Year 2, Day 65: Esther 5

Setting the Scene

Today we get to see the beginning of the action of Esther unfold.  Up until now, the author of Esther has simply been setting up the mood of the story.  Today we see Esther go into the king’s chambers and make good on her promise.

Let’s not forget the risk that we can so easily pass over with respect to this chapter.  We hear about the queen going before the king and in our modern mindset of gender equality we think little of this act.  However, remember that this was in a different time.  This act – which the author of Esther doesn’t spend much time on – is a life or death moment for Esther.  In some respects, it is like going before a judge knowing that he is either going to completely acquit you of some crime or he is going to give you the death penalty.  There is no in-between.  There is simply life or death.  For Esther, this could be the end of the story.  Let’s not gloss over that point.

Allegory of Judgment

As I was typing that last paragraph I suddenly realized how much we see an example of God’s judgment upon us through the story of Esther.  If you will allow me to make an allegory here, I will endeavor to do so.  One day, we will all stand guilty of our sin before God.  We all know the outcome of that judgment.  Every single one of us deserves death.  The verdict is guilty.  In the same light, Esther is guilty of being in the presence of the king on his throne without being summoned.  She deserves to die under the Persian legal system.

However, the king extends out the golden scepter and grants her pardon.  Although she is guilty and deserving of death, she is granted pardon and is allowed to continue in relationship with her king.  So it is with God.  Even though we will all stand guilty before God and here the verdict of condemnation upon our sins, God will extend His Son and through His Son those who are in Christ will receive grace and pardon for our sins.  Although we deserve death and separation from God, we will be allowed – even invited! – into a greater relationship with God.  It is really neat to see this parable to God’s judgment unfold in the book of Esther.

Esther’s Feast

Then we move to Esther’s feast.  She invites two people: the king and Haman.  There are a host of reasons as to why Esther could have invited Haman, some of them better than others:

• Esther could have invited Haman because had she only invited the king Haman might become suspicious of her actions.
• Esther could have been treating Haman nicely so as to make him feel guilty about treating the Jews so poorly.
• Esther could have been vying for a time to accuse Haman privately in the presence of the king.
• Esther could have been following good ethical problem-solving techniques by setting up a time to accuse Haman in his presence rather than accusing him behind his back.
• Esther could have been attempting to swell Haman’s pride so that he would act rashly when he considered himself invincible.  (After all, pride comes before the fall, right?)

We cannot know the real reason that Esther invites the king and Haman to the feast, but any or all of the above reasons are legitimate possibilities.  Likewise, we cannot know why Esther delays in accusing Haman and making them come back for a feast the next day.  But we can say that through this action Esther is discerning God.  Esther is giving God some time to reveal Himself to her rather than going forward and asserting her will upon God.  We can say that whatever the reason for the multiple feasts and the specific list of invitees, Esther is giving God time to show Himself and work in her life.  Esther is displaying great patience and humility before God.

Haman

We also see the effect that the event has on Haman.  Haman goes to this wonderful feast where he is one of two invited guests.  He sees himself being elevated up to the level of the king in Esther’s eyes.  On his way home, he then sees Mordecai refuse to bow to him.  His pride swells.  His anger becomes insatiable.  He goes among his friends and receives bad advice.  Haman had already won the battle – his edict had been granted by the king!  He had already won, but his pride gets in the way.  His poor choice of companionship leads him down a bad path.  He gets talked into talking matters into his own hands.  His pride – mixed with bad company – leads him down a path that he really shouldn’t want to go.  Of course, can’t we all relate to that?

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