Pam Padgett ... teacher
In the Shushan palace of king Ahasuerus was a Jew named Mordecai who had
been carried away captive from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar ....
Esther 2:5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain
Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the
son of Kish, a Benjamite; 6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem
with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of
Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And
he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she
had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom
Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own
daughter.
Mordecai did what was good toward king Ahasuerus, giving warning when two of his chamberlains planned to kill him ....
Esther 2:21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate,
two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept
the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 22
And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen;
and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. 23 And when
inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they
were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the
chronicles before the king.
But when the king commanded the people to bow down and reverence Haman,
who was above all the princes, Mordecai would not do this
...
Esther 3:1 After these things did king
Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced
him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. 2 And
all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and
reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But
Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. 3 Then the king's servants,
which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest
thou the king's commandment? 4 Now it came to pass, when they spake
daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to
see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that
he was a Jew.
People often want us to worship them or the works they are
doing. The worship they seek is often more subtle than physically
bowing down to them as Haman required. We are often faced with those wanting us to bow down to
them in our hearts by compromising in some way, such as going along with their lies or staying quiet when we see the evil they
do.
As Christians, when we are in a position to help or warn someone, we do
this. And we obey the laws of the land and the instructions of
those in authority over us, unless to do so would go against the ways
of God. But God should be above all else in our hearts, and we should fear God, seeking to do what is right in His eyes and
upholding His word over anyone and anything else. We are to hold God above all, worshiping Him alone.
While considering these things, I was reminded of when Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. The devil
promised Jesus kingdoms of the world and the glory of them if He would
fall down and worship him, but Jesus didn't do this ...
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high
mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory
of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if
thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get
thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy
God, and him only shalt thou serve.