Monday

March 7, 2016

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, opposite the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne inside the palace opposite the entrance to the palace.  As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won his favor and he held out to her the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter.                                                                                                     Esther 5:1-2

Thought:

If there was EVER a story with a back story, this is it.  Esther was an orphan, a woman, and a minority (Jewish), three strikes against her in the ancient near east, and almost anywhere else.  But the moment arrives when Esther finds herself chosen by the King of the Gentiles to be his new queen.  The King, Xerxes, does not know she is Jewish, and certainly does not suspect that one day she will speak against his edict to have her people annihilated.
Esther risks her position and her life by going before the King without being summoned.  In fact, it is God who positions Esther “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).  From this position, Esther advocates on behalf of her people and against the heinous act of the King.  And she is successful.

Esther risks herself because the many, her people, are more important than the one.  Jesus was faced with the same challenge.  The many, you and me, were more important than the One.  Jesus made his sacrifice because we were too precious to lose.  We were so valuable He paid the high price of His life.  Esther and Jesus risked a great deal.  What will you risk for your faith?  What will I risk?  May we ponder this question as we head toward Good Friday and the cross.