The Story Of Esther - Chapter 7

Esther 7      New International Version (NIV)

"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.”

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.”

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. 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.

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. 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.”

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."

This is a good reminder that the Lord sees all 

and will one day make everything right.

 Chapter 7 recounts the events of the second banquet that Esther had requested, where she would make known what she wanted from the king.  The prospect of speaking to the king must have weighed heavily on Esther as she prepared for the second banquet.  She must frame her thoughts carefully and choose her words wisely. If Haman’s treachery was to be exposed, Esther must confront him to his face. Without openly accusing the king, she must plead for her life and the lives of her people. she determined to obey the Lord, do or die. Then she spent time on her knees before God. Here, she found courage to overcome her fears and wisdom to navigate through her perilous situation. God was with her every step of the way!  For nearly a week, Esther had waited to plead her case with the king. Now, at the moment of truth, she does not hesitate to confront the enemy of her people. Though the Bible doesn’t record it, Esther’s revelation must have been met by stunned silence. She revealed the plot to destroy her and her people, then dramatically named the mastermind: “This wicked Haman!” 

The king was astonished that anyone would threaten his queen. As Xerxes begins putting the pieces together, his fury rises and Haman’s shock turns to terror. He is exposed and powerless, caught in a trap of his own making.

Esther adds a second term of reproach—"enemy"—stronger than the one which she had used before (verse 4), to stir up the king to greater anger. The king is horror-struck. He doesn't know for a moment what to doThe king was so shocked and incensed by this turn of events that he had to leave the room to calm down.   He goes out in the garden and paces up and down. When he returned, he saw "Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was, "pleading with her" to spare his life.                  

The king accused Haman of trying to assault his wife, the queen, and he ordered Haman to be hanged on the very gallows that Haman had built to kill Mordecai Mordecai, who is the hero now -who saved the kings life.

The evil that Haman planned for his enemy fell on him. It was the ultimate expression of justice.

The lesson here is that if your intent is to build gallows for someone else, you might be the one to hang on them or in other words, as Proverbs 26:27 says:

“Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.”

Now, here's where Esther and Mordecai see "justice" taking place.  In the midst of all this confusion, chaos and craziness, a lowly eunuch (a servant of the king) speaks up and says, "a pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits (about 75 feet) stands by Haman's house.  He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king" to which the king replies, "then impale Haman on it!".

                                                                    

***Side-note.... in our lives we do not always see justice when we choose to do what is right. But, maintain a consistent character whether or not justice prevails in this life.

                                                                             

                                                               

As we read The Book of Esther over and over again, let God teach you about justice.  One of the great ideological and spiritual battles of our time is who gets to define justice. That's why it's critical to understand how the God of justice Himself defines it. Whatever injustice is on your heart, no matter how overwhelming it seems, we want to encourage you that God is still looking for Esther’s to partner with—ordinary people who will reverse extraordinary injustices, ordinary people such as Esther, you and me.  He is looking for one person to partner with against all odds, against all injustice, to make a difference, to right a wrong?             Yes. He is looking for you!

"Little did Esther think, when she was first accepted as queen, that she would do a good work for her race which should never be forgotten. But the hour came for her to make a great attempt; she made it, and succeeded. Her success was due to her courage and her charms. But these were the outcome of a life of virtue. By the exercise of these she had "bought up the opportunity" (redeemed the time), and "when the occasion came she was equal to the occasion." Wisely use the present, and when the hour of opportunity comes you will be ready to speak, to strike, to suffer, or to save."

Justice begins with prayer.!

Ask God to show you how he would like to use you in the pursuit of justice.

 Where is justice truly established and served?

In God's providence and power alone!                           Justice is served against Haman, not because Esther was good or nice, but because God is over all things and uses all things for His purpose and glory!

Romans 12:19 tells us, "do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written, 'it is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord".

Not everyone gets justice in such dramatic fashion as the story in the story of Esther but Scripture does promise that God will one day avenge all injustice. (Rom. 12:19 - see above). While we wait, we are to do what we can to work for justice and leave the results in God’s hands.

Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice.        Proverbs 29:26

***Final note...be reminded that God does not allow wickedness to go unpunished. 
     At times, it seems the enemy has the upper hand, but we can be certain that God 
     will not allow His people to be overcome or destroyed.!