Restoration & Salvation - Part Two

"My name is Esther. I am a queen, but most importantly I am a Jew." ~UnKnown~



Ruth & Queen Esther, My two favorite women of the Bible. One brought Restoration & the other brought Salvation.

In Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai who had been carried way from Jerusalem by an enemy army. He raised his younger cousin Esther for her parents had died.

King Xerxes threw a grand banquet. When he sent for Queen Vashti she refused to come. So the king was counseled to replace her as queen to let women everywhere know that this kind of conduct would not be tolerated. There would be no disrespect and discord allowed. So he set out to find a new queen. Esther was chosen as the new Queen.

Although Esther had been chosen to be Queen, she had two strikes against her. One, she was a female and two, she was a Jew. It was forbidden for anyone to approach the king without an invitation, yet an evil prime minister named Haman was plotting to kill off all the Jews. Esther's cousin Mordecai's plea to intervene meant risking her own life. It took courage for Queen Esther to take a stand.

God appoints for His purpose. "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)

Though Esther knew that it could cost her her very life if she went before the king without being summoned, she also knew that if she didn't, all the Jews, including herself were going die. So after she and the Jews had fasted for 3 days, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace in front of the king's hall, facing the entrance. When the king 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 and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Before we approach the throne of the King of kings to make our petition known, do we cleanse and make ourselves ready? Think about it! Esther prepared herself! She fasted, then put on her royal garment and waited quietly before the king. She did her best to catch his eye. How many of us wait patiently, Quietly upon the King? and when He extends His scepter out towards us we approach Him and touch the tip of His scepter. Oh such reverence!!!

Then he asked her what her request was and that he would give her up to half the kingdom. Then she invited him and Haman to a banquet. They came and enjoyed such a grand meal. Oh such blessed acceptance by the king. I can imagine the joy and relief that flooded her soul. If we were to approach the King of kings this way can you imagine the blessings that would be bestowed upon us? After reading and studying the book of Esther, the way we approach Him and expect Him to answer our prayers is shameful!

After the banquet he again asked her what her petition was and said he would give her up to half of the kingdom. She requested for him and Haman to return the next evening to a banquet. The next evening after the meal, the king again ask her for her petition and she then reveals Haman's evil plot to destroy her and her people. Haman was hung on the very gallows that he had built to destroy Mordecai.

When is the last time we have just entered into the King's court and quietly awaited His approval and then when He acknowledged us we invited Him to come and have a banquet with us. To come and dine with us. When did we last serve Him with praise and worship so that as the King is feasting upon our praises and worship unto Him He looks at us and says, "My child, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request?"



Wherever God has placed you, He can use you to speak His truth-words of love, justice and faith to a lost world-even if it means being misunderstood or ridiculed. It may be difficult and you may be weary; but "never tire of doing what is right." 2 Thessalonians 3:13