ESTHER

HAMAN, THE PROUD, DESTROYED. Esther 3-7.
It has been said that "pride destroys or misleads more souls than
deliberate wickedness." The history of Haman is a verification of that
saying of the wise man: "Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty
spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). His Name means "magnificent," but
his chequered career proves that his nature was ignominious. We see
him—
I. Promoted. "King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, and advanced him,
and set his seat above all the princes that were with him" (chapter 3:1).
The greater our privilege, the more terrible will be our downfall if we
fail to walk humbly with our God. Capernaum was exalted to the
highest point of privilege, but through the blindness of unbelief fell to
the deepest depths of dishonor and shame. "Let him that thinks he
stands take heed lest he fall." Through grace, every Christian has been
promoted by the King of Heaven, and has his seat above all the princes
of the earth. Let us see that we walk worthy of such an high calling.
II. Easily Offended. "When Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor
did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath" (chapter 3:5). A man
of his position and dignity might easily have afforded to overlook the
seeming disrespect of the poor Jew; but no, his haughty pride was
wounded. The more authority he got the more overbearing and
tyrannical he became. Is not this how spiritual pride works? Do we
think that all men are going to honor us because we have been
promoted by the king? To be easily offended because we are not
honored by certain men is an evidence of pride; it is a sign that we are
seeking our own glory, when anger or wrath finds a place in our hearts
against any one who fails to respect us as perhaps we think they should.
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