Much is made of Esther's uninvited approach of King Ahasuerus and for good reason. Under the law of the Medes and Persians which could not be changed, all who approached the king without an invitation were sentenced to death - unless the king held out the golden sceptre towards the one who approached as a signal of his favour. Queen Esther had not been called before the king for 30 days, yet after three days of prayer and fasting she drew near to the king to plead for her people. She found favour in the sight of the king and her life was preserved because the king delighted in her.
Did you know Esther did not only approach the king once but did so a second time? After Haman's treachery was exposed, Esther again appeared before the king uninvited. Esther 8:3-6 states, "Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews. 4 And the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king, 5 and said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favour in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all the king's provinces. 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?" The first time Esther approached the king she did so after three days of prayer and fasting, but the second time there is no mention of a period of prayerful preparation. Her life was at stake the second time she came, but the situation was approached differently. Gone was the formal and stately demeanour: she fell at his the feet of the king weeping. I do not believe she trusted God any less, but having received the favour of the king previously she was emboldened to do so a second time.
The king extending the golden sceptre to Queen Esther is a beautiful picture of how God extends grace and kindness to all people who draw near to Him in faith. Our sin under the Law demanded death, but Jesus our LORD and Saviour shed His blood so we could be forgiven through repentance and trust in Him. He does not offer us grace at the beginning and withdraw it on a whim, for His love remains active for us. God will never forget to be gracious, but it is we who can neglect to draw near to Him. It is good for us to have a sense of trepidation as we approach divine royalty, yet at the same time we can be bold like Esther the second time because He has given us access into His throne room of grace. The truth of Hebrews 4:16 never grows old for me: "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
God is gracious and will help those who humbly seek Him. A word we do not often use today but is most appropriate for our need to seek the LORD is "succour" which can be used as a verb or a noun. As a verb it means "literally, to run to, or run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering." Utilised as a noun "succour" means, "help; assistance; particularly, assistance that relieves and delivers from difficulty, want or distress." When we succour God's favour, He is able to succour all who come to Him. Our God is a Deliverer, One willing and able to help in times of trouble. Instead of trying to help ourselves, let us seek the LORD for succour. When we run to God for help, He runs to help us.
Did you know Esther did not only approach the king once but did so a second time? After Haman's treachery was exposed, Esther again appeared before the king uninvited. Esther 8:3-6 states, "Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews. 4 And the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king, 5 and said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favour in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all the king's provinces. 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?" The first time Esther approached the king she did so after three days of prayer and fasting, but the second time there is no mention of a period of prayerful preparation. Her life was at stake the second time she came, but the situation was approached differently. Gone was the formal and stately demeanour: she fell at his the feet of the king weeping. I do not believe she trusted God any less, but having received the favour of the king previously she was emboldened to do so a second time.
The king extending the golden sceptre to Queen Esther is a beautiful picture of how God extends grace and kindness to all people who draw near to Him in faith. Our sin under the Law demanded death, but Jesus our LORD and Saviour shed His blood so we could be forgiven through repentance and trust in Him. He does not offer us grace at the beginning and withdraw it on a whim, for His love remains active for us. God will never forget to be gracious, but it is we who can neglect to draw near to Him. It is good for us to have a sense of trepidation as we approach divine royalty, yet at the same time we can be bold like Esther the second time because He has given us access into His throne room of grace. The truth of Hebrews 4:16 never grows old for me: "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
God is gracious and will help those who humbly seek Him. A word we do not often use today but is most appropriate for our need to seek the LORD is "succour" which can be used as a verb or a noun. As a verb it means "literally, to run to, or run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering." Utilised as a noun "succour" means, "help; assistance; particularly, assistance that relieves and delivers from difficulty, want or distress." When we succour God's favour, He is able to succour all who come to Him. Our God is a Deliverer, One willing and able to help in times of trouble. Instead of trying to help ourselves, let us seek the LORD for succour. When we run to God for help, He runs to help us.
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