Sept 1 - The King's ReceptionLessons From the Life of Esther: The King’s ReceptionBy Jim Laffoon On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. Then the king asked, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you." "If it pleases the king," replied Esther, "let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.” Esther 5: 1-4 As Esther approached the king’s throne room, her heart was pounding like a kettle drum. The eunuchs that had grown to love her had begged her not to go. After all, the king had not summoned her for 30 days, and they all knew the cruelty he was capable of. With the lives of her people endangered, however, none of their entreaties had been able to stop her. Esther knew that she had to approach the king. When Esther entered the king’s inner chambers, his guards and officials were stunned to see her. “What is the young queen thinking?” they agonized. “Doesn’t she realize that the king had been depressed and angry for days?” With the care of his state weighing on his shoulders, he had looked for every opportunity to lash out in rage at his servants. Esther, however, was beginning to experience the supernatural peace of God. With joy and humility radiating from her countenance, Esther wisely decided not to announce her arrival to the king. She simply waited for the king to acknowledge her presence. When the king finally saw Esther, joy flooded his heart. How he had missed her, he thought to himself. She was the only one in the kingdom who had never asked him for anything. Her kindness, compassion and tenderness had always touched his heart. When the king held out the golden scepter, Esther approached the throne and touched the scepter’s tip. As the whole court breathed a sigh of relief, the king opened the bounty of his kingdom to his young queen. “Esther, what do you want from me? I will give you up to half the kingdom I rule, if that is what you want.” As Esther wisely answered the king, she knew her people would be safe. What are some important lessons we can learn from this story? First, the same favor that had won the king’s heart was also able to keep his heart. When the king saw the inner beauty that radiated from Esther’s soul, there was nothing in the world that he would not give her. This is also an important lesson for you. As you continue to allow the character of Christ to be formed in your life, the favor that normally follows godly character will continue to grow in your life as well. Second, Queen Esther risked her life in order to save her people. Even though she was his wife, Esther also knew that the king was a capricious tyrant who had ordered the death of countless people. If Esther had the courage to approach this evil despot, surely you can have the boldness to approach the throne of the God who loves you so much. In fact, unlike Esther, who had to be summoned to the throne of her king, your King has given you twenty-four hour access to His person and power. Furthermore, far from giving us half of His kingdom, our beloved King says that it His pleasure to give us His entire kingdom (Luke 12:32). Do you see it yet? No matter what position you have been given in the visible world, in the invisible world, you have been granted a place of unbelievable prestige and power. As a son or daughter of God you can approach your Father’s throne at any time. Tragically, some Christians seem to think that the God they serve is more like Cyrus than the loving God whom the Bible describes. This false caricature of God keeps them from enjoying the privileges that Christ’s precious blood purchased for them. If this is where you are, the Holy Spirit wants to begin the process of giving you a healthy image of your heavenly Father today. Whether your early images of Him were misshapen by an earthly father who never really knew how to love you, or you are simply seeing Him through the film of the guilt and shame that have marred your soul, there is nothing He cannot heal and deliver you from. In John 14:8 Philip asked Jesus to show the other disciples and him what the Father was like. The answer Jesus gave them is the same answer He has for you today: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the father.” (John 14:9c) In other words, our loving heavenly Father is filled with compassion, mercy and grace. Even when He judges sin, He never ceases to love the people He has created. As this revelation fills your heart, you will have the confidence you need to approach both God and man. © Copyright 2005 by Jim Laffoon |
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