Esther 7 PAYDAY SOMEDAY A well thought out plan of action to deal with a serious problem is the only way to find the right solution. Once Esther had decided on a course of action and had taken the first step in her plan, it seems like she was able to go ahead in confidence. The first steps of faith are often taken in fear and trembling with uncertainty about the outcome. But when that first step demonstrates trust in God, there is an intelligent boldness to go forward to bring the issue to a conclusion. Esther did this with a certain dignity and grace in a diplomatic way that let king Ahasuerus know that this meeting was not just a friendly husband and wife talk. So his first comment two days earlier was again repeated. "What is thy petition, queen Esther?"
When important things are to be discussed that is going to affect the lives of other people for good or bad, that is not just a casual chat to be taken lightly or unadvisedly. Respect for each other is important, and an awareness of the position of responsibility each one has, is in order. When the time is right to make an important statement that gets right to the crux of the matter, do it as precisely and succinctly as possible. Too much background can be irrelevant, and can cause impatience and frustration unless it is absolutely necessary to finding a solution to the problem. To tell the story of the Jews and to go into a lot of details would have distracted the king from the desired decision.
If the king knew Esther was a Jewess, it could not have crossed his mind when he okayed the edict written up by Haman that became law when his seal was put on it. Life and death of people to those ancient kings was not as important as their prestige, standing in the eyes of the people, and their plans. Esther proceeded with her request in a carefully planned way. She first made a plea for her own life to be spared. The shock effect must have left the king momentarily speechless. "Who would dare to kill my wife?" would have immediately come to his mind. Intrigue in the palace had been read to him that night and it was on his mind to the extent that he had Mordecai honored shortly before the banquet. And now this threat on his queen!!
But Esther had not finished. The second part of her petition was to spare the lives of thousands of her people. After stating the basic problem, and appeal for her life and then the life of her people, she then took the place of less than a slave. If she and all her people were to be sold, she wouldn't have said anything. It would have a great impact on the nation to lose much of its workforce and business people, but to spare him any discomfort she would not have brought the matter to his attention. To annihilate the whole race of people would be a greater loss with no compensation whatever. Not groveling as a dog before its master, but with enough bite in her words to awaken his conscience without making an accusation, she spoke further. She wouldn't have wanted to disturb the king's lofty complacency by telling him of the danger of losing a whole lot of people for a sum of money. That was his business. But to bankrupt the nation for some other man's pride and bitterness by killing thousands of people would have a negative effect for which there would never be adequate compensation.
After a bad night, and uncertainty about the obviously serious request that was coming from queen Esther, the king was understandably shocked when she articulated precisely the petition. In his state of mind there would likely have raced thoughts like, "What ... who... how… could such a thing be? How could this happen right under my nose and I not know it?" The first comment he made revealed his state of mind. "Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?" Such thoughts come to our minds when we are startled, shocked, and in a sort of oblique way, accused. The calmness of Esther's request and attitude, and the careful way she worded her request is evidence that behind this scene the sovereign God was giving the right words to say in the right way. He was controlling the emotions and putting the whole matter in context in a very brief way and amount of time. She had "uped the bottom" in two sentences.
The answer to the king's question, "Who is he, and where is he...?" was neither hesitant nor fearful. "The adversary and enemy" description was pointed and precise. An adversary is one who is opposed. An enemy is one who is out to destroy. "Wicked" is the nature of the adversary and enemy in the sense of him being a vile person. Deep-seated evil in character was her description of Haman in eight succinct words. This was the king's second in command and perhaps he was considered a friend.
Betrayal, deceit and underhanded subtlety, when exposed by truth, has nowhere to go. The humiliation of Haman earlier in the day was almost more than he could take. Now in a moment of time he knew his very life was in jeopardy. The silent smoldering rage of the king was obvious as he stood and left the room abruptly. Haman also stood up to plead for his life, not from Ahasuerus but from Esther. Likely if he had followed the king he would have died on the spot. In a desperate attempt to save his life he fell in terror on the couch on which Esther was reclining. When "sin finds you out," there is no where to turn to escape righteous wrath. For sinners who repent of their sin and fall in repentance before God, there is a "last call of mercy" if and when they accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Savior from sin and its consequences. If that does not happen, justice and judgment for sin will prevail.
Esther had no word for Haman, and in his fear, he compromised his position to make an appeal for his life by physically touching her. That should never be done in any case, particularly when a husband's wrath is already directed toward such an evil person. Ahasuerus had a few minutes in the garden to think the whole situation over. He likely realized he was part of the problem because he had not taken time to think of the consequences on Persia if all the Jews were exterminated. Now he knew he had been "used" by his friend and counselor. His reaction at seeing Haman on Esther's couch when he returned to the banquet room was total outrage.
Hatred and malicious planning against others with evil intent, will usually return and capture the schemer. To try to trap others leads to being trapped yourself. The results wanted when we try to take vengeance into our own hands will be felt more by the schemer than the intended victim. "Vengeance is mine," says the sovereign God.
As soon as the king spoke his condemning words when he reentered the room, all who were there knew Haman was as good as dead right then. The chamberlains quickly covered his head because Persian kings would not look at the face of a condemned criminal. Harbonah, a chamberlain, had witnessed the whole event and knew what was going to happen after Esther's request was made known. He also knew Haman had planned to hang Mordecai that day on his high gallows. "Behold also," indicates that there are more people aware of problems and unsolved issues than we may know. Most things have a way of being leaked out that we had thought were private. Idle words and observant people come together in a conclusion quickly. "Every idle word that men shall speak; they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."
Ancient kings had the power of life and death over people, and could use it without the checks and balances of modern judicial systems. However, Haman's guilt was obvious and his attempt at genocide was worthy of death. A poisoned mind in a leader has far-reaching and long-lasting effects. The death sentence, "Hang him thereon," was justified, and it needed no adjudication. His guilt was obvious and his duplicity, even to the king, was reason enough for the just sentence he was given.
For Haman to be publicly led away covered, and hanged on a seventy-five foot-high gallows of his own making, was a righteous act. But it did not solve the problem facing Esther, Mordecai and thousand of Jews in Persia. The king was acquainted with the edict to kill all the Jews, and by the laws of that land could not rescind it. Even though his "wrath was pacified," the problem remained. There is a saying that has real value: "Act in haste - repent in leisure." To jump ahead to accomplish something without taking time to consider well the effects of that action, may result in an outcome which we had not thought about that could end in a more serious problem than the original matter. It can take a long time to recovery from a hasty decision. To recovery from a physical illness or injury takes far longer than it does to get it. The same principle applies to spiritual health and growth in the lives of God's people.