THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 5:10-14
“Have a pole set up… and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it.” (Esther 5:14)
For the Jews, death by the pole was the ultimate death penalty.
“If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.” (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)
It symbolized the curse of death, proclaimed in Genesis 2:17.
It was a way of making a public example of the worse of sinners, for everyone to see.
It was death with a message, ‘this is what happens to those who offend us!’
In the Jewish Law, to dishonour God or humans (by violent words or actions) was a capitol offence.
Mordecai is guilty of dishonouring Haman, because he won’t bow down to him.
(Curious, would Mordecai not bow to the king too, or just not to Haman?)
Seems to me, there is a whole lot of dishonouring of God and people going on today.
Maybe we all should be ‘exposed on a pole’, given we all do it in some way.
Haman was also guilty of it, for his dishonouring the Jews.
Haman can only see Mordecai’s offence, but we all ought to be ‘exposed’ this way.
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” (Galatians 3:13)
Which is why Jesus is good news, for He takes our place on the pole.
One day we will all meet at the pole, and we will see Jesus there!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, we all think someone else is more guilty than us. But You make it clear we all will meet at the pole one day. Thank You for taking the curse from us, for us!
Observations/Application
Haman was full of himself – boasting about all his accomplishments and that he was the only one invited to the banquet with the king. Yet Mordecai was the thorn in his side seeing how he would not bow down to Haman’s plans. Upon the advice of his wife, Haman would get rid of his problem by the gallows with the king’s help.
There are now three in peril – Esther, Mordecai and Haman.
In this life, whom do we serve? God or man? Do we live by the Spirit or by the flesh? What drives us?
What is at the center of my being – my desires(the flesh) or the Spirit(God’s desires)? This is the conflict of all man – whom do you/I serve?
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me,
Mold me, fill me,
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me.