Following the leading of the Holy Spirit, Esther hosts a second banquet in honor of the king.   The king asks a third time that the Queen make her requests known to him, thus binding himself to grant her request.

The Queen could have asked for riches, or that a friend be moved to a position of power, or any number of favors.  But instead, she pleads for her life and the lives of her people, the Jews of Susa.

One commentary phrased it this way, “Esther’s was such: “Let my life be given me. If thou hast any affection for the wife of thy bosom, now is the time to show it for that is the life that lies at stake.” Multitude. If they be many lives, very many, and those no way forfeited, that are aimed at, no time should be lost nor pains spared to prevent the mischief. “It is not a friend or two, but my people, a whole nation, and a nation dear to me, for the saving of which I now intercede.” {1}

For the first time in their already five year old marriage, Esther reveals that she is a Jew.

Have you ever held a personal prejudice against a certain culture or class of people only to find out that someone dear to you was somehow connected to that culture or class of people? The word prejudice is most often used to refer to preconceived, usually unfavorable, judgments toward people or a person because of gender, social class, age, disability, religion, sexuality, race/ethnicity, language, nationality or other personal characteristics. {2}

Based on the scripture, I don’t believe the king had any prejudice against the Jews.  What the king did have was pride that allowed him to believe that he was above a certain class of people who were described as undesirable by Haman.  Without much thought he had agreed to their destruction without considering the consequences of his actions.  He was (in his mind) immune to the consequences of agreeing to dispose of an “unwanted” populace by Haman.

We are not immune.

We are not immune to consequences of our actions, nor are we immune to the pride that comes from privilege.  We are not immune to our own personal prejudices and we must always be on guard against these things in our heart.

And in our home.

Mathew 25:40, New International Version
The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

We are called to help those in need and to reach out to those who are “the least of these”.  Our children watch our every action and will one day model what they have seen in our homes.

I pray to be a positive example to my children.   That I might illustrate how to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others. And most especially to my little ones.  I struggle with my own pride and judgements and have to be continually on guard to prayerfully root them out before they take up residence in my heart.

Xerxes was a prideful king, but he was not a fool.  In an amazing story of following the Lord’s leading Esther manages to point out an error in judgement on behalf of her husband without making him look or feel like a fool.  As wives we would be wise to do likewise.

Honoring Xerxes and treating him with respect, Esther manages to ask for her life and the lives of her people while keeping her marriage relationship intact. She gives her husband the benefit of the doubt, surely he did not mean to sentence her to death, and reveals the wicked and evil plot of Haman, one of the king’s most trusted advisors.

Xerxes, likely remembering that he had already lost one wife due to the advice of his friends, leaves for a walk in the garden to sort though his thoughts before coming to a decision about the Queen’s request.

My prayer this week is that God would gently point out to me areas where I might have pride or prejudices against others and that I allow him to remove any unforgive-ness in my heart.  I pray protection for my little ones that they might also be continually open to His leading and that we might have opportunity to minister to others in a way that is God-honoring and that we might reach out to “the least of these”.

I would love to hear how these verses ministered to you this week.  Please leave a message in the comments so we can share what He’s doing in our lives.

I pray you find rest and refreshment in the arms of our beloved King and mighty Father this week. 

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