Esther (8)—Pride and Bloodthirstiness - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

The LORD is near - Wednesday, August 14, 2024
by Jacob Redekop, Brian Reynolds, John van Dijk, Eugene P. Vedder Jr

Details

Esther (8)—Pride and Bloodthirstiness

Haman … sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her.”
Esther 5:10–12 NKJV

Esther (8)—Pride and Bloodthirstiness
Acting calmly, not acting hastily, Esther had invited the king and Haman to a banquet she had prepared. For Haman to be invited by Queen Esther along with the king was unusual—a tremendous honor! Once at home he proudly told family and friends about his greatness, his grand fortune that day, and terrific prospect for the morrow. “Yet,” he added, “all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

No problem, his wife and friends assured him. Let a 75-foot-high gallows be built, “and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” Such is the world we live in. The life of one who stands in the way of its pleasure means very little to it.

“A proud look” heads the list in Proverbs 6:16–19 of things the Lord hates. Haman is a type of the man of sin—also known as the willful king of Daniel 11, or the Antichrist—who in a soon-coming day will exalt himself above all, sit in the temple of God, claim worship as divine, and instigate deadly persecution against all who resist his demands, many of whom will be martyred. Throughout history, proud men have risen to positions of great power. They have often hunted down those who stood for the Lord and His Word and brought persecution and death to them. Our Lord Jesus tells all of us, should we be found in such circumstances, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

-- Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.

More From Our Daily Devotional Archives

Open Heavens
for Monday, December 2, 2013
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

ANY QUERY FROM SATAN?

A divine midwife must be in control of his or her choices and ensure that they are God-centred and not self-centred. They must be ready to take decisions even when it hurts them. They must also be prepared to respond to Satans...More

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and...

The LORD is near
for Friday, December 6, 2013
by Jacob Redekop, Brian Reynolds, John van Dijk, Eugene P. Vedder Jr

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and...

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; ...More

The LORD is near
for Tuesday, December 10, 2013
by Jacob Redekop, Brian Reynolds, John van Dijk, Eugene P. Vedder Jr

Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
(2 Peter 3:18)

God in His grace has centered every blessing for us in Christ. Without Christ, we have nothing, nothing but our sins; with Christ we have all things, and therefore want nothing in addition to Christ. As...More

Open Heavens
for Friday, January 10, 2014
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

SPIRITUAL WARFARE I

When we are told to put on the whole armour of God, one thing becomes clear instantly. This is the fact that there is a God. We cannot be talking of the armour of God if there is no God. Anyone who thinks that there is no God is a fool (Psalm 14:1). You have to pray that God would reveal Himself to you. The...More