Our Mvp Is

Esther 6: 1 – 14

The Nominee for MVP Is

1 That night the king could not sleep. So, one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 Then the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 4 So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 The king’s servants said to him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in, and the king asked him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought in his heart, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’” 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.” 11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!” 12 Afterward Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. 13 When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him.” 14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs came, and hastened to bring Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

I was watching the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs and the fans were chanting about one of their favorite players the words ‘MVP’. I believe that most of you would know what this acronym means when used in sports. It refers to the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the entire league.

We must however be careful to use this acronym freely about our daily conversations for you would be amazed at how many ways this term can be used. Let me share with you a few of these;

Most Valuable Professional (Microsoft recognition)

Most Valuable Primate (movie)

Most Valuable Performance

Most Valuable Product (PC computing award)

Most Valuable Point

Most Valuable Poet

And now the MVP award I want to give out for all the individuals involved in the book of Esther is the Most Valuable Person. I know that you are presently thinking of two candidates for this award Esther and Mordecai. Am I right? You might be surprised that there Is someone else Who deserves this award. You will find out shortly Who I am talking about.

This chapter is the pivotal point in the book. Prior to this chapter Haman was continually on the ascendancy and took the opportunity to seek to destroy Mordecai and the Jews. In this chapter, due to the king’s sleeplessness, Haman aims at greater glory for himself, but then has to grant it to Mordecai at the king’s command. What Haman has sought goes to Mordecai. From this chapter on Haman and his house will slide ever downwards, whilst Mordecai will be in the ascendancy, and the Jews will be delivered. And it is made clear that all this began due to an unseen hand at work behind the scenes which caused the king’s sleeplessness and the reading to him of the loyal act of Mordecai. To the Jew it would be clear that it was God Who was at work.

1 That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.