Whom Jesus Christ Delights to Honor

Every time I read the book of Esther, I am amazed by God's providence and protection of His people Israel. For years I accepted 4:14 - "who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" - as Esther's theme. And I still do. But I never saw anything more in this book until Saturday night, when the Holy Spirit whispered in my ear the phrase "whom the king delighteth to honor." So I opened my Bible and read chapter 6. And as I did, I was struck by what suddenly appeared to me to be a portrait or foreshadowing of the judgment seat of Christ.

King Ahasuerus can't sleep one night so he asks someone to read "the book of records of the chronicles" (Esther 6:1). But this book is also the Lamb's "book of life" (Philippians 4:3, Revelation 3:5). And what does the king read? That Mordecai saved his life by warning him of two eunuchs who wanted to kill the king (Esther 6:2). What honor has been shown Mordecai for this righteous deed? Nothing (6:3). So also in this earthly life there may be little or no honor for those who do what is right, for those who defend the name of Jesus. But we know that will soon be remedied, for at the judgment seat of Christ His servants will be honored.

King Ahasuerus asks Haman, providentially in the outer court, "What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?" (6:6) In his self-righteous pride, Haman thinks the king wants to honor him (6:6). So he tells the king that the man whom he delights to honor should wear the king's apparel and crown, and ride the king's horse (6:8). Then he should be led "through the street of the city" as someone proclaims, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor" (6:9). Does this sound familiar? At the "marriage supper of the Lamb" we will be given "fine linen, clean and white," to wear (Revelation 19:8). At the judgment seat of Christ, we will be given crowns according to our deeds, as recorded in the "book of life" (1 Corinthians 9:25, 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12). At Christ's Second Coming, we will follow Him on white horses (Revelation 19:11, 14). And in the New Jerusalem, we will walk on streets of gold (21:21).

Haman misses all this. He wants such great honor for himself, but it is reserved for Mordecai, who has earned the honor by his righteous deed. Haman has already been promoted and been told others must bow to him (Esther 3:1-2). What more does he want? One would think he deserved such honor, since it was given by the king. But chapters 3 and 6 show us Haman's true character. He uses the king to avenge his selfish hatred for Mordecai by plotting the death of the Jews (3:5-6). Haman fails to learn the lesson that "pride goeth before destruction" (Proverbs 16:18) and "before honor is humility" (15:33, 18:12).

Whom does Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, delight to honor? The Mordecais of this world, those who resemble Christ - humble, despised and persecuted for their righteousness, but true lovers of God. At His judgment seat Christ will honor rich and poor, high and low, great and small. He will honor well-known saints as well as praying grandparents and parents whom the world has never heard of. In contrast, the Hamans of this world - proud, vile, self-important, seeking honor from the world - will be humiliated and then destroyed. This will include those who call themselves Christians and those who don't. What does this mean? It is the King's judgment that matters, not ours or the world's. Many times the world honors people to whom Christ will say, "I never knew you. Depart from Me" (Matthew 7:23).

When I first read this chapter, I feared that in some ways I resembled Haman more than Mordecai. I pray to be one of Christ's despised few. May our names be written in the Lamb's book of life.