Esther 8:3a,5,6

Esther 8:3a,5,6  And Esther spake yet again before the king, ... And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? Esther and Mordecai knew that the wicked Haman was gone. But the death warrant over the Jews was still a law. And King Ahasuerus could not change it. But King Ahasuerus had an idea. He had a plan that would protect the Jews while flushing out their enemies. Ahasuerus sent out a new law by those same fast postmen. On Adar 13^th, the appointed day when Haman had planned to kill all of the Jews, a new law was to take effect. When an enemy of the Jews would attack a Jew using Haman’s original law, that Jew used the king’s new law to destroy his attacker in self-defense! The Jews would be protected and their enemies would be destroyed. A brilliant plan! So on the day that was to be the execution day for all of the Jews, that same day became their victory day. Victory over their enemies! And to this day, the Jews still celebrate the feast of Purim around March 16. It is a joyous time of food, gift-giving, and sharing with the poor. I’m glad that Esther and Mordecai were faithful in doing God’s will. I’m glad that God has blessed the Jews over the years and sent us Jesus Christ through His chosen people, the Jews.

Esther 7:9,10

Esther 7:9,10 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified. The king was speechless with anger. He couldn’t even think straight. He didn’t know what to do. So his assistant spoke up. “Your majesty, I have an idea,” Harbonah said. “Haman has constructed a gallows upon which he was going to hang Mordecai. What if we hanged Haman on his own gallows?” King Ahasuerus took only a moment to think. “Good idea,” he growled. “Hang Haman on his own gallows. And do it right away! I can’t stand to let that evil little man breathe any more of my kingdom’s air!” And so it was done. Haman was hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. And guess who was promoted to Haman’s job? You guessed it! Mordecai was! Once again, God takes care of His own.

Esther 7:7,8

Esther 7:7,8 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. The king was furious that someone would try to harm his beloved queen. He asked Queen Esther who would dare to attempt such a wicked deed. Queen Esther pointed to Haman and said, “Haman is the one who wants to kill me and my people, the Jews.” Ahasuerus was furious with Haman. He was speechless and stood up and walked out of the banquet to cool off for a moment. Haman knew he was a dead man. He fell on his face before Queen Esther and grabbed her and begged for his life. Just at that moment, Ahasuerus came back into the room, only to see Haman grabbing at his wife. The king screamed, “What are you doing, Haman? Are you going to attack my wife right here in front of me and all of the royal attendants?” Haman shriveled down on the ground and the king’s servants quickly covered his face so that the king would not see Haman’s wicked face ever again. Only when Haman was dragged out of the banquet hall did King Ahasuerus calm down. Haman had come so close to destroying all of the Jews. Satan had used him in attempting to destroy the family through which the Messiah needed to come. But God had intervened. God had used Mordecai, Esther and even the pagan king to protect His chosen people. God always has His secret agents. God always has His way!

Esther 7:1-6

Esther 7:1-6 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. When King Ahasuerus got to the banquet he was so excited to finally find out what Queen Esther wanted. He relished the intrigue, but the suspense was too much to bear. Again, he promised up to one half of his kingdom to grant Queen Esther’s request. But to his surprise, and to Haman’s, she asked only to be allowed to live. She explained that she and her people were scheduled for execution. The king was furious. “Who would dare to threaten my Queen?” he demanded. Esther pointed to Haman and said, “Haman is planning to kill me and all of the Jews on Adair 13^th.” Haman’s heart almost stopped. He had no idea that Queen Esther was a Jew! “Oh no! What have I done!” he thought.

Esther 6:1-3

Esther 6:1-3 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. That night, the king couldn’t sleep. So his servants brought out his boring history books to make him sleepy. But as they were reading, they came across the note about Mordecai discovering the assassination plot on the king’s life. The king asked, “What has been done to honor Mordecai for saving my life?” Nothing, sir” they replied. Well! Something should be done to honor such a deed! The king needed some help with an idea, so he asked Haman to step in. “Haman,” the king began, “What could I do to honor a man?” Haman’s mind raced. He thought that the king must want to honor him! So Haman became creative and said, “Let the man ride on the king’s horse with a new outfit on and have someone leading the horse shouting, “This is how the king honors people who he likes!” Haman was proud of his idea. But soon it soured. For King Ahasuerus said, “Good idea! Go get my horse and buy a new suit of clothes for Mordecai. And I want you to lead the horse and shout the proclamation!” Haman was shocked and crushed, all at the same time. That morning he was humiliated in front of Mordecai and the entire city! When Haman got home, his wife warned him, “This isn’t working out very well, Haman.” And it wasn’t! He didn’t feel like going to Queen Esther’s palace for supper, but he had to. his head was aching as the attendants stopped to pick him up. “I hope this evening goes better than today did,” Haman thought. But it got worse!

Esther 5:6-8

Esther 5:6-8 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. Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said. After dinner, the king couldn’t wait any longer. He asked Esther what she wanted. What was she up to? Queen Esther was gorgeous and kind. The king said, “I will give you anything up to one half of my kingdom!” But Esther’s request really left Ahasuerus guessing. She asked that he and Haman come to a banquet tomorrow! Now King Ahasuerus was really intrigued! What was Esther up to? Why was she so secretive? He loved it! A Mystery! And Haman loved it too. He went home to tell his wife all about his wonderful evening – except there was that loathsome Mordecai still slinking around the palace doors! Oh, how Haman hated Mordecai! Haman was in a foul mood when he reached his house. “I have an idea,” his wife said as he fell into his recliner. “Why don’t you build a huge gallows to hang Mordecai on? That will cheer you up.” Haman perked right up. “A gallows,” he thought. “To hang Mordecai on. Now that is a good idea!