{"id":22300,"date":"2024-08-09T06:15:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-09T05:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotion-friday-9-august-2024"},"modified":"2024-08-09T06:15:00","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T05:15:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotion-friday-9-august-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotion-friday-9-august-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotion Friday, 9 August 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Esther 5: 9 – 14<\/strong><\/p>\n

Haman went out that day happy and in good spirits. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king\u2019s gate, and observed that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was infuriated with Mordecai; nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Then he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh, and Haman recounted to them the splendour of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honoured him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the ministers of the king. Haman added, \u2018Even Queen Esther let no one but myself come with the king to the banquet that she prepared. Tomorrow also I am invited by her, together with the king. Yet all this does me no good so long as I see the Jew Mordecai sitting at the king\u2019s gate.\u2019 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, \u2018Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go with the king to the banquet in good spirits.\u2019 This advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.<\/p>\n

Reflection<\/strong><\/p>\n

The day I started writing this, wearing the \u201cchurch secretary\u201d hat  I received a notice for the church of a call to a day of prayer about the increasing knife violence in Bristol.   <\/p>\n

Someone sitting in a park minding their own business is attacked; people leaving a party turn on one; others leaving home for a pizza; why attack these people?   Maybe the attacked didn\u2019t rise and tremble, or maybe it\u2019s that strange human emotion, tribalism, that regards happiness as best when it depends on others\u2019 pain.<\/p>\n

The resonance between the unprovoked knife attacks and Haman\u2019s pleasure over advice to take retribution against Mordecai was striking.   From a simple start, how often crimes become violent until a person is killed and families vow \u201cno on else should suffer in this way\u201d.   <\/p>\n

In her commentary on Esther, Carol Meyers notes:  \u201cHappy as Haman was to have been entertained by the queen, he becomes intensely distressed when Mordecai once more refuses to do obeisance. At the bidding of his wife Zeresh, he erects monumental gallows intended for Mordecai; only then can Haman feel relaxed enough to look forward to Esther\u2019s second banquet.\u201d  <\/p>\n

Tribalism permeates Haman\u2019s thinking: he has started a scheme killing all Jews following Mordecai\u2019s failure to offer obeisance.  The gallows are built very high, implying this is no secret execution but a way to achieve a public show of disgrace for Mordecai and by implication all Jews.  So jealous is Haman he cannot foresee any other outcome than glory for himself.  <\/p>\n

By contrast, Esther followed advice which put herself in danger, asked for prayer from all whom she is connected with, then fasts and prays herself.   Only then does she prepare the first banquet.   As the story continues to unfold we find Queen Esther working with King Ahasuerus to protect her people that no one else should suffer.  <\/p>\n

Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Creator God,
when we see only one outcome, good or bad, 
remind us that you see the whole and another outcome.
Help us follow advice and prepare. 
Help us walk your way and bring your outcome to completion.
Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Esther 5: 9 – 14 Haman went out that day happy and in good spirits. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king\u2019s gate, and observed that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was infuriated with Mordecai; nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Then he sent and called for his friends and … <\/p>\n

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