The Privilege of Repentance

A great instance of poetic justice in the Bible is seen in the book of Esther.  The wicked adversary Haman plotted to destroy all the Jews and had access to the king of Persia.  Though he was able to pass a law to achieve his murderous intentions, he was foiled by the courage and bravery of Mordecai and Queen Esther.  The life of Haman well-illustrates Proverbs 26:27:  "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him."  The one who wanted to kill Jews was himself killed for his evil scheme - on the same gallows he had built for Mordecai.

When King Ahasuerus was informed of Haman's evil plot, he left the room in a rage to compose himself and collect his thoughts.  Haman knew his life was in great danger.  Esther 7:8 says, "When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, "Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?" As the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face."  From this passage it seems the covering of the face indicates a person was doomed to death.  The laws of the Medes and Persians could not be changed, and once the cloth covered the face of a person, their life was finished without any appeal.

It struck me what a blessing and privilege repentance is!  Haman was not given the opportunity to repent of his crimes before a king, yet God has made a way for men to repent of their sins before Him.  God is just and righteous, but great is His mercy, love, and compassion towards us.  His anger is inflamed by wickedness into great wrath, yet when we repent He is gracious to forgive.  Repentance is often viewed as an unpleasant duty, but it truly is a privilege - a gift of God which should fill us with reverence and awe of His goodness towards us.  How glorious is our God who forgives and gives new beginnings to all who repent and trust in Him.