Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8 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.” “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. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 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. 12 “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. 13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.” 14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “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.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.” Esther 5:9-14 NIV
Lord God,
This passage in Esther does remind me of Romans 12: 19-20 where it states we should let You avenge us and we should do good to our enemies. And Matthew 5:33-38 where Jesus tells us to love our enemies (not what they do), so we can be seen to be like You more and more.
Esther makes Haman feel special. She used only the truth with the King. So Mordecai could be thanked for his past deeds. It is Haman’s own wickedness, nothing to do with Esther, that leads to him suffering what he wanted to do to Mordecai. You troubled the King’s sleep so he read the Chronicles of his reign. And there was reminded of Mordecai’s loyalty. It was You, Lord that moved the King and Esther to then find a way to counteract an unchangeable law.
Sometimes we are not recognised for what we have done. Sometimes others are jealous of what we have achieved. Sometimes we do good and our own situation seems to get worse. Sometimes several things go wrong one after the other when we have done nothing to deserve them. You remind us in Peter t to be alert and of sober mind. Because our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (5:8). Help us to use our common sense and our faith and seek You first. I have been wronged and unable to put it right even with the truth – but You know God and it is in Your hands. I must keep on forgiving and not allow it to poison my heart.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Thursday 2nd October 2025
One hymn I can usually remember most of the verses of! And which reminds me You are always there restoring us.
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind;
in purer lives Thy service find,
in deeper rev’rence, praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard,
beside the Syrian sea,
the gracious calling of the Lord,
let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow Thee.
O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with Thee
the silence of eternity,
interpreted by love!
Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of Thy peace.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm!
Lyrics: John Greenleaf Whittier