As a review to our story, we
have met King Ahasuerus who held a wonderful one hundred and eighty
day feast for the princes and servants of his one hundred and
twenty-seven provinces of Persia. At the conclusion of that feast he
held another seven day feast for those who were within the Palace of
Sushan where he beckoned Queen Vashti to make an appearance with the
royal crown. She refused his request and was banished from the throne
at the advice of King Ahasuerus' seven chamberlains, and a new queen
was sought throughout the kingdom. After one year of preparation,
Esther was chosen to be queen, and her older cousin and childhood
caregiver Mordecai continued to advise Esther concerning a secret she
kept concerning her heritage. Mordecai exposed a plot of
assassination against King Ahasuerus, and the two conspirators were
hung because of their treason. In chapter three we are introduced to
another key character within our story. We read in verse one:
After
these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha
the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes
that were with him.
We read
first, “After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the
son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him,” From time to
time there are promotions given within a kingdom, and we are told of
this one. King Ahasuerus promoted “Haman” which means
“magnificent” to a greater position of authority within the
kingdom. We are told he was born to “Hammedatha” which
means “double”, and Hammedatha was an “Agagite”. This becomes
an interesting part to our story.
In the
book of First Samuel chapter fifteen, King Saul of Israel was told by
Samuel to destroy all of the Amalekites. King Agag was an Amalekite,
and rather than destroy him as Samuel instructed, King Saul preserved
him instead. Now six hundred years later Haman the “Agagite”
arrives, is placed in King Ahasuerus' kingdom and “advanced”.
Our verse continues, “and set his seat above all the princes
that were with him.” We see the particulars of
the promotion Haman received. He was now above “all the princes
that were with him.” Like a commander or governor over certain
troops, now even the princes around Haman were to be subject to him.
Let us keep in mind this phrase, “power corrupts, and absolute
power corrupts absolutely” as we read the verses to come.
The
Amalekites were a type of the flesh in the Bible. It may have seemed
harsh at first glance for God to instruct King Saul to destroy all of
them, but now that we see the results of King Saul's disobedience six
hundred years later we should see the wisdom in the command. As we
continue to discover more about Haman in the verses ahead, let us
keep in mind the importance of removing all fleshly works from our
lives that are contrary to God. If any small amount of sinful flesh
is left, we may all have our “Hamans” showing up in places we
would rather not.
Next time we will see how Mordecai
reacts to Haman, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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