Esther 2:18

The Bible says in Esther 2:18-23, “Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.[19] And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.[20] Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.[21] In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.[22] And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.[23] And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.” This incident is just like all the others in the book of Esther in that we see that the Lord is involved in all things. The Lord guides. The Lord uses all things. The Lord protects His children. One way that the Lord protected Esther and guided her life was by giving Mordecai to her as a counsellor. Esther was an orphan, but God replaced her parents with Mordecai. O, how wise is God! How greatly He can turn a disaster into a blessing! Esther was wise because as a young woman, she listened to the good advice of her uncle. It says at the end of verse twenty, “for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.” Esther and Mordecai rescued the king from a coup and from death. Of course, the memory of this would come back to the king at just the right time. Of course, they would have the confidence and appreciation of the king. Of course, the king would return the favor and protect them. What a mighty God we have! God knows all things. God controls all things. God provides for His children.

The Bible says in Esther 3:1-6, “After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.[2] And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.[3] Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?[4] Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.[5] And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.[6] And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.” This life involves spiritual battles. The Lord was blessing and helping and guiding Mordecai and Esther, but the devil was also at work raising up enemies and opposition and hatred. Verse two tells us why Haman hated Mordecai. It says, “But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.” To bow down to someone is a form of worship. Believers only bow down to Christ. It says in Revelation 19:4 when John was going to bow down to one of the believers in heaven, “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Verse four also tells us that Mordecai “had told them that he was a Jew.” He had to tell them why he would not bow down to Haman. Christians who have a testimony in this world must do the same thing. We will not do certain things that the world does, and here is the reason why: because we are Christians and we are trying to follow Jesus.

The Bible says in Esther 3:7-15, “In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.[8] And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.[9] If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.[10] And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.[11] And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.[12] Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.[13] And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.[14] The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.[15] The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.” Wicked people who are in power are not just sitting around waiting for things to happen and then reacting to those things. They are planning and scheming all the time. Haman hated the Jews. Haman was an anti-semite. Haman talks the king into agreeing to kill all the Jewish people in the Persian Empire. They want it to be a coordinated attack so that no one will escape. All Jews: men, women, and children were to be killed on a specific day. Instructions were sent all through the land to get everyone ready in every province. Of course, this is the work of the devil. The Jewish people are the recipients of a great promise from God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Christians enter into that promise through faith in Christ. The reason that Jews and Christians are hated in this world is because the devil hates them. Those who are not rightly related to God through faith in Christ will easily turn to hate because of the power of the dark forces. In the last days the antichrist will bring his armies into the valley of Megiddo in order to perform one last and final holocaust against the Jewish people. Jesus will destroy all those armies in a swift and bloody battle called the Battle of Armageddon.

The Bible says in Esther 4:1-9, “When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;[2] And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.[3] And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.[4] So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.[5] Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.[6] So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.[7] And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.[8] Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.[9] And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.” Evidently because Esther lived an isolated and protected life in the palace, she did not know what was going on. Mordecai got the word to her. She would have to go to the king, but it can be very dangerous to go to the king. Anyone with no exceptions who went to the king without first being called by the king, would be put to death unless the king held out his scepter to that person. Since Esther had not even spoken to the king in a month, she was concerned there was the possibility that he would not accept her and she would be put to death.

The Bible says in Esther 4:10-17, “Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;[11] All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.[12] And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.[13] Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.[14] For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?[15] Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,[16] Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.[17] So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.” In verse sixteen when Esther said, “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day,” she was asking for prayer. Esther knew the power of prayer, and she knew it was good when multiple believers prayed for the same thing. That is one of the reasons that Christians should gather together in church services: to pray for one another. Jesus promised in Matthew 18:19-20 in describing a basic church, “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.[20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Once Esther made up her mind that she was going to risk her own life in order to do the right thing to go to the king to try and save her people, she said at the end of verse sixteen, “if I perish, I perish.” That was a great statement made by a queen. She could have tried to protect herself so that she could possibly continue living in luxury, but she did not. Esther was good, and brave, and noble. Esther did the right thing no matter what the cost might be. We have all the heard the stories of politicians who have sold themselves and their country down the drain. The founders of America were like Esther. They pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor for the sake of establishing a country of freedom of speech and freedom of religion. How many current day politicians even have any honor left? How many politicians not only do not pledge their own fortune, but they make decisions for the purpose of increasing their own fortune at the expense of the hard-working citizens. How many current day politicians would risk their lives for what is good and true and right? That is one of the biggest problems of our land: we need more leaders like Esther.

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