Esther agrees to go to the King
April 4, 2021
Commentary
Esther is unique among the books of the Bible in that it is the only book in which the Lord God of Israel is never mentioned. But you can’t read this book without seeing the Lord’s hand of providence moving in the background, preparing the way of salvation for his people. Last time, Esther sent a message to Mordecai, telling him that there was nothing she could do. She was not allowed to approach the king without an invitation, and it had been a month since she had last seen the king. “Perhaps he is growing board with me”, she might have thought. Mordecai’s responded thus:
1. Being Queen will not save you from the coming threat (v. 13, 14). It was only a matter of time for Haman discovered her Jewish heritage and tried to have her killed as well.
2. There is always salvation for God’s people (v. 14). If Esther kept silent, the Lord would save his people another way. It’s interesting that Mordecai didn’t say “the Lord” would be doing the saving. It’s only implied.
3. Perhaps Esther was made Queen so that she might save her people (v. 14).
After hearing Mordecai’s response, Esther made up her mind. In three days, she would go to king. She accepted her death as an acceptable outcome (v. 16). She only asked that Mordecai and the Jews should hold a fast on her behalf, just as she and her maidservants would fast.
Application
Am I committed, like Esther, to do right despite the possible consequences or am I just looking out for my own skin. Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. used to say, “Do right, even if the stars fall.”
Esther 4:12– 17 (NET)
12 When Esther’s reply was conveyed to Mordecai, 13 he said to take back this answer to Esther: “Don’t imagine that because you are part of the king’s household you will be the one Jew who will escape. 14 If you keep quiet at this time, liberation and protection for the Jews will appear from another source, while you and your father’s household perish. It may very well be that you have achieved royal status for such a time as this!”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast on my behalf. Don’t eat and don’t drink for three days, night or day. My female attendants and I will also fast in the same way. Afterward I will go to the king, even though it violates the law. If I perish, I perish.”
17 So Mordecai set out to do everything that Esther had instructed him.
Illustration: Are You a Leader
S. I. MacMillan, in his book None of These Diseases, tells a story of a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, “Are you a leader?” Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, “No,” and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: “Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower.” (S. I. MacMillan, None of These Diseases).