What role does counsel play in decision-making according to Esther 5:14? Setting the Scene Esther 5:14: “His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, ‘Have a gallows seventy-five feet high made, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then you can go joyfully with the king to the banquet.’ The suggestion pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.” Counsel Given: What Was Said • The advice came from those closest to Haman—his wife and his friends. • It appealed to his pride (“go joyfully”) and promised quick satisfaction. • It encouraged a violent, pre-meditated act against an innocent man. Immediate Impact on Haman’s Decision • The text records no hesitation: “The suggestion pleased Haman.” • The counsel moved him from anger (5:9–13) to concrete action. • By night’s end, the gallows was already under construction; advice accelerated sin. Lessons on the Power of Counsel • Counsel shapes direction. Proverbs 13:20: “He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” • Counsel can confirm what is already in the heart—good or evil. James 1:14–15 shows desire giving birth to sin when nourished. • Ungodly counsel blinds to consequences. Proverbs 14:12 warns, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” • The wrong voices can hasten judgment. Haman’s own gallows later became his downfall (Esther 7:9–10). Tests for God-Honoring Counsel • Does it align with God’s revealed will? Psalm 1:1 blesses the one who “does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.” • Does it promote righteousness or merely personal ease? Proverbs 11:14 values counsel that leads to safety, not selfish gain. • Is it consistent with Christlike character—love, humility, justice? Micah 6:8 calls for walking humbly with God. • Are advisors themselves godly and accountable? Rehoboam’s disaster in 1 Kings 12:8 arose from forsaking seasoned, righteous counsel. Conclusion: Choosing Voices Wisely Esther 5:14 illustrates that counsel is never neutral; it steers decisions and destinies. Haman embraced advice that matched his pride, and it led to swift construction of both a gallows and his own ruin. Believers, therefore, must weigh every suggestion against Scripture, seek advisors who fear the Lord, and refuse voices that entice toward sin. |
    |