Esther Convicts Haman and Then He Condemns Himself

This meditation is based on a passage for September 23, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Esther 7:1-10

Reflection and Question: Haman, the arrogant advisor to the king, is already falling from grace when he rushes off to Queen Esther’s banquet. When the king asked Haman how to honor a good servant, Haman had assumed the king wanted to honor him. Instead, the king had meant to honor Haman’s arch-enemy, Mordecai. Now Esther asks for mercy for her condemned people. When the king asks who has condemned them, Esther names Haman. Haman exacerbates the situation with his pleading, which is seen as an assault on Esther, and is hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. What is the moral to this story?

Prayer: Holy Wisdom, keep us from following the ways of Haman. Find us humble, not arrogant, thoughtful, not single-minded, respectful, not desperate, honest, not prevaricating. Raise up in us the qualities of Esther and Mordecai, we pray. Amen.