Irony (Esther 6:1-14)
Esther chapter six is full of delicious irony. Part of what makes Esther such delightful literature that entertains all generations and cultures is the way that is highlights and delights in pointing out how flawed and foolish the antagonists are.
The chapter starts out by telling us that the king could not sleep. So, what does this king who we already have seen is incompetent and silly do? He orders the records of his acts and achievements (the Book of Memorable Deeds!) be read to him. I don’t know about you, but I too often have a hard time shutting my brain down and going to sleep. But what I don’t do in those situations is listen to anything exciting or interesting. I need to listen to a podcast or a radio show that I can focus on, but that will not hold my interest. Here, we have a case of a man whose own life is so uninteresting, that he uses it to send him off to sleep!
As he listens, however, he is reminded of the way that Mordecai saved his life. It occurs to him that he never rewarded or recognized Mordecai, and he begins to think that he should do something about that. But, being the man that he is—so poorly suited to ruling or relating to people—he again needs help in deciding what he should do. And as fortune would have it, Haman has shown up at the court wanting to get permission to kill Mordecai.
The whole story here is one of not just irony, but fortune. It is no coincidence that the king could not sleep. It. Is no mere chance that he had his book read to him, and it just so happened to be read at the point of Mordecai’s heroic deed. And it is not random that this is the moment Haman shows up hoping to gain an audience (when the King should be sleeping!).
Haman is summoned and the king asks him how best to honor someone. Haman is incapable of imagining the king wanting to honor anyone other than himself, so he devises an elaborate display of honor. Of course, we know what is coming! The rug is pulled out from under Haman, and he is forced to conduct the very honor he wished upon himself, upon his great enemy, Mordecai! He spends the rest of the night honoring the man he wished to kill, and scarcely has he finished and gone home, is he whisked off to Esther’s next banquet. But not before Haman’s advisors and wife can inform him what is clearly evident. Circumstances (and God) are conspiring against Haman, and he will not succeed in destroying Mordecai or his people!
The chapter starts out by telling us that the king could not sleep. So, what does this king who we already have seen is incompetent and silly do? He orders the records of his acts and achievements (the Book of Memorable Deeds!) be read to him. I don’t know about you, but I too often have a hard time shutting my brain down and going to sleep. But what I don’t do in those situations is listen to anything exciting or interesting. I need to listen to a podcast or a radio show that I can focus on, but that will not hold my interest. Here, we have a case of a man whose own life is so uninteresting, that he uses it to send him off to sleep!
As he listens, however, he is reminded of the way that Mordecai saved his life. It occurs to him that he never rewarded or recognized Mordecai, and he begins to think that he should do something about that. But, being the man that he is—so poorly suited to ruling or relating to people—he again needs help in deciding what he should do. And as fortune would have it, Haman has shown up at the court wanting to get permission to kill Mordecai.
The whole story here is one of not just irony, but fortune. It is no coincidence that the king could not sleep. It. Is no mere chance that he had his book read to him, and it just so happened to be read at the point of Mordecai’s heroic deed. And it is not random that this is the moment Haman shows up hoping to gain an audience (when the King should be sleeping!).
Haman is summoned and the king asks him how best to honor someone. Haman is incapable of imagining the king wanting to honor anyone other than himself, so he devises an elaborate display of honor. Of course, we know what is coming! The rug is pulled out from under Haman, and he is forced to conduct the very honor he wished upon himself, upon his great enemy, Mordecai! He spends the rest of the night honoring the man he wished to kill, and scarcely has he finished and gone home, is he whisked off to Esther’s next banquet. But not before Haman’s advisors and wife can inform him what is clearly evident. Circumstances (and God) are conspiring against Haman, and he will not succeed in destroying Mordecai or his people!
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