounds) of his own money into the royal treasury to carry out this nasty business.  This was an enormous amount worth millions of dollars in present day currency.  He most likely thought this would squelch the strongest objections King Xerxes may have had in doing this.  The government would not have to sustain loss in its revenues by the destruction of so many of its subjects.  No doubt Haman knew how to reimburse himself from the plunder of the Jews.                  

King Xerxes’ true colors never change.  Easily influenced by his officials, he rashly agrees giving Haman a full commission to do whatever he pleased with the Jews.  The king was so enamored with Haman that he was willing to believe the worst about the Jews without even checking for truth and placing them into his hands as lambs to the lion.  Such a characterless weak leader.  “Keep the money” he says “and do with them what you please.”  They are in your hands.

The king gives Haman his signet ring allowing this enemy of the Jews to send out a proclamation to the entire empire in the king’s name.  The signet ring, when impressed on clay, made a special imprint, which, like a signature, represented the king’s authority.  Indeed, by giving Haman his signet ring, Xerxes gave him his personal signature and with it the authority to do whatever he wished.  The bloody edict was quickly drawn up, signed and published, giving orders to the militia of every province to be ready for the 13^th day of the 12^th month to murder all the Jews, men, women and little children and to seize all their belongings.  It was Haman’s intent to rid the world of God’s covenant people.  Sounds a bit like Hitler does it not?  No crime is laid to their charge; but die they must, without mercy.  This is not only baffling to us but to the city of Susa as well.  While Haman and King Xerxes sat down to drink and be merry the city was left bewildered and saddened.  It was not only the Jews themselves, but also their neighbors who had any principles of justice and compassion.  Haman’s bloodthirstiness, along with Xerxes�� seeming indifference to such atrocities, was incredible even to a society which was used to cruel behavior.  It grieved them to see men and women who lived peacefully treated so barbarously yet it appears the king and Haman cared for none of these things.

Chapter Four opens up with Mordecai the Jew learning of all that had been done and his demonstrative reactions of tearing his clothes, putting on sackcloth and ashes and going throughout the city wailing loudly and bitterly.  He not only vented his grief but proclaimed it as well so that all might take notice of it.  He was identifying himself to the public as one in great distress.  He was not ashamed to profess himself a Jew and brokenhearted over the recent edict.  Also, Mordecai knew that Haman’s spite was against him primarily, and that it was for this reason that the rest of the Jews were struck.  It troubled him greatly that God’s people should suffer from his scruples.  His actions demonstrated that he was appealing to God from a principled conscience, committing his own cause and that of all the Jews to the One Who holds the world in His hands.  All the while, God was working behind the scenes in preparation to deliver His people.  

Mordecai was obliged to keep his distance from entering the king’s gate because the law forbade anyone mourning (dressed in sackcloth and ashes) to be near the king as he was unwilling to hear the complaints of such.  He only wanted to be around the pleasant and joyful, allowing them alone access to appear in his court.  Someone once told me they did not have any friends with troubles.  He did not like the unpleasantness that comes with problems.  My immediate response was “You must not have any friends”!  Seriously, as my friend Barnard used to say:  “Nobody has more problems than people!”   

Mordecai was not the only one wailing.  Scripture tells us that in every province which the edict and order of Xerxes came there was great mourning among the Jews with like actions as Mordecai’s – fasting, weeping and wailing – many laying in sackcloth and ashes.

Hearing of the troubled Mordecai, Esther was in great distress.  She obviously was clueless as to what had recently transpired.  Being walled up in security and sumptuousness, the silence of the palace at Susa was deafening.  Isn’t it true we can be so walled up in our own comfort and security and become deaf to the cries around us?  In Esther’s case, her unique position kept her from all normal lines of communication.  When she does learn of Mordecai’s actions, she immediately responds by sending a change of clothing to him even though she had no idea what the problem was.  Because he desired to make her aware of the grave matter at hand, he would not accept them.  She must know that he refused to be comforted.  Since the Persian laws were so strict regarding the king’s wives, it was not possible for Esther to have a conference with Mordecai therefore various messages had to be carried between them by Hathach whom the king had appointed to attend her.  She wanted to know fully the trouble for which he was lamenting and why it was that he would not take off his sackcloth and refuse to be comforted.

Mordecai relayed to Hathach an account of the entire matter along with a charge for Esther to intercede with the king for her people.   Furthermore, he gave Hathach a copy of the edict to show Esther and to tell her all the details of how the edict had come about – the prick of Haman’s pride and the ensuing issue demonstrating his vengeance.  Mordecai urged her to go to the king on behalf of her people to beg for their lives.  If she had any respect for him or any kindness for the Jewish nation, she should rectify the misinformation with which the king was deceived.

Esther’s response was not too encouraging.  She sent her case to Mordecai that she could not without peril of her life address the king.  Persian monarchs were protected against unwanted visitors and she reminded Mordecai that she could not simply enter the king’s inner chambers unannounced or she might be put to death.  The king had the power to execute anyone who disturbed him without being summoned or sans appointment.  The law was not a secret - all knew it.  The only out would be if the king were to extend the gold scepter preventing the uncalled from being put to death.  

“This made the royal palace a little better than a royal prison, and the kings themselves could not but become morose.  It was bad for their subjects; for what good had they of a king who they might never have liberty to apply to for the redress of grievances.  It is not thus in the court of the King of kings; to the footstool of His throne of grace we may at any time come boldly, and may be sure of an answer of peace to the prayer of faith.  It was particularly very uncomfortable for their wives for there was no provision in the law to exempt them.”   Matthew Henry                                         

“‘Dost thou want nothing, O poor soul?  Hast thou nothing to ask?  Oh yes!  You say, a great deal.  Well then, draw near to thy gracious King and Bridegroom without fear.  Lo!  He holds out His golden scepter to thee, saying, ‘Only ask:  not the half, but the whole of My kingdom shall be granted; nay, I will give myself unto thee!’  O dear soul, pray, and tell Him everything that is wanting, be it ever so great or ever so small.  His loving-kindness will hear even the least petition; nay, He will seem to be ignorant of what thou dost not tell Him.  But whatever is poured out before Him is actually addressed and lodged in its proper place, and does not lie upon thy heart any longer, but upon His heart, which cannot rest till you are relieved.  And if you have experienced His help aforetime in great or small things, you may depend on His readiness to help you out of troubles hereafter; only be earnest in prayer for His help.  We often imagine we were willing and drawing near to Him, but He was unwilling, and refused our request; but it is not so:  He rather draws us, and desires our relief more than we do; for it is He that works even this willing mind.”     K.H. Von Bogatzky

Since Esther had not been summoned by Xerxes for a month she had no idea if his attitude toward her would be favorable.  The circumstance presented was a very difficult and disheartening one for Esther to say the least.  God will so often orchestrate things in our lives to demonstrate to us our lack of control so that we may be constantly and fully dependent upon Him for everything.  This was such the case for Esther.  

“Mordecai believed that Esther was placed in the king’s household by divine appointment to do God’s timely work.  He passionately pleaded with Esther to put her life on the line because he believed the promises of God.  He had watched the power and faithfulness of God unfold over the years.  Mordecai understood that it is not failure that brings despair, but unfaithfulness and idleness.”  Dorothy Patterson

Mordecai responds to her that no matter what hazard she might encounter, she must approach the king in an attempt to avert this terrible calamity.  He tells her that she would be included in this great massacre even though she now sat in the king’s palace seemingly safe and secure - it would prove not to be her protection nor would the crown save her head.  She was a Jewess and if the rest were cut off, she too would be cut off.  Further, he states, that if she were to remain silent, God would see to it that deliverance and relief would arise from another place.  This was the language of a strong faith, which did not waver through unbelief regarding the promises of God when the dangers were the most threatening but against all hope, believed remaining hopeful.  If she did not act on behalf of the Jews, if she deserted her friends and family at this time through cowardice and unbelief, she would have had reason to fear that some judgment from heaven would be the ruin of her and her family but the Jews would nevertheless be preserved.  

Mordecai knew that divine Providence had made Esther to be Queen for such a time as this.  We should all consider for what purpose God has us in the place where we presently stand and, when any particular opportunity of serving God and our generation arises, we must take heed that we do not let it slip.  After the decree to kill the Jews was given, Mordecai and Esther could have despaired, decided to save only themselves, or just waited for God’s intervention.  Instead, they saw that God had placed them in their positions for a purpose so they seized the moment and acted.  Her life stands in stark contrast to the “Save your own skin” and “Watch out for number one” mottos which reflect our world’s selfish outlook.  When it is within our reach to help or save others, we must do so.  In a life-threatening situation, don’t withdraw, behave selfishly, wallow in despair or wait for God to fix everything.  Instead, ask God for His direction and act on what He shows you to do.  We are all to be Esther’s.  While God is in control, Mordecai and Esther had to act.  God chooses to work through those who are willing to respond.  

“All God's biddings are enablings.”   Amy Carmichael

Esther had her opportunity and we will have ours as well.  A difficult and dangerous human task is no excuse for failing to perform a divinely assigned duty (think God’s reaction to Jonah).  Neither is one that is boring, laborious, repetitive, and non-lime-lightish (think Brother Lawrence)!!!  God chooses where and how we are called to serve; we choose, as did Esther, whether or not to respond in obedience to that call.     

“It is not the business of the servant to decide which work is great, which is small, which important or unimportant – he is not greater than his master.  If by doing some work which the undiscerning consider ‘not spiritual work’ I can best help others, and I inwardly rebel, thinking it is the spiritual for which I crave, when in truth it is the interesting and exciting, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”   Amy Carmichael

“God is the God of promise.  He keeps His Word, even when that seems impossible.”  Colin Urquhart 

“Sometimes God lets us come to the end of ourselves – in order for us to enjoy more of Him.  That makes sense to me.  When there’s nowhere else to run, we can run to our Savior.  As we look to what it means to enjoy God, we are, in many ways, also losing ourselves.  We gain something far greater when we are most concerned and obsessed with the One we’ll be concerned and obsessed with for all eternity.” Trillia Newbell

At this point, Esther resolved (made up mindset), that whatever it might cost her, to go before the king but not before she and her friends and the Jews in Susa went before the King of kings in prayer and supplication with fasting to obtain God’s favor.  This was the piety and devotion that became an Israelite for she believed that God’s favor was obtained by prayer.  With the courage and resolution that became a queen, she would go to the king and if she perished, she perished.  She did not say this in despair or anger rather in a holy resolution to do her duty and trust God with the results.  God calls us as He did Esther to grasp the pleasure of surrender.  

² “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”   Isaiah 12:2 (NIV)

¹⁶ Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? ¹⁷ Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. ¹⁸ When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O Lord, supported me. ¹⁹ When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.   Psalms 94:16-19 (NIV)

These are Beth’s personal notes, due to this fact sources are not often stated.