S = Esther 5:9-11, 13-14 And
Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai
in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled
with wrath against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went
home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. And Haman
recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the
promotions with which the king had honored him … Yet all this
is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's
gate.” Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows
fifty cubits high be made…to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with
the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.
O = Haman had all the wealth power and honor one could ever
hope to receive in Persia but he allowed bitterness towards Mordecai to get the
better of him. His statement in v.13 seems ludicrous but it was true. If he
couldn’t force Mordecai to fear him and honor him then life was not worth
living. It was a such a powerful personal bitterness that Haman could not enjoy
all of his many blessings. It was the audacity of Mordecai’s failure to treat
Haman like a god that perhaps opened the door of Haman’s memory to a deeper,
centuries old bitterness that of the Amalekites and the Israelites (1 Samuel
15). Haman was descended from an Amalekite king and Mordecai was related to
King Saul. Because of Saul’s failure Haman was now, 400-500 years later in a
position to wipe out the whole Jewish race. However, by God’s providence and
Mordecai and Esther’s humility and courage, Haman was hung from his own
gallows—truly hung up on bitterness.
A = Are there certain areas of frustration that prevent me
from enjoying my friends, family, possessions, and reputation in the community
with which God has blessed me? Or do I somehow think I am owed something more?
Something that I can’t let go of and must deal with my own way—badda-bing,
badda-boom! Are there times when I am too quick to listen to bad advice from
others or from my own ambition? This week I choose to forgive rather than
fester, to confess rather than complain, and give honor rather than seek it.
P = O Lord, you know may every failure and yet in your love forgive
me. Help me this week to forgive others in your name. Do not give me up to the
fires of bitterness but enable me to humbly bless even those who love me not. I
cannot do it on my own, my love is too small—but yours is not. May you be
glorified in how I think of and treat others this week. Amen.
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