God delivers His people in mysteriously unique ways. The story of Esther demonstrated God's plan of deliverance through the trembling faith of a young Queen's petition.
King Ahasuerus, often identified as King Xerxes, held a one hundred eighty-day feast to exemplify his opulence of his finest capital, Susa. Scripture reference in Esther 1:6-7 speaks highly of the feast, mentioning the "marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones…" All one hundred twenty seven provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia gathered to acknowledge the King. Drunk with wine, the King ordered Queen Vashti to expose herself in front of the King and his male guests, but Vashti refused the humiliating order, knowing that she was risking death. Infuriated, the King banished Vashti from his presence making her an example to other wives so that they would not make the same decision and disobey their husbands. King Ahasuerus now sought beautiful young virgins, among who at this time was a girl about fourteen years old. The King's search for a new queen would open the window to fulfill God's will for Esther and the Jewish people.
For twelve months the young, hopeful girls were being prepared in the harem with beauty treatments of oils, perfumes, massages, and hairstyles to enrich their attractiveness. The long awaited evening came when Esther had her opportunity to display her presence to the King. In awe, the King found grace and favor in sight of Esther, declaring her his queen. To celebrate his marriage, "He granted a remission of taxes…and gave gifts with royal liberality." (Esther 2:18)
Mordecai, Esther's cousin, had adopted her as his own daughter when she was orphaned. Scripture records Mordecai as one "who had been carried away from Jerusalem" by Nebuchadnezzar. (Presumably he was a descendant of an exiled Jerusalem family since Nebuchadnezzar had ruled many years before Xerxes.) Mordecai ordered her to conceal the fact that she was Jewish. After Esther became queen, Mordecai communicated to Esther through his position at the palace, probably as a minor gatekeeper. Evidence identifies a man named Marduk, which is also, Mordecai in Hebrew, who was believed to hold some official post in Susa. Playing a major role in the deliverance of the Jews, Mordecai remained loyal to God, not showing Haman, the King's grand vizier, any form of obeisance.
Having possession of the King's royal signet ring enabled Haman to validate any edict that he commanded. Out of his hate for Mordecai he allowed every official to destroy all Jews on the thirteenth day of Adar. Although the situation seemed hopeless, faithful Mordecai began to fast and pray. Through his connection to Esther, he was able to share the dreadful news, but also encouraged Esther to use her position as queen to save the Jews. Imagine the fear she must have felt; the future of her people was in her hands! Understanding now why and how God might be using her, she agreed to help and ordered the Jews to fast for three days. She covered herself with ashes and dung, humbling her body, praying to the Lord God.
For thirty consecutive days the King did not call for Esther, but this did not prevent her from risking her life by entering the inner court to see the King. Finding favor in Esther, the King held out his golden scepter to her, allowing her act of entering the court without invitation acceptable. She must have been so grateful for his mercy and above all grateful to the Lord God who softened his heart! She begged her husband to attend a banquet in her quarters the following evening and to bring Haman along. Ahasuerus graciously accepted.
Haman left the palace that evening feeling pleased with himself, until he came upon Mordecai who was unwilling to submit to him. Full of wrath, Haman went to his family for counsel and they decided to build gallows to impale the Jewish upstart as soon as he could obtain the King's permission.
The banquet at Esther's quarters was pleasant and she invited her guest to join her again the following evening. As the second banquet approached, Esther was forced to reveal her petition despite all her fears. She exposed Haman's villainy and revealed her Jewish origin, crying out, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to be annihilated." The King was enraged and stormed out to his gardens only to return and find Haman at Esther's feet pleading for mercy. Misinterpreting the scene, the king shouted, "Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?" Ironically, the king had Haman and his ten sons hung on the gallows built for Mordecai. Mordecai was appointed grand vizier and was authorized to write a counterorder for the deliverance of the Jews in the king's name. On the exact day the original edict was appointed, the Jews were allowed to defend their lives. It should be noted that many of the Jews served in the Persian army and their training would benefit them then more than ever. A second day of vengeance took place resulting in the slaughtering of thousands of men, but they laid no hands on the plunder. After two days of fighting, the Jewish people celebrated, naming the third day Purim.
Can you imagine if Esther had ignored her cousin and never went before the king? God works within his children preparing them in His time for His tasks. God raised Esther from an orphan to royalty "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). Esther fasted, prayed and waited until the time was right to reveal her petition. God delighted to work through her step of faith.
What petition has God put on your heart?
ALWAYS KNOW YOU ARE BLESS BY THE BEST!
AND YOU ARE A QUEEN WITH RICHES SITTING IN HEAVENLY PLACES!!!
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she would have got a way negative result if she didn't listen to her cousin and follow her flesh. Yes that was true he used all his children to help his people. Yes we are royalty we are queens. To work hard as his Prophetess and to be loved by him.
To remember Ephesians 3:20 he gave to me as a reminder to remember who am my worth and always keep sight of who I am and who i belong too. I still need that reminding today and he still working on me.
Petition - a formal written request, typically one signed by many people, appealing to authority with respect to a particular cause. So, here in Deut. Is a serious, faithful petition in which we have learned and shall take it to heart and obey.
Deuteronomy 30:10-16
If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
Esther story is one about obedience and being selfless. She did what her cousin told her to do. She fasted 3 days on behalf of her people for God to save them. She did not care about her life, she. Seed about the lives of her people more then she cared about her life. Esther shows us that when you are obedient and is not afraid of death, God can use you to save not only your people but all people!!
The petition God has put on my heart is that "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he well turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse." Mal 4:5-6
An orphan in a foreign land, she displayed great courage in the midst of a crisis. Prior to risking her life for her people, she humbled herself by fasting, and then put her considerable beauty, social grace, and wisdom in the service of God’s plan. Her sorrow was to learn that her husband, the king, had unwittingly placed her life and the life of her people in jeopardy.
So often God uses the most unlikely characters to fulfill his purposes. He elevates a Jewish orphan to queen of a great empire. Esther begins as a nobody and becomes a somebody, a woman who risks her life to make a stand.
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she would have got a way negative result if she didn't listen to her cousin and follow her flesh. Yes that was true he used all his children to help his people. Yes we are royalty we are queens. To work hard as his Prophetess and to be loved by him.
To remember Ephesians 3:20 he gave to me as a reminder to remember who am my worth and always keep sight of who I am and who i belong too. I still need that reminding today and he still working on me.
Petition - a formal written request, typically one signed by many people, appealing to authority with respect to a particular cause. So, here in Deut. Is a serious, faithful petition in which we have learned and shall take it to heart and obey.
Deuteronomy 30:10-16
If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
Esther story is one about obedience and being selfless. She did what her cousin told her to do. She fasted 3 days on behalf of her people for God to save them. She did not care about her life, she. Seed about the lives of her people more then she cared about her life. Esther shows us that when you are obedient and is not afraid of death, God can use you to save not only your people but all people!!
The petition God has put on my heart is that "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he well turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse." Mal 4:5-6
An orphan in a foreign land, she displayed great courage in the midst of a crisis. Prior to risking her life for her people, she humbled herself by fasting, and then put her considerable beauty, social grace, and wisdom in the service of God’s plan. Her sorrow was to learn that her husband, the king, had unwittingly placed her life and the life of her people in jeopardy.
So often God uses the most unlikely characters to fulfill his purposes. He elevates a Jewish orphan to queen of a great empire. Esther begins as a nobody and becomes a somebody, a woman who risks her life to make a stand.