Esther 5:11-13 And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. 12 Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. 13 Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
 
RICHES, position and power don’t mean much to a man who is not honored. Fascinating, isn’t it, that Haman, who had no sense of honor for women and for the Jews, had a prideful longing to be honored by one man of lowly position in the king’s court.
    How poignant is Haman’s lament: “Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” What does it matter to Haman that this one man did not honor him? Why is he so bitter about Mordecai’s refusal?
    Here is another symptom of pride’s pervasive hold on the human soul. Pride leads to great desires that cannot be satisfied. Unsatisfied, we become bitter and vengeful. Paul writes of these emotions’ devastating effect in Romans 3:10-15 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. 13 Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips.14 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood.”
    Paul’s words written about 600 years after Haman lived precisely describe Haman’s bitter heart. These words also describe the murderous way Haman will attempt to resolve his bitter heart. Even more, in God’s true Word, we will also see in Haman’s life the truth of Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
    Where is your heart? Are you harboring any bitterness toward someone who has harmed you or dishonored you? Are you bitter toward God as you perhaps feel cheated from what you desire and think you deserve? Be humble. Repent. Turn your heart to Proverbs 29:23 “One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” There are too many Hamans in the world. Let’s not add to the number.
 
Prayer: O Lord, my God, how majestic is your name! Turn my heart and mind from me to be fully on you. My sin against you and others are deep and deadly. Cleanse me to be an agent of life in the Kingdom of God. In the Spirit’s power I pray, amen.

Esther 5:9-10 And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. 
 
DO you wonder a bit about Mordecai? His failure to bow before Haman has caused Haman to issue an extermination decree against all Jews. But here Mordecai continues to refuse to bow to the man. Shouldn’t he give in a little just this once to perhaps change Haman’s evil heart?
    Let’s look at it this way: Should Jesus have bowed before Satan just once in order to get some food and to reign over the kingdoms of the earth (Luke 4)? The obvious answer is, “No. The Son of God could never bow to Satan. He would disobey his own Word. In such sin, he could not be our Savior.” Surely, Satan would then require more and more of Jesus, wouldn’t he? Evil is never satisfied.
    That is why Mordecai’s refusal to bow to Haman is a beautiful example of faith. Mordecai knew of Haman’s evil heart. He also knew he had instructed Esther to go in the Lord’s power to resist Haman’s evil plot. Any deference to Haman would be Mordecai’s confession, “I don’t trust God enough. I’m sure he needs my help to fix this mess.”
    We can be tempted to “bow down” to sin and its “shortcuts” in times of stress. But don’t do it. Sin is never satisfied. As you yield to sin, it consumes you with an increasing appetite. Turn from God a little, and you’ll find it easier to turn from God often. And soon you are lost, afraid, and alone in the desert of despair.
    Mordecai was in the darkest hour of his life. But he did not yield to darkness. He stayed in the light. He trusted his sovereign God to act against evil.
 
Prayer: Keep me steadily focused on you, Father. In the darkness, give me eyes only for the light of your salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Esther 5:6-10 And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 7 Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”
 
AS we have mentioned on prayer, there are many times God does not answer our prayers immediately. As any of us have prayed for God to act in specific ways, we know waiting for our Lord’s answer can be the most difficult aspect of prayer.
    Esther is before the king, and she has a life-saving request to ask of him. Yet, she waits. She, the king and Haman have had a good meal. Perhaps they discussed various events around them. Esther certainly exhibited great patience as she sat with her enemy Haman. In the midst of evil, Esther waited.
    She knew Haman’s high position in the kingdom. To accuse him before the king would be an assault to King Ahasuerus as well as to Haman. We have seen that the king wasn’t a man who would admit to a mistake. Perhaps he wouldn’t even care that Esther is a Jew. Perhaps he would prefer Haman over Esther. It is very possible, too, the king would have no concern that Esther’s life had been condemned by Haman’s hateful decree and his own assent to it.
    So she waits. Her waiting will show the king she is not an impetuous, emotional person who is scheming against Haman. She waits to enlarge the king’s favor toward herself. Perhaps in her prayer and fasting, she heard God tell her to wait. Her time with God has brought her closer to him. She has been with the King of Heaven to help her speak to the King of Persia.
    Indeed, we will see her waiting is truly under God’s providence. He will arrange matters to make Haman more vulnerable. The king will at the right time be fully open to her charges against him.
    Yes, it is good to know God is sovereign in all matters. When it seems we should act “right now”, perhaps we should wait a bit. There can be peace in our waiting as we trust God to act in his will. There can be peace in our waiting as we know God’s justice will ultimately come to those who oppose his ways. We will find hope in our waiting as we are assured God’s blessings will come upon those who honor his commands.
    As we are in prayer to seek the King’s favor, let us be reminded of Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
 
Prayer: Teach me to wait, Father. Help me know when to go, when to speak, when to rest, when to get up and go. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 
Esther 5:4-5 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.” 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared.
 
NOTE the way Esther addresses her king. “If it please the king” are humble words to the one whose word is law in Persia. She comes to Ahasuerus knowing two life-dependent truths: The king has her life in his hands. And the king is able to fulfill her request. The king may be pleased or not to agree to her petition.
    Then you see King Ahasuerus answer her request with an effective, resounding, “Yes!” “Bring Haman quickly.” he says. Esther’s humble honoring request has received an honoring answer. The king’s favor is on Esther as he grants her request.
    Isn’t this a good illustration of how we are to approach our Lord? When we pray, we have been taught to say, “Your will be done.” (Matthew 6:10). We learn in the Bible that God answers all prayers in his will. He will say to our requests, “Yes!” “Not now.” “No.” or “Here’s a different way I will respond to you.”
    We are in God’s favor that we may continually approach him with our petitions in joy and thanksgiving as Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  We can safely and surely ask of our King any desire and passion on our heart. Then he will respond.
    Be humble to know you can’t deal with life in your own power and means. Understand you need help. Esther needed help to save her people. She went to her king. We each need help to live into Jesus’ teachings, to care for others, to serve Jesus’ church and to be “delivered from evil”. With an honoring heart, go to the King.
 
Prayer: Our Father in Heaven, may we keep your name holy. May your kingdom come. May you will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Forgive our sins. Give us grace forgive others. Deliver us from evil. Keep us safe in your kingdom, under your power and in your glory forever. Amen.
 
Happy birthday, Barb James. You are my wife, whom I love. In you I am well pleased.

Esther 5:3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.”
 
IS the king a new man? King Ahasuerus has honored Esther! He has called her by her title. He has also spoken the generous language of his culture. With the words “to the half of my kingdom” he expresses an eagerness to offer to Esther all she requires. How has this self-focused man become so agreeable, especially as Esther has entered into his presence uninvited? Remember, it was against the king’s own law to come to him so unexpectedly.
     Do you believe the king’s attitude was the result of Esther’s, Mordecai’s and the Jews’ fasting and prayer? Certainly we see in the king’s honoring invitation a fruit of the petitions to the King of Heaven. As we easily believe God created the heavens and the earth, so we should quickly understand God has created for that moment a gentle heart in the King of Persia. He has done so to preserve the lives of his own people.
     In this pagan king, God has given to us a picture of his power to change hearts to his purpose that he may welcome us to Heaven’s throne room. Matthew Henry, 18th century commentator on the Bible, offers us these thoughts on the contrast of Esther before the King of Persia and you before he King of Kings:
     “Esther came to a proud imperious man; we come to the God of love and grace. She was not called; we are: ‘the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ and let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ (Revelation 22:17) Esther had a law against her; we have a promise, many a promise, in favor of us: ‘Ask, and it shall be given you.’ (Matthew 7:7) She had no friend to introduce her, or no one to intercede for her; but we have an advocate with the Father, One in whom he is well pleased (Luke 3:22). ‘Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Hebrews 4:16) (from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible)
     This is a beautiful picture of our place in the throne room of God. We can pleasantly, joyfully, hopefully, lovingly go to the King of Kings. In his assurance, we will be welcomed not with half a worldly kingdom but fully into the Kingdom of Heaven! Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 
    
Prayer: O thank you, Father, that you are such a king to serve us with your Savior and our Spirit. Grant us favor that we may come eagerly to you to dwell in your kingdom forever. Amen.

Esther 5:2 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
 
ON my office wall I have a rendition of an artist’s view of Jesus welcoming his beloved into Heaven. Jesus arms are wrapped around the man, embracing him fully in love. It is easy to feel God’s mercy, peace and grace in this painting. I find great comfort to be reminded that the sovereign Lord, who knows my every sin will lovingly welcome me home. Easily and righteously he could dismiss me into eternal death as I have failed to purely live for him. But he has promised he won’t condemn those who confess Jesus as Lord.
    In a like manner, Esther certainly would have grateful for her king’s mercy as she entered into his presence. He had sovereign authority in Persia to kill his queen for violating a law that said the king must first request her presence. Although, the king did not ask for Esther, she went in faith. She put her life completely into the hands of the sovereign God. Esther steps, not only into King Ahasuerus’ presence, she steps fully into the Lord’s hands. In his love, the Lord God embraces the woman who trusted in his power. The Lord’s favor, indeed, is upon Esther as the king expresses his welcoming favor to his queen.
    Remember here how Esther had first seemed to look for an escape from this deadly assignment. But Mordecai convinced her to step into God’s purpose. She took courage as she called on God with prayer and fasting. Then she got up to go into danger. She found God had prepared the king to welcome her. We are reminded that God’s kingdom work begins with prayer. Then it is complete with our actions into his purposes.
    But Esther’s obedience in God’s care does not stop here. Now, as she first tastes God’s favor, she has more bold things to do. Esther must continue to act into her plan to expose the evil Haman and to save the Jews.
    Here is a picture of obedient discipleship. We must heed Jesus’ command to go into difficult places. We must fast and pray in preparation. We must get up and go. And we must keep going until the task is complete.
    Learn from this example set before you. Live real for Jesus. After all, he has really died for you.
 
Prayer: Give me faith, Holy Spirit, to boldly get up and go into the places you direct me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Esther 5:1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, in front of the king’s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace.
 
“ON the third day” as recorded in Scripture is often a time of some significant event. The most evident is recorded in Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.”
    There are about four dozen references to “on the third day” in Scripture. Obviously, there’s a reason. For example, see in Jesus’ first miracle: John 2:1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Then we note in Genesis 1:12-13 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
    We now move forward to see Abraham walking to Mt. Moriah to sacrifice his son Isaac: Genesis 22:4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then the Lord God revealed himself to his people this way: Exodus 19:11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
    The third day is also related to many worship, repentance and purification laws as in Leviticus 19:6 It shall be eaten the same day you offer it or on the day after, and anything left over until the third day shall be burned up with fire. We see, too, the Lord God’s three-day command as he heals King Hezekiah: 2 Kings 20:5-6 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life.’” So, why “the third day”?
    Have you noticed that “the third day” is a time of revealing God’s light of new, transforming life? From the Lord forming life on earth on the third day of creation, to Abraham going to Mt. Moriah, to God descending from the mountain, to ritual cleansings, to Hezekiah’s healing and Jesus’ resurrection, “on the third day” is a mark of time to expect God to reveal himself to his people.
    That certainly is what happens here in Esther 5. God reveals to Esther her fate before the king. Esther has turned to God and waited on God. God will act in his purpose. Esther has been faithful to call on the Lord. God will come, and she will see the light of his life.
    Three days is also a practical timetable, isn’t it? Most of us who have made some major decisions in our lives know it is good to wait for a day or so to reach a right conclusion. But if we wait too long, the opportunity or the circumstances could change to our detriment.
    And in conclusion, “three days” also meant in Hebrew, “a little while”. When Jesus told his disciples he would be killed and then rise in three days, they could have understood him to mean he would come in triumph to establish his kingdom in a “little while” after his crucifixion. Thus, in the literal fulfillment of “on the third day” the disciples were greatly amazed. This added to their faith and their passion to go and proclaim the gospel. After all, they were following the Light of the World, who called them to be the light of truth into the world.
 
Prayer: Lord God, help me to see in three days a decision I must make for you. Grant to me this time of discernment, prayer and fasting. Then cause me to rise up to go do as you bid. In Jesus’ name, amen. (When I wrote this in January, I was praying over a call to go to Ghana. The Lord has said, “Go.” And Barb and I go on April 4-19.)
   

Esther 4:15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
 
“LET’S pray.” There you are. You are engaged in a conversation with a friend. You are distressed or troubled over some issue. Perhaps you are struggling with children, work, relationships or church. You voice your concerns. Your friend listens. Then your friend says, “Let’s pray about this.” Do you think, “Why? What good will it do?” Do you wonder why it has to be now? Do you want to stop the prayer and put it off until you feel ready to pray?
    When is that? When are you ready to pray? For very much of my time, I am not ready to pray. I’d rather sit here and write this about prayer than to stop and pray. What makes prayer so difficult for so many of us?
    Perhaps it’s wondering, “Are you there, God? Do you really care about my problems? Are you even ready to hear my confessions, praise and thanksgiving? Do I really matter to you, Lord?”
    Is that the center of the problem? Do you wonder, “Do I matter to God?”
    In such doubting questions, we all must stop and know his answer. “Yes, you do, my child. (John 1:12) I have acted since before time began to form you. (Isaiah 49:5, Romans 8:30) I know every hair on your head. (Luke 12:7) I know your deepest thoughts and your greatest yearnings. I understand the depths of your fears. (Psalm 142) I understand the ways you doubt my grace and my love. I know how difficult it is to pick up your cross. (Mark 13:21)
    “This is what I desire you know: I hear your prayers. I listen and I determine how and when I will answer them. (Psalm 91) If you are not satisfied with the answer and its time, please know I see the entire picture of eternity and your role in my plans. I see how your life forms and connects with all of mankind for all time. Even more, I know how your life connects with me. (Psalm 43, Matthew 6:10) Turn to me in prayer. I will turn and answer you in your need and my will.”
    Esther gave us a real-person example of going to our Lord in prayer. Scripture doesn’t tell us how often she prayed. But even if she had never prayed before that day, she knew it was time to do so. She understood the only place to go to save the Jews was to the Lord, who had formed them.
    In your ordinary and great needs, in your joy and in your sorrows, go to the Lord in prayer. He is the one who has formed you. He will answer you in his purpose.
 
Prayer: Lord, teach us to pray. In Jesus’ name, amen.