S) "6 So Haman came in and the king said to him, 'What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?' And Haman said to himself, 'Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?'"
Esther 6:6 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Esther 6
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Esther 6
O) Haman made several mistakes, all of which contributed to his eventual death. At the core of all of it, though, was his arrogant pride. His response to the king's inquiry speaks volumes about his personality. He believed he was second to the king. Perhaps more damaging, he apparently thought there was no one in third place, or in any place that the king might honor another. What's more, he thought the king believed it, too! It's one thing to think highly of yourself, but it's another to assume everyone else feels the same way about you, as you do! In this case, however, the king wished to honor Mordecai, for his loyalty in preventing regicide (ch.2), and none other than Haman did the honoring. It's also worth noting, that Haman's rise to honor and power happened after Mordecai's heroics to the crown. There could still be plenty of other reasons why Haman would have assumed he was the one to be honored, but it's also possible he didn't even know of Mordecai's heroics, which would be an indictment of his education or political awareness.
A) Picking up from that last point, it is important for me to be aware of national and local politics, even if I never become involved in them. Who knows where I may find myself, when it would endanger me to be so unaware. Thankfully, I rely on the Holy Spirit to lead me, even to the point of giving me words to speak. But, much more usefully, Haman also gives me a warning to be more self-aware, and to be more humble. It is good for me to have a clear understanding of what others think about me. It is even more important, that I approach all relationships as humbly as I can, seeking to raise others up, above myself. There are practical benefits to both, but that's not even getting to the heart of both issues. Because I belong to Christ, His glory is at stake in everything I do. As His bondslave, it should be my joy to raise others up, because that honors Jesus Christ. It is my duty to be aware of how others see me, because my hope is that they see Jesus through me. Avoiding deadly feuds is just a fringe benefit.
P) Father, I want all praise and honor to go to You. Help me to stay humble, but to remember that it's not only for humility's sake. I want to be low, so Jesus can be raised high. Like John said, less of me, more of Him. Help me to exalt the name of Christ in every relationship I have. Help me to love others by building them up in the most holy faith. Open the eyes of unbelievers around me, and in Your grace, let them see Your love for them through me. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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