This post is Day 23 in a series of studies about “Esther”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Esther – Day 23

There is much in this short story of Esther about honour, but what does it really mean? For Haman, with his twisted self centred mind, it meant public respect, or promotion. I cannot imagine that when Mordecai received this honour, he appreciated it as much as Haman would have done.

Esther 6:6-9

When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honour?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honour than me? So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honour, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and the horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honour, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour!”

The Thought

There is much in this short story of Esther about honour, but what does it really mean? For Haman, with his twisted self centred mind, it meant public respect, or promotion. I cannot imagine that when Mordecai received this honour, he appreciated it as much as Haman would have done.

To honour someone is to give them the respect which is due to them. Peter tells us that Jesus received honour from His heavenly Father, when God spoke over His Son with an audible voice (2 Peter 1:17). The Bible tells us many times to honour our parents, the first time was in the 5th commandment given to Moses, where it also gives us the consequence of that obedience (Exodus 20:12).

Jesus often argued with and criticised the Pharisees. In Matthew 15 we read of him accusing them of making their traditions more important than an active relationship with Father God.

Action

Read Matthew 15 today and ask God to show you if your traditions are nullifying His word. Pray for the churches around you, that they would honour God, and obey all He is asking them to do.