MORDECAI'S HONOR, HAMAN'S DOWNTURN

Esther 6:1-14 / Keywords 6:10

"Go at once," the king commanded Haman. "Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended."

Mordecai Honored

6:1 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

3 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.

“Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.

4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.

5 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”

“Bring him in,” the king ordered.

6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” 7 So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’”

10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”

11 So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”

12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, 13 and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.

His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!” 14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.

 

1. While Haman was planning to hang Mordecai, the king could not fall asleep and had the book of record brought in and read to him. Then he realized Mordecai had exposed a plot to assassinate the king but did not receive any reward. This dramatic and timely revelation was the Lord's intervention. The Lord is the giver of sleep (Ps 127:2). God carefully worked out his plan to deliver his people. Even King Xerxes was an instrument in God's good plan (Prov 16:9).

 

2. When Haman entered the court, the king asked what Haman would do to honor a man highly. Haman mistakenly believed the king wanted to reward him, so Haman suggested royal treatment for the man. Haman's proud ambition to have the king's honor became his trap (Prov 26:27).

 

3. Not only did Haman have to carry out the king’s command to honor Mordecai whom he hated, but he also faced losing the king’s favor. The fact that the king specifically says “Mordecai the Jew” reveals the king's suspicion of Haman's motive to destroy all Jews. Haman trembled in fear at this sudden turn of luck but had to go to the queen's banquet without having the chance to regroup himself.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for reminding us that you are in control. Help me not to seek honor from people but be right before you with complete trust.

One Word God honors those who honor him