The book of Esther is one of the most well-read of the books of the Old Testament, and numerous films have been made based on its events. Jews celebrate a feast in celebration of it, remembering how God preserved them from annihilation. The feast is known as Purim.
Haman is the antagonist in the biblical account. He has become the number 2 man in the kingdom. Yet, despite his lofty state, he is constantly perplexed by the disrespect he gets from a Jew named Mordecai, the cousin, and guardian, of Queen Esther.
In the following verses, Haman, after having been a guest at a banquet given by the queen, has called together his wife and closest friends one evening to boast.
Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth, his many sons, and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the kingʼs other officials and servants. Haman said, “Furthermore, Queen Esther invited only me to accompany the king to the banquet that she prepared! And also tomorrow I am invited along with the king. Yet all of this fails to satisfy me so long as I have to see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the kingʼs gate.”
Notice the dilemma Haman has, which is common to many of us. No matter what his position is, no matter his lofty status and special treatment, no matter his wealth and prestige, he cannot be happy because one thing is eating at him and puts him in a sour mood.
The term “happy” may refer to an emotional or spiritual state of wellbeing.
Emotional and Spiritual Happiness
The happiness Haman lacks is emotional. And spiritual.
Positive emotions are so easily derailed by things that grate us the wrong way. Much of the time the reason our happiness is stolen is due to our expectations not being fulfilled. EX. “I was happy until he started seeing someone else.”, the expectation being that the relationship would be, or become, permanent (even if this expectation is justified).
In this case, Haman expects everyone, aside from the king, to pay him homage whenever he passes by. Now, by decree he does have a rightful expectation of this, but Mordecai simply will not comply, and this drives Haman’s hatred…but, because of one man, his hatred extends to ALL the Jews in the land. Now we’ve moved into the realm of irrational behavior.
There are countless ways he could have dealt with his frustration, but he’d rather eliminate the entire race. (We’ve seen this countless times throughout history: 1804 Haiti massacre, mass murders under Joseph Stalin, Hitler’s Nazi Germany, the mass genocide of Darfur, etc.)
Why didn’t Haman (or all those previously mentioned) deal with this situation differently; after all, we’re talking about one seemingly obstinate man?!
Because he is also spiritually bankrupt of happiness.
True, Lasting Happiness
In order to have spiritual happiness we must acknowledge and fully depend upon our God. Without a permanent relationship with God we can never be eternally happy. The term for this happiness is often translated ‘blessed as in, “Blessed are the meek…”.
Spiritual happiness is not the giddy, lighthearted, fleeting feeling we call ‘happy’; but, it is a deep sense of assurance in God’s promises to us, built on the knowledge that He is ever-faithful.
HOW DO WE RETAIN HAPPINESS?
When things don’t go our way…
Proverbs 16:9 is a great reminder of how God is responsible for determining the steps we take. We make plans because we have the God-given ability to think and discern the course of our life. Yet, God lights our way and moves us in the perfect direction for our life’s purpose. If we continually look to Him and trust His guidance over our own agenda, we’ll know happiness within.
When a relationship is shaken…
The book of James contains some extremely practical advice regarding relationships. He addresses anger quite extensively and offers this: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:19-20)
All too often, when a relationship is on the skids anger is involved, either as a catalyst or as a result. But, James reminds us that unrighteousness anger deters us from obtaining the result we want.
When our feelings get hurt…
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
Human feelings are fragile and subject to any amount of abuse at times. For me, when my feelings are hurt it is often the result of feeling ‘as if’ I am being disregarded by someone whose opinion I trust and respect.
Over time (it is my experience) we build up a set of personal ‘laws’, so to speak, by which we measure people’s responses to us. An integral element of these ‘laws’ are ‘buttons’—phrases, body language, a certain look—that trigger our hurt response.
If we take everything to God, rather than rely on our own—often skewed discernment—His peace will guard our hearts and our minds. (Philippians 4:7)
When we lose an opportunity…
Paul, the apostle, chooses to ignore the past—what’s done is done—when he offers this Godly encouragement, “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13b)
A popular adage came out of the modern Christian movement: “When God closes one door, He opens another.” The phrase itself is not in the Bible, but the truism is biblical. If we look to Him for our future and rely on Him for our direction in this life, we will never be disappointed.
God has our best interest at heart. It doesn’t necessary mean we’ll get that promotion we want, but it does mean our life will be richer for having trusted His discernment.
When we feel misunderstood…
“Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:21-23)
When others disregard us…
Despite tremendous adversity and loss of reputation, the apostle Paul was able to say with eternal confidence, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)
In the account of Israel and Queen Esther, Haman’s motto could be summed up as, “If Haman ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Yet, God was not about to let Haman’s self-righteous hatred of His people go unchecked. We are ever in His care; after all, if Christ died for us (and He did), then He will protect His investment in us. God still defends and protects His people in this age as well.
Let’s not allow emotions to determine our happiness; rather, let’s keep our hearts, minds and souls focused on the One through whom real joy emanates.
Be blessed (happy) in the LORD.
Thank you Allan, What a blessing to listen to your music while reading the spiritual blog. Romans 15:4 “For whatever things were written in the past were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have Hope.”
Thank you so much, my dear friend! I always appreciate your comments (even if I don’t get around to reading them and responding to them in a timely fashion!) Keep ’em comin’! Blessings on you and Chriss.