We are on Esther Chapter 4. This is the fifth installment on a bible study series on the book of Esther of the Bible.
In Chapter 4, Moredcai learns about Haman’s wicked scheme to destroy all of the Jews in the Persian empire. He enters into a demonstrative grieving including wearing a sack cloth and wailing in the city streets. Esther learns of his behavaior and sends someone to help him and to find out what is going on. Mordeaci sends a message back to the queen asking her to appeal to the king on behalf of her people, the Jews.
Esther is faced with a life-thretening dilemma, and reminds Mordeaci about the protocol required of her.
11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Esther became queen of Persia in 478 B.C.. The threat to the Jewish people was scheduled for 473 B.C. Esther was approximately fifteen years old when she wed king Xerxes, so she was about twenty years old at the time of the verses written above. {1}
She demonstrates a tremendous amount of courage and maturity for a twenty-year-old.
At this point she would have been acting as queen for five years. She would have ample experience in the rules and protocol of Persian culture, and more specifically, in the requirements of those within the royal court. Esther’s hesitation in approaching the king is for good reason, the previous queen had been banished from the kingdom; and no doubt there had been subjects put to death for lesser things than approaching the king without his summons.
In addition, Esther points out that it has been more than a month since she has been summoned by the King.
In relationships, we all go trough dry spells. Esther was queen to a man who was not only running a kingdom, he had over 400 women in his harem. He was a very busy man.
As a mom I am reminded that no matter how busy I get, I need to make time for my marriage. It’s important to maintain intimacy and friendship with my husband.
First lesson here, don’t let your most important relationships run dry, especially your marriage.
The scripture does not divulge why it had been thirty days since she had been with the king, but as any of us know, in a busy household, time passes all too quickly unless we make time to connect with the people who mean the most to us.
Mordecai’s response, “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” is a somber reminder to Esther that even her position as Queen would not save her. It is also a reminder of God’s sovereignty and promise to save a remnant of Israel.
As far back as Genesis, the people of Israel have been preserved by an almighty God.
Genesis 45:4-8, (NIV)
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[a]
8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.
Mordecai is reminding Esther that she, like Joseph, has been called to preserve for the Jews a remnant on Earth for “such a time as this.”
Esther, in response, is acutely aware of the risk she is about to take. “If I perish, I perish.”
How many of us could have resolved to take such risk in her circumstances?
But Esther understands too that her appeal is not to an earthly king, but a heavenly one.
She fasts.
She prays.
She lays it all on the line.
Another example of humility where God has mercy on his people can be found in 2 Chronicles.
2 Chronicles 12:7
When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.
Throughout scripture one reads of a wayward people, who, when repentant, are reconciled to a merciful God.
The second lesson in Chapter 4 of Esther, be reconciled to God. Seek a relationship with Him and in preparation for a big decision, fast, pray, and seek His face.
Not only Esther, but the entire Jewish people fast and pray to appeal to their heavenly, not earthly, king.
Third lesson, make sure your worship is poured out for our heavenly father and not some other king, or distraction.
It’s easy to be distracted. Make time for our heavenly King and he will delight in your embrace.
Psalm 20
6 Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
I pray he gives you victory when you call upon Him. I’d love to hear what these verses or even the book of Esther may have revealed to you. Please leave a message in the comments.
In His Grip,
Monica
{1} source: http://www.torah.org/learning/women/class23.html#
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If you’d like to start at the beginning of this study, please go to:
Esther Schedule for Study
Esther Chapter 1
Esther Chapter 2
Esther Chapter 2 part 2
Esther Chapter 3
Images are from the movie “One Night with the King”. The movie plays out in elaborate detail the drama of the story of Esther. It’s fun to watch and a great catalyst for discussing the story of Esther.
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