PREAMBLE
Hello and welcome here.
This is the fourth part of this series.
The previous part of this series has been a ride and today’s part intensifies part 3.
If you are new, kindly check the previous posts to get the flow.
Let’s ride in….
THE PURPOSE OF THE CROWN
Esther was in her chambers when her maids rushed in.
“What is the fuss about?” Esther asked.
“It is Mordecai, the Jew is in sack clothes”
“What?Why?What happened?” Esther panicked and she dropped the bracelet she wanted to wear.
“Well….the information is very hazy to me but the whole city is in mourning. It has to do with the Jews and the King”
“Okay, quickly get some rainments and send to him. Quick!” Esther stood up and went the balcony from where she often viewed Mordecai. She stood there until she saw the maids she sent return, the rainments still in their hands.
“What happened? Why are the rainments still in your hands?
“He refused to collect them”
Esther was silent.
“Call me Hatach” Esther said standing up then began to pace the room.
Hatach was the King’s chamberlain specially assigned to her.
“Yes my queen. You called” Hatach came in and paid courtesy.
“Hatach, go to Mordecai the gate keeper. He is in the street of the city. Go ask him why he wears sack clothes and refuses the clothes I give him”
“Okay, my queen”
Hatach met Mordecai still in sack clothes, ashes on his head. The old man was on the ground wailing with others who had joined him.
Hatach tapped his right shoulder and whispered in his ear “Mordecai, the queen has a message for you”
Mordecai startled by the touch, turned to see Hatach standing behind him.
“The queen?”
“Yes. She sent you rainments yet you refused them. She wants to know why”
“Are you not aware that Haman incited the king to cause the death of all Jews? People who have never done wrong to him. I know it is because of me. It is because I did not bow to him but why include my people? The king sent out a decree that every Jew, old and young should be out to death in the month of Adar on the thirteeneth day. This decree has been sent to every province and we are not safe anywhere. Nowhere….. and all of this is for ten thousand talents of silver. Here is a copy of the decree. Give it to the queen and tell her to go to the king on behalf of her people” Mordecai said handing a soiled paper to Hatach.
Hatach recieved the paper and walked away. He was aware of the decree but he was only realizing that the queen was also a Jew and possibly was related to Mordecai. That could explain the way she had treated him in the past; with extra care and respect.
Esther rushed to the door as soon as Hatach entered.
“What did he say?”
“He gave me this” Hatach said handing the paper to Esther. He watched the expressions on her face change from concern to fear. Her hands were shaking.
“He said that you should go and petition before the king”
“But you know that.. nobody whether man or woman can come into the king’s court who has not been called. There is a law that will put him or her to death except the king holds out his sceptre and spare his life but I have not been called to see the king for thirty days. How can I just go to the court without permission?” her hands were still shaking.
“What should I do?”
“Go and tell him the law of the court. I do not know what to do”
Hatach returned to Mordecai and told him.
“Tell the queen that she should not think she can escape this judgement just because she is in the king’s house. If she decides to ignore her people in this time and God raises another, she and her father’s house shall be destroyed. Who knows that the reason she was made queen was for a time such as this?”
Hatach could see the desperation in Mordecai’s eyes. His words were going to move the queen.
Ignoring Hatach, Mordecai continued wailing with those he was with. More people had joined him.
Hatach passed the message and he had done before, he watched her facial expression. She appeared to be in deep thoughts, her hands clasped together as she paced the room.
“Go tell him to gather all the Jews in Shushan and fast for me. They should not eat or drink for three days and night. I and my maids will fast as well. I will go before the king which is not according to the law. If I perish, I perish”
Hatach could see it, the determination her eyes. The queen in her simple gown which she often wore in her chambers stood majestic before him. The courage despite the shakiness of her body struck him deeply. Without wasting more time, he hurried out and passed the message to Mordecai.
Mordecai after hearing Esther’s decree, stood up from the ground and called others aside then passed the message to them.
For three days, Esther, her maidens, Mordecai and the Jews in Shushan fasted.
On the third day, Esther without food told her maidens to prepare her royal regalia.
Her court was sensitive, everyone spoke in hushed tones. The atmosphere was tensed. There was no certaintity she was going to return.
Her bathtub was prepared with scented leaves and perfumes. Her maids scrubbed her gently, applied myrrh oil and frankincense scents then dressed her in her royal apparel. Her eyes were touched lightly with khol, her face powdered and rogue was applied to her cheek and lips.
Finally, her crown and jewellery was placed on her body.
Smiling wryly, Esther admired her reflection then breathed out slowly. She looked around her chambers, it was possible she was not going to return. It was possible she was walking into her death. Her king was a volatile man and it was possible that she was going to get herself killed. He had not sent for her in thirty days and to her it meant that probably he had gotten tired of her already.
“If I perish I perish. At least I will die standing up for my people” she muttered for herself.
“My queen” her maiden who had put her crowned said tearfully.
Esther could see tears spilling from her eyes and she was not the only one. Some were already crying. Esther touched her shoulders and smiled.
“Prepare to introduce me” Esther said to Hatach.
“Yes my queen” he bowed. He too was touched by the scenario before him.
Esther walked to the door slowly, she picked her steps.
The door was opened and she was on her way to the king’s court.
She could see the door, she was either going to come out alive or dead. It depended on the King’s sceptre.
Hatach opened the door and Esther walked in.
She watched as the King lifted his head from his royal table and noticed her.
His countenace brightened as soon as he saw her. She could sense it, it was as if he wanted to run straight into her arms. Her heart began to beat faster.
He raised his sceptre which laid on the royal table before him.
Her life was going to be spared
She increased her steps and touched the top of the sceptre.
“What brings you here Queen Esther?” he was smiling so wide. He was excited to see her.
“Even if it is half of my kingdom, I will give it to you. Ask anything you want and I will do it”
Half of his kingdom?
Esther could not believe what she was hearing. “If it is okay with the king, I want to invite the king and Haman to a banquet that I have prepared”
“Right now, tell Haman to hurry up and come to the banquet the queen has prepared” King Ahasuerus commanded, his eyes resting fully on Esther.
“Thank you my king. I will take my leave to prepare the table well” Esther bowed before taking her leave.
Esther left the court and met Hatach waiting for her outside.
“My queen”
Esther smiled at him and walked back to her court. Her maidens leaped for joy as she walked in.
“Now, let us prepare the table. The king and Haman are coming for a banquet today”
She knew her enemy and she knew she needed wisdom to approach the matter. A banquet was the best cover for her to use.
A befitting banquet.
This part was taken from Esther 4:4-5:1-5 and was fictionalised for the sake of this post. Kindly read it in the Bible for the original format.
THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN
Esther did not plan to be chosen as the queen. She did nothing special to become queen but the crown was now on her head and a need for the crown arose.
It was in the moment of decision that Esther realized being a queen meant much more. She tried to evade the dangerous request by bringing up a law that could cost her her life but she could not deny the reality of her existence and her people.
She was a queen but she needed to be more than that.
A TIME TO RISE UP!
Esther had to face her fears. She had to make a choice. She had to make a point. She had to rise up.
Even if it meant losing her life
She knew that hiding away was not going to protect her. It was a matter of time before she too lost her life. She had a choice to choose how she would end.
Either as a brave woman or a coward
The truth is that being a coward is because being brave cost too much.
Being brave can cost your life
However, Esther came to the realization that whether she hid or stood up, death was not far. She could hide and delay the time but it was emminent. If she faced her fear, she had the chance of gaining her life.
She decided to choose brave
PROPHET
Mordecai was the prophet over Esther’s life.
At the time when Esther would have withdrawn to her chambers and hide away, he reminded her of who she was.
He reminded her that her position had a purpose.
He reminded her that her position could be replaced.
He reminded her that if she decided to not use her position for what it was meant for, another would replace her.
He reminded her that she did not put herself on the throne and therefore could not shy away. She needed to face and confront the situation at hand and do something about it.
Mordecai was the catalyst that helped Esther stand up to the challenge.She was made a queen because its situation was going to come up.
Mordecai was quick to recognize the importance of Esther’s position at the times they were in.
He could discern
SPIRITUAL PREPARATION
Esther knew that the battle ahead was a matter of life and death.
She did not have weapons to fight neither did have an army.
She was a queen who was supposed to dress prettily and make her husband happy
Esther knew that the stake was high and she needed a higher help.
Confronted at her vulnerable state, Esther knew that without weapons or armies she could conquer spiritually.
She made sure to ask for reinforcements. She was going to put her life in danger and she needed the support of everyone around her.
Spiritually
COVERED
Esther was covered.
She had prepared.
She had conquered before she met the king.
The king saw her and he broke protocols.
Once again, favour covered Esther.
The king raised his sceptre and Esther’s life was spared.
USING WISDOM
Not every battle is won with weapons
Esther knew she had to wisely get to Haman and she did so by creating an environment that could give her more advantage.
Esther did not have weapons or an army but she had wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 7:19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. (KJV)
Esther approached the king covered in prayers and presented with wisdom.
She was the queen, the king needed to have.
She was a kind of queen
Esther came with kind words and as she presented her request, she laced her words with reverence for the position he held.
Even though he had spontaneously promised her half of his kingdom, Esther was focused and pursued her mission.
DROP AND PICK
Relating Esther’s experience to the situation of a believer in relation to the word and to God, it is important to note that one cannot keep one’s life.
There are two options: Pick the life of Christ or pick ours.
Both of them involve sacrifice. For to pick one is to sacrifice the other.
When we give our lives to Christ, it means we gave our lives to Christ.
Gave is the past tense of give
Esther had lost her life before coming before the king.
This meant that the highest consequence for her proposed action was death unless there was an intervention.
Which she had
Giving our lives to Christ means we are ready for the results of doing so.
WEAPONS
Esther came with the weapon of words backed up by fasting.
As believers, we have weapons of warfare which we use to fight.
However, these weapons are not against people, they are against the forces that pushes people.
Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (KJV)
The attack first comes to our spirit and the devil uses people.
THE SCEPTRE OF LIFE
The sceptre was Esther’s only hope to save her life. There was no guarantee the king would raise it towards her but it was the only thing she hanged her life on.
All the king had to do was raise it and she would be spared
That brings me to say here: JESUS IS THE SCEPTRE of our lives.
What does the sceptre mean?
It means:
The sceptre was Esther’s only escape route from the law of death just as Jesus is our only escape route from the law of death.
The life Esther gained by touching the king’s sceptre was not eternal but the life we get from touching Jesus is eternal.
LESSONS
- There is a purpose for the position
- There is a place for spiritual preparation
- Wisdom win battles
- We gain our lives when we surrender it to God
- Jesus is our sceptre of life
BACK UP
The laws of Medes and Persia could be quite extreme and most of the punishments ended in death.
The law of the land was made to put the fear of the king in all his subjects, and whoever disobeyed was at risk of losing his or her life.
For the king to lift his sceptre towards Esther meant that he was willing to spare her. However his desire to give her half of his kingdom if she wanted, showed that Esther had won his affection. The king was a volatile man but in this case God used it to redeem Esther.
Today’s questions goes as thus:
- Do you believe in prophecies?
- What prophecies have you recieved?
- Who can speak over your life and give you strong guidance?
- What do you fear and have you confronted it?
- What do you have to do to face your fear?
- Have you discovered the purpose of your position?
You can choose to reply in the comment section or send it privately or simply keep it to yourself.
N.B Sharing may encourage a reader.
SUMMARY
CONCLUSION
I am grateful to reach this part.
I am seeing this story in a deeper light and I am having a unique journey with Esther.
I am sure that deeper revelations can be gotten from this book and I am excited to experience that in future studies.
Your comments, questions and observations are warmly welcomed.
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Until next part, stay safe and God bless.
#daughterofabba
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