May 26 - Esther 4-7

Mordecai was very upset when he learned about everything that had happened, so he took off to the gates of the king to tell the king what was going on.  He couldn't go past the gate because he was dressed in a sackcloth, which wasn't appropriate in that time.  Hathach reported back and forth between Esther and Mordecai and Esther finally relayed this information:  If Mordecai and all the Jews in Susa fasted for 3 days, she would go to the king and explain what had been going on.  She would fast, as well, and risk dying when going to the king.
After 3 days, Esther put on her Sunday best and went to the king.  Esther requested that Haman join them for a banquet.  The king sent for Haman and they joined together for a banquet.  During this time, Esther requested that they reconvene the next day.  Haman went home and said he was so happy to be invited to eat with the king, but he was so angry every time he saw Mordecai at the gates as he entered.  His wife suggested that a gallow be built and that Haman ask the king to hang Mordecai on it the next day during dinner.  Haman thought this was a great idea and they started building the gallow. 
In the meantime, the king realized that Mordecai had never been honored for exposing Bigthana and Teresh, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.  He asked Haman how he thought Mordecai should be honored.  Haman came up with the idea of giving Mordecai some royal clothes and a royal horse and parading through town to show what happens to a man that honors the king.  He followed through with this and went home feeling humiliated and conquered.  The next day at the banquet, Esther finally told the king her request.  She asked that her life, and the lives of her people, be spared.  They had been sold as slaves.  When the king heard this, he was irate.  He demanded to know who was responsible for this.  When Esther announced that it was Haman, the king ordered that he be killed.  Haman was hung on the very gallow that he built to kill Mordecai.