Saturday, November 16, 2013

Parade of the King’s Delight Esther 6:9 – Equipped for Battle

 
Haman has given King Ahasuerus his idea of what should be done unto the man in whom the king delights. Because he believes the king's man to be himself, Haman thought that he should be dressed in the king's finest clothes, ride upon the king's horse, and wear the king's crown. In chapter six and verse nine we learn more about Haman's suggestion to the king. We read:

And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delights to honor, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.

The verse begins, “And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delights to honor,...” If we allow ourselves, we can almost see in our mind's eye the enthusiasm in which Haman is saying these words. He continues in the verse with the word “And” which denotes a constant flow of thought as if he is on a roll. Haman thought it would be a wonderful idea to have the horse and apparel to be “delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes” which indicates that Haman not only wanted to be exalted above the people of the land, but also the nobles who attended to the king. Haman thought this noble should “array” him with the king's clothes and horse as to prepare him for display throughout the kingdom. Oh what a marvelous plan Haman had in his own mind.

The verse continues, “and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him,...” Haman continued his suggestion with the agenda for the public display of the man in whom the king delights. Haman's idea was to parade this man through the street of the city just like a single float display and then have someone “proclaim” which means yell out, tell loudly, shout a special message about this man who was upon the king's horse.

Finally we see what Haman thought the crier should say in last part of this verse. We read: “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.” As though he was honoring himself before the king, Haman decided that his suggestion is what should be done unto the man in whom the king delights. A loud crier should go before this man so that all could know, all could hear, and all would honor the man who was dressed in the king's apparel and riding upon the king's horse. In other words, Haman thought everyone should know just how great he was.

People for the most part enjoy when they are honored, and they will often pitch for it. Their looks, their car, their house or vocation will often be displayed for others to give them praise. Haman's pitch and attitude is not entirely unfamiliar as most people have an internal desire to be honored or praised. The key to understanding this in the kingdom of God is that honor, true honor, should come from the Lord Jesus Christ. All of the other honor is temporary and limited. God's honor is complete, thorough and everlasting. If we choose, we may turn to the weaker honor of man as Haman was attempting to receive, but if we will seek the honor of God, no man or time shall ever be able to take His honor away.

Next time we will see the beginning of Haman being embarrassed beyond his wildest dreams, 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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