Esther Explained | Salvation Will AriseSample

Day 5 | Esther 5

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You know that big feeling when you have to give a big presentation or speech, and you get the butterflies in your stomach? Now imagine that your entire nation’s existence was dependent on your speech, and you only get one shot. That’s what Esther is facing today in Esther 5 on Through the Word.

We left off with Esther asking the Jewish remnant in Susa to fast and pray for her. Her three days have passed, and Esther is about to find out if she was going to die or have her audience before the king. Verse 1:

"On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall facing the entrance" (Esther 5:1).

Here is her big moment. I’m sure her heart is racing, her hands shaking. If the king is angry at her intrusion, she will be dragged off to the executioner. Here is her one moment. Verse 2:

"When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter" (Esther 5:2).

For three days, Esther has fasted and prayed for this very moment, and when it comes, God proves yet again his faithfulness. The king extends his scepter, and Esther is spared. Verse 3:

"Then the king asked, 'What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you'" (Esther 5:3).

That’s a pretty big offer. The king pretty much guarantees that whatever she asks for, he will give her. So, what does she ask for? Verse 4:

“If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him” (Esther 5:4).

Esther shows tact by not blurting out her ultimate request right away. She wants to first win the king’s confidence in her, and she wants Haman at the banquet to ultimately expose his wickedness.

So, the King calls for Haman and orders him to join him and the queen for a banquet. She has prepared a spread of choice foods and wines, and the text shows us that the king and Haman both are enjoying themselves. Verse 6:

"As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, 'Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted'" (Esther 5:6).

Esther is once again asked what her request is. So here we go, Esther is about to ask for her people to be spared. The moment is tense with anticipation. Verse 7:

"Esther replied, 'My petition and my request is this: If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question'” (Esther 5:7-8).

Again, Esther withholds her request. Why didn’t she share right then and there? Now, I’ve read a lot of commentaries and heard a lot of sermons about this. Some writers have looked at Esther and believed that she was scared; that she allowed her fears to hold her back. Others look and say that maybe the king wasn’t quite in the proper mood, maybe he wasn’t drunk enough or maybe he was too drunk, or was simply preoccupied with other thoughts. After all, the king had quickly left the throne room for the banquet, maybe in the middle of important business. Esther, therefore, was working on setting up a second feast, in order for the king to be more receptive to her request.

Either of these may have played into the reason Esther asked for a second feast, but I believe that there was one more important thing that has often been overlooked. We have already shown how God was working behind the scenes, how he was using ordinary people and guiding their steps. There are a few more things that had to take place before the king hears the full story. Now, did Esther know what was about to happen, that very afternoon and evening? No way! But God did. And so, God directs Esther to wait to tell the King, for one more day. Verse 9:

"Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home" (Esther 5:9-10).

Haman’s in a good mood. He’s had been singled out of all the king's advisors with an invitation to the Queen’s feast. What’s more, he is invited to return to the second feast tomorrow. But as he walks out of the palace, he looks over to the King’s Gate, and Mordecai is sitting there, probably waiting to hear from Esther about her meeting with the king. And as before, Mordecai doesn’t rise to pay honor or respect Haman. Nor does Mordecai throw himself down before Haman, begging for his life. I can just imagine the scene, Haman walks by Mordecai. They make eye contact. Mordecai doesn’t show any fear or emotion. He just watches Haman as he walks past. Haman’s fury rises, but he doesn’t react publicly. To do so would play his hand too soon; it would show all watching that the decree against the Jews was nothing more than a personal vendetta.

So, Haman instead goes home, where he gathers all of his friends and family together. Verse 11:

"Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 'And that’s not all,' Haman added. 'I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow'" (Esther 5:11-12).

Wow. Humble much? Haman invites his friends over, to basically brag about how great he is. But all of his success and power has still left him empty. Look at verse 13:

“But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate” (Esther 5:13).

Haman had risen to one be one of the most powerful and influential people in the most powerful nation on the planet. There seems to be nowhere else he can go, he has arrived. Short of somehow taking the throne, which would have been impossible, Haman has everything, but still wants more. He’s here complaining to his wife and friends that he just wants one more person to respect him. If Mordecai would bow, that would be enough. But we know that’s not how it works. There’s always more that we need. John Rockefeller, one of the richest men in American history, was once asked, “How much money is enough?” To which he gave his famous reply, “Just a little bit more”.

Haman is moping around like Verruca Salt, wanting more, more, more. And his wife and buddies offer a very macabre suggestion. Verse 14:

“Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself” (Esther 5:14).

“Haman, why are you so upset? Just set up a giant stake 75 feet high, and ask the king to impale Mordecai tomorrow morning on the top. Then you can go to the Queen’s party in peace”. What a despicable suggestion! But Haman loves it, and he sets up the pole, he’s ready to go the next day and ask the king about killing Mordecai. 

Hatred is a powerfully destructive force. Haman’s hatred is now driving him to have a man tortured and impaled, simply for not bowing down to him.

And now we begin to wonder, Esther had delayed in asking the King to spare her people. Will it cost her Mordecai? The feast is later in the day, but Mordecai may be dead before then. To find the answer for that, come back tomorrow as we continue in Esther on Through the Word.

Read Esther 5

All verses are quoted from the NIV unless otherwise noted.