Esther 5:9 says, Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. Haman was full of happiness that day until he saw Mordecai at the gate and he still wouldn’t bow down to him. If we stand up for God today and refuse to bow to the demands of the world, we may cause those who oppose God to lose their happiness. They may even want to destroy us, but we still need to stand for God no matter what.
Verse ten adds, Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. Still, Haman refrained from saying anything to Mordecai and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh instead. He still thought it was going to be a great day for him and a bad day for Mordecai, and he wanted those closest to him to be there. If people of the world think that they have defeated or are about to defeat God and His people today, they may gather to celebrate not realizing that they are the ones who have already been defeated.
Verse eleven continues, And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. Haman basically bragged to the people about how rich, powerful and important he was. There are people today who like to brag about their riches and success. Personally, I think we as Christians should never do that, since we are all unworthy of the mercy of God because of our own status in the world. We are all but sinners saved by grace.
Verse twelve states, Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. He said that Queen Esther had only allowed him to come with the king to the banquet that she had prepared for the king and that the next day he was invited to another banquet with them as well. He was feeling very honored by Esther and the king, though he likely wasn’t too worried about how Esther felt about him. I believe he only wanted to be important in the opinion of the king. People today will sacrifice a lot of their own beliefs to be viewed as important in the opinion of those in power, especially if someone has declared themself to be the only hope of success in a nation or even the world. We as followers of Christ must still follow only Him though.
Verse thirteen adds, Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. Haman then said that no matter how honored he might feel, none of this honor would satisfy him as long as he saw Mordecai the Jew sitting at the gate and not bowing down to him. People who feel powerful and important in the world will never be happy if Christians refuse to bow down to their power.
Verse fourteen continues, Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made. Zeresh and Haman’s friends with her had a solution. She said build high gallows and the next day ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it and then he could go in and enjoy the banquet. Often today, people of the world think they have solution for defeating Christians so that they can then enjoy their earthly riches and power, but it will never be a lasting victory.
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