Daily Reading
Daily Thought
The players in this story include King Ahasuerus of Persia, his queen Esther, her cousin Mordecai, and Haman, the king’s right-hand man. God is hidden behind the scenes. Haman hated Mordecai. The first half of the story of Esther ends with the plan of man, Haman’s “wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, ‘Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.’ This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made” (Esther 5:14).
The following verse opens Act Two, the plan of God, “On that night the king could not sleep” (Esther 6:1). Haman had gallows built fifty cubits high, and you can sense the coming irony. These gallows meant by Haman for righteous Mordecai are meant by God for wicked Haman. God is not mentioned, but God is not absent. In chapter 2, Mordecai had done a good deed unrewarded, and on this night in chapter 6 the king could not sleep. He asked for the reading of the Chronicles (a cure for insomnia?) and learned how Mordecai had rescued the king, and here I will spoil the ending. “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai” (Esther 7:10).
“The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead.” ~Proverbs 11:8
Daily Prayer
Heavenly Father, over and over again You remind me as I sow, so shall I reap. I should live life accordingly. Looking ahead, I shall do today what will produce a good tomorrow. Thank You for teaching me what is right, and for changing my heart so that I now desire Your ways instead of my own, some of the time, at least, and more and more as I make a habit of holiness.
Help me remember always that this world is Your creation and Your design and it works Your way. I enjoy life when I enjoy You and live according to the joy of Your Word.
Amen