Reflections on Esther 5

 Esther 05(Contemporary English Version)

1. Three days later, Esther dressed in her royal robes and went to the inner court of the palace in front of the throne. The king was sitting there, facing the open doorway.
2. He was happy to see Esther, and he held out the gold scepter to her. When Esther came up and touched the tip of the scepter,
3. the king said, "Esther, what brings you here? Just ask, and I will give you as much as half of my kingdom."
4. Esther answered, "Your Majesty, please come with Haman to a dinner I will prepare for you later today."
5. The king said to his servants, "Hurry and get Haman, so we can accept Esther's invitation." The king and Haman went to Esther's dinner,
6. and while they were drinking wine, the king asked her, "What can I do for you? Just ask, and I will give you as much as half of my kingdom."
7. Esther replied, "Your Majesty, if you really care for me and are willing to do what I want, please come again tomorrow with Haman to the dinner I will prepare for you. At that time I will answer Your Majesty's question."
8. (SEE 5:7)
9. Haman was feeling great as he left. But when he saw Mordecai at the palace gate, he noticed that Mordecai did not stand up or show him any respect. This made Haman really angry,
10. but he did not say a thing. When Haman got home, he called together his friends and his wife Zeresh
11. and started bragging about his great wealth and all his sons. He told them the many ways that the king had honored him and how all the other officials and leaders had to respect him.
12. Haman added, "That's not all! Besides the king himself, I'm the only person Queen Esther invited for dinner. She has also invited the king and me to dinner tomorrow.
13. But none of this makes me happy, as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the palace gate."
14. Haman's wife and friends said to him, "Have a tower built about seventy-five feet high, and tomorrow morning ask the king to hang Mordecai there. Then later, you can have dinner with the king and enjoy yourself." This seemed like a good idea to Haman, and he had the tower built.

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Upon completion of her three day fast, Esther made no delay in approaching the king and facing her fate. She dressed in her royal attire and went to the inner courtyard where the king was seated on his throne. When he saw Esther standing there he immediately extended his scepter to her and invited her to approach him. He realized that only an urgent request would bring her to see him and asked her what it was she wanted. Whatever it was he would grant it. She simply invited him and Haman to a banquet that very day. It is somewhat ironic that while she was fasting Esther was planning a banquet.

The king wasted no time in sending for Haman to grant the queen's request. At the banquet the king again inquired concerning Esther's request and again she delayed her answer, inviting the king and Haman to a second banquet at which she would make known her request. Whatever her reason for this delay it served to heighten the suspense and to disarm Haman making him feel important at being the only guest attending the queen's banquet with the king.

Haman left the banquet in high spirits which were quickly deflated when he passed Mordecai and again encountered his disrespect by not rising before him. Haman went on home and gathered his friends along with his wife to brag about his good fortunes. He had been promoted in rank, had many sons, and was wealthy. To add to this he had just that day been the only one invited by the queen to join the king at her banquet. Not only that, he was invited again for another banquet the next day. And yet, none of this was satisfying to him as long as Mordecai the Jew failed to honor him.

There is a myth that abounds to which we are drawn, and to which many succumb, that if we accumulate enough wealth and power we will rise above the distractions that keep us from being happy and enjoying life. Haman is a prime example. He had it all and yet the lowly Jew, Mordecai, could take away his joy with a simple act of disrespect. Why was the mighty Haman so distracted by lowly Mordecai? It makes no sense, and yet this is the nature of the false sense of self-worth Haman or anyone else attains through wealth and status alone.

The myth that seduced him into thinking his happiness was bound up in wealth and status further deluded him into thinking that just this one thing stood between him and his complete happiness. So when his wife suggested that his problem could be solved by hanging Mordecai on a high gallows, Haman was pleased and promptly had the gallows built.