Grace and Gladness

"He who earnestly seeks good finds favour, but trouble will come to him who seeks evil."

Proverbs 11:27

On Sunday at church we looked at a passage that well illustrates the principle held forth here.  When cousin Mordecai communicated to queen Esther the evil devised against their people, she ultimately decided to approach the king without being summoned.  For any who dared do so there was only one law:  death.  There was a caveat, however, for the king could overrule the unchanging law of the Medes and Persians and hold forth the golden sceptre to spare the life of one who found favour in his sight.

Esther, her maids, Mordecai and all the Jews he gathered in Shushan the citadel fasted three days before she sought an audience with king Ahasuerus.  I am certain she earnestly sought the God of Israel who alone is good in that time, for her desire was that she and her people should live.  Her life was dependent upon God as she approached the king.  Esther 5:1-2 reads, "Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, across from the king's house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. ² So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter."  Walking by faith in God was the means of Esther finding favour with the king, and the schemes of Haman the enemy of the Jews soon came to light and were overthrown.

Haman the Agagite was troubled when Mordecai the Jew refused to bow before him, and was moved to destroy Mordecai and all the children of Israel as well.  He concealed his true intentions before the king to curry his favour and used the signet ring of the king to write into law a command to kill the Jewish people--all under the guise of protecting the king and the good of his kingdom.  But Haman was not content to wait to destroy the man he hated and constructed  high gallows for the purpose of hanging Mordecai.  When queen Ether exposed Haman's deceit and murderous intentions, the king brought great trouble upon the man who sought to do evil and hung Haman on the gallows intended for Mordecai.  In doing good Esther received grace, and trouble came to Haman who plotted evil.

Psalm 32:10-11 reads, "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. ¹¹ Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"  How true it is the one who trusts the LORD is in the blessed position to receive the LORD's grace surrounded by His mercy.  God has extended grace to all through the Gospel, and it is by faith in Him we receive His love, forgiveness, joy, peace and are delivered from evil.  Believers will face many troubles, but in seeking the LORD and trusting in Him we are greatly helped by His mercy and grace.  Trying to gain favour for self leads to trouble, but the one who seeks the LORD will have grace upon grace with gladness in the end.