God has a sense of humor. This may be the funniest chapter in the Bible but also one of the best examples of a godly man not lording it over his enemy’s shame.
6:1-4, God shows up to intercede for Mordecai, Esther, and the Jews. From His heavenly throne, God keeps the king awake. It seems the king combats insomnia by reading his own history. Tonight, God chose his reading material and Xerxes learns Mordecai’s act was unrewarded.
God, when writing the book of Esther, did not record Mordecai as prideful. Even when he saved the king’s life, he never said anything when unrecognized. Both Xerxes and Mordecai seem to have forgotten the episode.
Mordecai’s unpretentiousness is similar to Daniel when he brushed off Belshazzar’s gifts of the royal robe and the gold chain. (Daniel 5:17) A pagan king’s rewards are cheap trifles when your King is Almighty God.
"Let another man praise you. and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips." Proverbs 27:2.
"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven" Matthew 6:1.
Mordecai is a great example of Peter’s exhortation, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” 1 Peter 5:6.
The servants in the gate put Mordecai and Haman in a battle of wills, (3:2-5) Now Mordecai’s faithful stance is holding and he appears to be winning. Haman, on the other-hand, though he exalted himself, is about to be brought low.
Mordecai did nothing but prepare for God’s answer with fasting and prayer. He exhorted Esther to speak on their behalf and sought God’s protection in faith. When he knew Haman’s sanctioned plot was set to destroy him and his people:
He did not storm the castle.
He did not attack Haman personally.
He did not override Esther's free will.
He trusted Esther's own personal faith.
He fasted and prayed.
He trusted God.
Paul exhorts us to wield the sword of the Spirit with care. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.
We learn obedience through practicing the meekness of our Lord Jesus Christ. For although He has all the power that holds creation, He never uses it to subvert His greater plan of salvation. The pain and humiliation was overcome in victory by obedience. (Hebrews 12:1-3). Mordecai’s obedience sets the stage for Haman’s punishment from God.
Mordecai has let God have the glory. “For whoever humbles himself will be exalted and whoever exalts himself will be humbled” Matthew 23:12.
6:5-11, God has begun to show Himself to the condemned Jews when Haman is forced into the humiliating position of delivering the king’s blessing to Mordecai. The very blessing Haman had imagined his own. The city is seeing the beginning of the end for Haman.
6:12, “Afterward, Mordecai went back to the king’s gate” seems an understatement.
When we see God lift a great burden, we praise with joyful hearts and voices. His time of fasting is over and this is answered prayer. Here, Mordecai appears silent as he waits on God. He still has to wait for Esther to plead to the king.
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10.
But there is a stronger witness from Mordecai as he does not lord it over Haman for the episode in the city square. He leaves room for God to bring Haman’s defeat.
“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him” Proverbs 24:17.
God sees our pride and if displeased, He has the privileged of lifting our enemies back up and not punishing them because we took it upon ourselves to condemn them in their troubles.
In what circumstances might we fail our witness by being prideful?
Haman is now falling before the eyes of the city. Xerxes still is blind to Haman’s jealousy, but it has been in plain sight to all the residents of Shushan. (see J. Vernon McGee’s notes) And God knows Haman’s heart.
6:13-14, Haman has a houseful of eager gossips awaiting his remarks but the man is in defeat. His wife makes the fatalistic statement, “Husband, you’re doomed.”
Esther’s banquet likely forgotten and when he’s summoned back to the palace it was probably the last thing he wanted. For going back to the palace meant being seen by the people as if he’s being ‘taken’ to the king. This could have been avoided if he had only reentered the palace after he had presented Mordecai with the king’s reward.
This entire chapter showcases God’s power over all circumstances, over the evil and the good. Our faith is in the Living God. The Bible is our way of learning about God, there is no other book that showcases Him and Him alone.
"Faith is not a pathetic sentiment, but robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. You cannot see Him just now, you cannot understand what He is doing, but you know Him."—Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
Lesson Points:
1. The subject of the book of Esther is God, not Esther
2. When your enemy falls, do not boast in pride at their defeat.
3. Our patient faith glorifies God
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