Esther 6:1-14.  In past posts I have mentioned that Jewish authors love structure in their writings.  There poetry is more about structure than things like rhyming.  One form that shows up in Hebrew writing is called a chiasmus.  The name comes from the Greek letter “chi” which looks like our letter “x”.  It is the first letter of the word “christos” from which we get the word “Christ”.  The form is called a chiasmus because it has matching pieces of information that are arranged like a reflection.  If the different ideas or points are represented by capital letters (Nooooo!  Not algebra) the form would look like this: A-B-C-D-E-D’-C’-B’-A’.  The A and the A’ ideas relate to each other As do the B and B’  and so on.  In our example here there is an idea represented by “E” that is unbalanced.  In that case it is usually the central idea.  Some times the parallel idea are the same and sometimes they are opposites.

Some scholars see a chiastic structure in Esther that looks like this:

A-Introduction (Esther 1)

B-The kings first decree (Esther 2-3)

C-The trouble between Haman & Mordecai (Esther 4-5)

D-The king’s sleepless night (Esther 6:1)

C’-Mordecai wins and Haman loses (Esther 6-7)

B’-The kings second decree (Esther 8-9)

A’-Conclusion (Esther 10)

Today’s reading includes the central point (D-Esther 6:1) which is the turning point of the story.

The very night between Esther’s request and the party Xerxes couldn’t sleep.  He must have really wanted sleep because he asks for his servants to bring in the history books and read them to him.  If history won’t put you to sleep nothing will.  Fortunately he did not fall asleep and the servants came to the part of the story about Mordecai saving his bacon.  The king stops the readers and asks them what was ever done for Mordecai to whch they reply, “Nothing”.  It must have been morning by now because Xerxes heres someone near his private chambers.  It’s Haman!  Xerxes has Haman come in and he asks him how he can honor someone in the kingdom.  Haman, of course, assumes it him that the king wants to honor.  Haman tells Xerxes that he should put one of his royal robes on the person (It is interesting that Esther wore a royal robe to see the king the day before, they must have been pretty impressive).  Then the person should be put on one of the kings personal horses and paraded through the streets of the capital with people crying out, “This is what happens to the person the king swants to honor.”

Xerxes must have liked Haman’s idea because he immediately ordered Haman to do just that, for Mordecai, and he got to be the one leading him through the streets.  Arghhhhhhhh! (I’m pretty sure that’s what Haman thought)  Afterwards Mordecai went back to work, waiting to be a servant at the gate of the palace and Haman ran home to whine to his family and friends.  When they heard about what had happened his wife told him he better hope that Mordecai isn’t a Jew or you’ve had it.  At just that moment the kings servants arrived to take Haman to the banquet.  Uh Oh!

Although the story doesn’t talk about God directly an Israelite leader would certainly see the perfect timing of the events as God’s control.  Even though the individuals were not directly acknowledging God he was still there and in control.  The king was fickle (unstable), Haman was self-absorbed, and those advising both of them seemed to say what they wanted to hear.  Until it was obvious that Haman was on his way out, then his wife and advisors started to back away from him.  Throughout the story so far Mordecai was faithful as was Esther.  Neither of them seems completely connected to God.  Mordecai seems more connected but Esther has been obedient.  The whole thing has been pretty complicated, like most of real life.  Esther 6:1 though really gives us the big picture though, God is in control, even of our sleep.  God chose the Jewish people to be his people.  They would give birth to the forever king and the suffering servant (See Isaiah 53).  They had to survive, so God kicked Xerxes out of bed at just the right time for that to happen.

We need to realize God has a purpose for each of our lives.  According to Peter, God is not willing for any to perish, he wants everyone to return to him (2 Peter 3:9).  Some will perish but that is not God’s best plan.  God’s plan involves his will and his rules.  One of his rules is allowing us to make choices.  We can be on his team or not.  Just like Esther we have a purpose, but if we do not respond to God, his plan will still happen but we will lose out (Esther 5:13-14). So God’s plan will come to pass but you have a choice as to whether or not you will be on the winning side.  Listen to God, even if his voice is faint in your world.  Be a Mordecai or Ester not a Haman.

God help me listen carefully for your voice.  Help me not be like Haman who listened to those who told him what he wanted to hear.  Help me not be like Xerxes, influenced by others.  Give me wisdom.  Give me courage.  Give me strength.  Help me live each day for you.