Wednesday 14 November, 2018

8 That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate. 3 Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him. 5 “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?” 7 King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. 8 Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”

How does one approach a king?

Verses 3-6 show Esther falling at the king’s feet, weeping and begging him to help her. She then very humbly requests that the king prevent her people from being destroyed.

I don’t know that I’ve ever fallen on my knees weeping and begging (except maybe as a toddler chucking a tantrum!). However, the point is not the act itself, but the heart behind it. Esther was so passionate for her people, so committed to their wellbeing and survival, and yet unable to help them by her own strength. She needed the king to intervene and yet she recognised that he had no obligation to do so. She approached him passionately, yet humbly.

It’s uncommon for any of us to have mass genocides to prevent (phew!) But there are purposes and priorities God has put in our lives which demand our passion, our commitment, and our weeping and begging before our King. God is good and gracious, and thankfully He isn’t limited by our poor attitudes when we try and do it in our own strength. But these verses should encourage us to recognise our place in His kingdom, and to approach Him accordingly – with passionate humility.

God, thank You that You reign. You are King, You are Lord, You are sovereign. Help us as Your people to approach you with both passion and humility, as we seek Your intervention in our lives.

Written by Matt Samperi