March 10 Bitter

Esther 5:11-13 And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. 12 Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. 13 Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
 
RICHES, position and power don’t mean much to a man who is not honored. Fascinating, isn’t it, that Haman, who had no sense of honor for women and for the Jews, had a prideful longing to be honored by one man of lowly position in the king’s court.
    How poignant is Haman’s lament: “Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” What does it matter to Haman that this one man did not honor him? Why is he so bitter about Mordecai’s refusal?
    Here is another symptom of pride’s pervasive hold on the human soul. Pride leads to great desires that cannot be satisfied. Unsatisfied, we become bitter and vengeful. Paul writes of these emotions’ devastating effect in Romans 3:10-15 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. 13 Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips.14 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood.”
    Paul’s words written about 600 years after Haman lived precisely describe Haman’s bitter heart. These words also describe the murderous way Haman will attempt to resolve his bitter heart. Even more, in God’s true Word, we will also see in Haman’s life the truth of Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
    Where is your heart? Are you harboring any bitterness toward someone who has harmed you or dishonored you? Are you bitter toward God as you perhaps feel cheated from what you desire and think you deserve? Be humble. Repent. Turn your heart to Proverbs 29:23 “One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” There are too many Hamans in the world. Let’s not add to the number.
 
Prayer: O Lord, my God, how majestic is your name! Turn my heart and mind from me to be fully on you. My sin against you and others are deep and deadly. Cleanse me to be an agent of life in the Kingdom of God. In the Spirit’s power I pray, amen.