S) "10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided."
Esther 7:10 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Esther 7
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Esther 7
O) It seems that Haman's life is an expression of at least half a dozen Proverbs (13:20, 14:35, 16:18, 17:11; 25:6, 26:27), not the least of which is the last one. Haman's pride in himself and his own status, led to his anger when Mordecai wouldn't bow down to him. Then, when he brought it up with his wife and friends, they justified his anger and corroborated his plan to eradicate the Jews. In the last, his plan to hang Mordecai himself, backfired directly, resulting in his own hanging on the very same gallows.
A) Certainly, Haman's life serves as a cautionary tale, very much reminding me that the proverbs have historical examples to accompany them. However, if I put myself into the shoes of Esther or the Jews (which may be the more applicable exercise), then it's also noteworthy that the king's anger subsided after this, because the threat to the Jews did not subside after this (i.e., did not subside when/because Haman was hanged). While the nemesis of the Jews was removed, and the king wasn't mad anymore, there was still a real threat which needed to be neutralized (because of the king's edict that had circulated the kingdom). This is a reminder that sometimes, a person who will help me in a very real way (as the king did, with Haman himself), may not still be seeing things from my perspective. I cannot assume that a person will ever be the solution to my problem, even if God will use a person to solve my problem. As much as Haman's life reminds me that those proverbs above are true, what happened after Haman's life reminds me that Proverbs 21:1 and 29:26 are also true.
P) Father, thank You for Your kingdom. Thank You for bringing me under the kingship of Jesus Christ. Thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit to be my Counselor in all things. n every way, in everything, let me turn to You for my help and hope. In You alone, do I find everything I need, even if You still use others to fulfill Your purposes. Let Your will be done, in my life, in Your kingdom, and on earth. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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