Esther (8)—Pride and Bloodthirstiness - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

The LORD is near - Wednesday, August 14, 2024
by Jacob Redekop, Brian Reynolds, John van Dijk, Eugene P. Vedder Jr

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Esther (8)—Pride and Bloodthirstiness

Haman … sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her.”
Esther 5:10–12 NKJV

Esther (8)—Pride and Bloodthirstiness
Acting calmly, not acting hastily, Esther had invited the king and Haman to a banquet she had prepared. For Haman to be invited by Queen Esther along with the king was unusual—a tremendous honor! Once at home he proudly told family and friends about his greatness, his grand fortune that day, and terrific prospect for the morrow. “Yet,” he added, “all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

No problem, his wife and friends assured him. Let a 75-foot-high gallows be built, “and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” Such is the world we live in. The life of one who stands in the way of its pleasure means very little to it.

“A proud look” heads the list in Proverbs 6:16–19 of things the Lord hates. Haman is a type of the man of sin—also known as the willful king of Daniel 11, or the Antichrist—who in a soon-coming day will exalt himself above all, sit in the temple of God, claim worship as divine, and instigate deadly persecution against all who resist his demands, many of whom will be martyred. Throughout history, proud men have risen to positions of great power. They have often hunted down those who stood for the Lord and His Word and brought persecution and death to them. Our Lord Jesus tells all of us, should we be found in such circumstances, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

-- Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.

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