I had the privilege of reading the book of Esther this past month in my Bible reading. For those of you who don't know Esther, she was a young Jewish women brought into Babylonian captivity. She lived with her uncle Mordecai, who loved her as his own daughter.
Through a series of events the king of Babylon began a search for a new queen. Wouldn't you know it, Esther was chosen to be that queen. Not long after her queenship began an evil advisor in the kingdom plotted to kill all the Jews. Esther was made aware of his plot by her uncle Mordecai. Uncertain of what she should do, Mordecai advised her with the following:
"Don't think that you will escape the fate of all the jews because you are in the king's palace. If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father's family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this" (Esther 4:13-14, CSV).
"For such a time as this."
It's a famous statement that if you've journeyed with God for a significant amount of time you've heard. It's a reminder that we may not always understand the difficulty of the moment. We may not know the outcome of the season. But if it is in our power to do something, we must choose to walk courageously forward.
Now usually I read this verse and meditate on it for a while, but this time as I was reading my curiosity was peaked in a different direction. Did you know that this passage we so often quote only represented one of the six times documented in the book of Esther that Esther was stood before the king. Granted, this second time may have been the most significant. Yet as I pulled back the pages of scripture and read through each instance I felt God speaking to my heart.
Her first appearance is in Esther chapter two. This is where the king fell in love with Esther. The Bible says that "She won more favor and approval from him than did any of the other virgins" (2:17, CSV). She captivated his heart from her first appearance.
Her second appearance is in Esther chapter five. This is where Esther approaches the king unannounced, which in this culture could equal death. That is why her decision to go to the king was such a big deal.
Esther put her life on the line in order to save her people.
The Bible says that "As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she gained favor in his eyes" (5:2, CSV). Listen, she didn't have to convince the king to favor her. She hadn't even reached his presence. He looked, saw her from afar and the minute he laid his eyes on her he favored her.
The third time Esther was in the kings presence is also in chapter five. He proceeds to tell her that whatever she asks of him, he will grant her. The forth time comes in chapter seven and again he tells her, whatever she asks of him will be granted. The fifth and sixth time in his presence come in chapters seven and eight.
There's two things I want to pull from these encounters with the king to encourage you with this week.
#1. Every time Esther came before the king she was favored.
Listen, every time you approach your Heavenly Father you are favored. It doesn't matter where you've come from or what you've been through. Esther was an orphan living in a foreign land in exile.
She was the least likely candidate for queenship, but as soon as the king saw her he loved and favored her above all the rest. You don't need to perform or strive for perfection, even from afar God sees you and His favor is on you. You are already chosen. Already loved. The position of God's daughter is already yours.
#2. Every time Esther came before the king her request was granted.
Sometimes I hesitate to ask God things. I wonder if He really will work on my behalf for good. Esther was in the kings presence six times. Of those six, five times she came to the king with requests and each time her request was granted.
I noticed that she approached the king with humility. I think as we pray and ask God for things we need to have the same heart. A heart that says, "God I would love for this to happen, but I also realize that You see the big picture. I want Your way above my own, but I'm still gonna ask."
I also noticed that her requests weren't just for her benefit, they were for the benefit of others. She wanted to save the lives of her people. She acted selflessly and courageous with her ask. I want my requests I bring to God to be for the greater good too. They can't be selfish requests all the time, they need to go beyond myself.
Maybe it's time for you to approach the King.
I smile when I read the story of Esther. I see her growing stronger as each chapter unfolds. She becomes certain that she is loved, that she is favored and when it comes to the greater good of others, no request is too bold for the king to answer.
I pray the same for our lives. May we know God in such a way that we are utterly convinced of His favor on our lives. May we approach Him with honor, ease and reverence—but freely, knowing we are fully loved by Him. May He grant us the wisdom to know what to ask for as we petition Him for things beyond ourselves for the greater good of others.
"May our lives be a series of seasons where we look back and say 'I can't believe that God just answered that request.' Or maybe, just maybe, I can."
Photo Credit: Orione Conceição
Comments