PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Esther 5-6
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!” (Esther 6:11)
For people that feel small or unloved, this world often feeds that feeling.
There are always plenty of voices ready to make us feel lesser and smaller.
It seems to me that we all struggle with self-esteem and worth.
One way to elevate oneself is to lower others.
Haman was feeling good about himself, but wanted to feel better.
Mordecai was in the way of his wounded ego, and needed to be lifted up in shame.
But despite human attempts to shame and dishonour others, God works against that.
God raises up the lowly Jews, and from them raises up the lowly Jesus.
Jesus honours the poor, the weak, the humble, the outcast, and lifts them up!
And the Haman’s of his day determine to put him on a pole to shame him.
The surprising honouring of Mordecai is an anticipation of the resurrection.
It is an encouragement for all who find themselves belittled, crushed, shamed, rejected.
God is at work against the spirit of shame, raising up the lowly and honouring them.
If you are feeling unworthy, take heart: the King delights to honour you!
PRAYER
Lord, you honoured the ones everyone else dishonoured. Use me to encourage the people that need to know this, to lift them up in hope and not in shame.
Haman had expected that the king would be honouring him – instead he has to facilitate the honouring of the one person he hated: Mordecai. What is interesting is what his wife Zeresh says: “is of Jewish origin”. What did the people know about the Jews – or more importantly the history of the Jewish people and their almighty God? There are many references especially when the exiles start rebuilding Jerusalem of nation kings upset – that the temple in Jerusalem would be restored. God’s reputation and history seemed to be well known – the nations were happy to see Jerusalem destroyed – especially the temple of this powerful god! Right now the name Christian or evangelical carries a load of bad baggage – with the uncovering of so many unmarked graves of aboriginal children. Proclaiming that I am a Christian draws people to these negative historical events. How do I proclaim the love of Jesus – not hatred? Holy Spirit guide me I pray to be the kind of witness you want me to be in these times of negative images of Christianity!
Worthiness.
This is not found in one’s own eyes but in the eyes of the Lord. Those who are ‘puffed up’ will fall, even Haman’s wife spoke those words. Listen to the King’s words for I am His and He is mine. That makes all of His people worthy to give Him praise and honour and glory for He is the One who gives life, hope, peace.
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand