ESTHER 6:1–14 WHAT SHALL BE DONE UNTO THE MAN WHOM THE KING DELIGHTETH TO HONOUR?

[Study Posted September 7, 2020]

Est 6:1  On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 
Est 6:2  And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 
Est 6:3  And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. 
Est 6:4  And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Est 6:5  And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 
Est 6:6  So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 
Est 6:7  And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 
Est 6:8  Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 
Est 6:9  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 delighteth to honour, 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 delighteth to honour. 
Est 6:10  Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 
Est 6:11  Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 
Est 6:12  And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 
Est 6:13  And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 
Est 6:14  And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. 

Chapter 5 deals with how Esther appeared before the King on the third day to request a feast with the King and Haman. As indicated, this feast is not the marriage supper of the lamb but rather the supper of the great God, which represents the invitation of fowls of the air to feast on our flesh. Esther was shown mercy which is accompanied by rulership which God has appointed for those who are shown mercy or overcome. Chapter 6, which we are reviewing today, is about what lies ahead of those who overcome. Let’s therefore take a look at the details of these passages of scriptures and how they relate to our walk with Christ.

Est 6:1  On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 
Est 6:2  And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 
Est 6:3  And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. 

These verses remind us of Isaiah 63:9, which says that in all our suffering, he also suffered and that he personally came to our rescue. The night before Haman was going to ask the King to hang Mordecai, the King could not sleep and asked for the books of records to be read to him. It was through this reading that the King remembered that he had not rewarded Mordecai for revealing the plot to assassinate the King.  The King came to the rescue of Mordecai but not before Mordecai has been brought to his wits’ end.

These verses also assure us that God is a rewarder and that He never forgets the good works which He works through us!! Hebrews 11:6 says that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

Isaiah 63:9: In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. (NLT)

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Est 6:4  And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 
Est 6:5  And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 
Est 6:6  So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 

Our moments of destruction will turn out to be our salvation. Just when we feel that we have lost the battle is when God makes us realize that our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. From our carnal perspective, we may think that the decision by the King to reward Mordecai and the arrival of Haman at the court of the King to demand the head of Mordecai is coincidence or by chance. However, from the word of God, we know there are no coincidence in life. It shows the extent of God’s involvement in every little detail of our lives. God orchestrates every action of all human race, both good and evil. This story confirms to us that our steps are really ordered or planned – whether it is leading us to do evil, just like Haman, or to do good. We should therefore be encouraged by this that whatever our circumstances are, God is in perfect control and it will turn out for our good!!

The fact that Haman thought that if there should be any person that deserves to be honoured it should be him, makes us aware that the beast within us thinks that having favor with God is the result of our own effort, or what we call the free will.  This is the mindset we used to have when we were in Babylon as we glory in our works and our integrity, just as Job thought that he was righteous.  We were just like the Pharisee who was praying thinking he was more righteous than the publican. So the work of God in our lives is to give us an experience of evil as we walk through this earth so that we will be humbled (come to the realization that we are the greatest sinners) before Him.

Pro 20:24  Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? 

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. 

Luk 18:9  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luk 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Ecc 1:13  And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail (evil experience) hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised (humble) therewith. 

Est 6:7  And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 
Est 6:8  Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 
Est 6:9  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 delighteth to honour, 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 delighteth to honour.
Est 6:10  Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 
Est 6:11  Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 

As shown in the scriptures, our God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. As we grow gradually in the things of God, we need our understanding to be enlightened so that we come to appreciate what is the hope of our calling and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in us. In other words, what we should expect when we overcome.  This is very important, as our Lord Jesus was motivated by the joy set out before Him, and therefore He endured the cross, despising the shame. In the same manner, we, too, must know the joy that is set before us to motivate us to fight this fight of faith. Verses 7–9 help us catch a glimpse of what lies in wait for us as we go through our struggles daily. Let’s list them:

Number 1:  We will receive be arrayed in a royal apparel if the King delights in us. Apparel or clothing is used to cover our nakedness (our sins). It is God’s righteousness that covers our nakedness (sinful nature). So, apparel represents God’s righteousness from a positive perspective. In Genesis, when Adam and Eve sinned, they sewed fig leaves to cover themselves when they realized they were naked (sinful). When they heard the voice of the Lord in the garden of Eden, they hid themselves, and when God asked why they were hiding, Adam said that it was because he was naked, even though he was wearing fig leaves as clothes. This means that our human endeavor cannot bring us God’s righteousness. We will always be naked before him. In the end, God clothed both Adam and Eve. It is God’s righteousness that matters. This is to emphasize the fact that the apparel the King wears here represents God giving us His righteousness as He delights in us. The royal nature of the apparel means that we are being made righteous to rule.

Gen 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 
Gen 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 
Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 
Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 

Jer 23:6  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

Number 2: The one that the King delights in (the elect) is expected to ride a horse upon which the King rides.  In this case, the elect is expected to ride the horse through the streets of the city. The use of a horse and the riding through the streets of the city suggest that we have come out of a war and that we have been victorious. In other words, we are taking a victory lap as we see frequently in the Olympics when athletes go round the tracks celebrating their victory. In our case, we are celebrating the victory over the beast within (the flesh). All the wars Israel fought spiritually signify the fight against the flesh.  Paul calls it the good fight of faith. In Galatians 5:17, Paul further describes this war as the flesh lusting against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. These two are contrary against each other so that we cannot do the things that we would.

Proverbs 21:31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD. (NIV)

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

The question is when do we celebrate our victory? If we are blessed to be part of the first resurrection, then that is when we will celebrate our victory as the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ (His elect). Revelation 19:11–15 describes our victory as follows:

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 
Rev 19:12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 
Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 
Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 
Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 

Number 3: The third honor for those that the king delights in is that they shall receive a royal crown upon their heads. This royal crown is also called the crown of life or the crown of righteousness.  Being crowned suggests that those who prevail will rule over the nations during the period when the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

It is worth noting that it is the King’s most noble princes (the elect), represented by Haman as one of the King’s leading princes, that decorated Mordecai and paraded him in the streets of the city.  In this case, Haman here represents the elect which is a positive application. What this means is that it is through the agency of the elect that we learn to win this war of the flesh and to be clothed with Christ’s righteousness. The prophesying (the preaching) of the elect is to edify us (build us up), encourage us to reach for the mark of His higher calling and to comfort us in our trials. This is all done with the objective of us being part of those in whom the King delights so that we can receive the prize at the end of our journey here on this earth.

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 

Est 6:12  And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 
Est 6:13  And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 

The mourning of Haman (the beast within) means that his death is near.  As our eyes are being enlightened and we are going through trials marked out for us, our old man within has started his journey of death, and the new man is increasing in strength. Haman’s wise men and Zeresh, Haman’s wife gave Haman advice that as long as we are spiritual Jews, Haman (the beast within) will surely die! It means that once we have started dying daily, the old man will surely die!! In other words, as long as we have started seeing victories over the flesh in certain areas of our lives, we will surely win the war. He who has started the good work in us is able to bring it to completion.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

Est 6:14  And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. 

As indicated in the review of Esther chapter 5, this banquet that the King’s chamberlain hastened to bring Haman, is not the marriage supper of the lamb which is strictly for those who overcome (Haman will not be there). It is the supper of the great God as revealed in Revelation 19:17-18 where all the fowls that fly in the midst of our heavens, represented by Haman, are invited to come and eat our flesh (our old man) which will consequently result in the death of our old man (Haman) and the birth of a new man created after the image of Christ.

This feasting, or banqueting, is the opening of our eyes to understand exponentially the word of God. Thus, this banquet is when the truth of God’s words destroys our attachment to the things of the world signified by the flesh.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

Rev 19:17  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 
Rev 19:18  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.