Esther’s Petition for the Removal of the Deadly Decree

In these text words we read of the well-known Jewish girl who became the queen of the Persian Empire. The Lord in His providence opened the way for this. It was at a time when Israel was brought into captivity. Esther was an orphan raised by her uncle Mordecai. She never forgot her humble origin. She became the one who, at God’s time, was raised up for the deliverance of His people.

Deliverance will always have value when misery is experienced. The Bible book of Esther reveals a clear picture of this. Haman, under God’s providence, has made a serious threat to the existence of God’s covenant people. Esther 3:8&9a clearly show this: “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. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed.” Haman speaks about the true religion which the Jews had as diverse from all people. He says that the truth is not the truth but is contradictory to the king’s law. This statement from Haman stems from his pride because Mordecai did not bow to him in the gate. Haman’s wicked pride feeds his desire to destroy God’s people. This evil plan was uncovered by Esther at the banquet. Haman is executed on the gallows of his own making. Haman is destroyed!

So, also, Satan made war in heaven; he wanted the throne but was cast out. Satan, because of his vicious wrath, then went to the crown jewel of God’s Creation in the state of rectitude, desiring to destroy them. Then the Lord revealed His eternal decree, “I will bring you out from the people” (Ezekiel 20:34). He gave there the mother promise—His elect shall be saved, and Satan shall not have one of them. Satan is destroyed.

Esther is a Jew. In our text we meet her on her knees beseeching the king with tears. Why would Esther cry? Haman is dead. Esther is crying because although the enemy has been killed, Haman’s evil is still in effect. We are approaching the day to again remember the Reformation. What a victory the Lord gave over the deceitful religion of Rome. It was a defeat for Satan, but that leaves us with a need. Satan’s power still has effect. He is trying so hard to mislead and to destroy those under the truth. Satan is trying to destroy the marriage state as well as the Godgiven genders. Satan is trying to take away more and more of our religious freedoms. Satan, as a destroyed enemy, is still so busy. Esther sees the danger.

Are there those who see the danger today of the power and influences of Satan? The dangers of world conformity? Are there those who see the danger of a religion that is based on feelings and emotions? Are there those who see the danger of a religion that denies man’s death state by rendering him capable to believe? There are other church denominations who, fifty years ago, could never have imagined what is taking place in their churches today. Will that also become our pathway? We can be so at ease that we have the truth, but are there “Esthers” who are not satisfied with that? The truth needs application! Our unconverted members need to become converted in the way God converts all His people. God’s people need to receive the exercises of faith in the further leadings as the Church of all ages received.

Esther ends up on her knees at the feet of the king. Why there? First of all, to show her humility as a queen to come down to the level of the feet of the king. There she beseeches with tears. This means revealing to the king her sorrow over this remaining decree of the destroyed Haman. She reveals her humility by bowing deeply before the king. Second, because she has learned in her life that the king is the only one who can help her. His mercy has become her hope. She seeks to make her needs the king’s care. She does not bring them to the streets of Shushan. She goes to the only one who can help her.

Church of God, when was the last time you were given to exercise true humility? When was the last time that you needed His mercy because He was the only one who could yet help? When was the last time that all other sources of trust were withdrawn? When was the last time you had to flee to Him as a miserable sinner suffering under the consequences of the vicious influences of the destroyed enemy?

May the Lord bind the need of our times on the hearts of His people that there may be a beseeching at the throne of grace for the Lord to remember His own work. Is that a worthy petition? Yes, my dear reader, Christ has ascended; Satan will not be victorious. Christ shall have dominion; He sits as supreme Ruler. He will guide all things to a perfect end. May He give petitioners who beseech the Lord that Satan’s power will be broken and that by the irresistible power of His Holy Spirit the Lord may build His kingdom among us. The clearest sign that the Lord is among us is when there may be true conversions. May the Lord give His people to display in their daily lives the fruits of the tender fear of the Lord. May such fruits arouse a jealousy so that the unconverted may go in their inner chambers pleading, “The grace Thou showest to Thy saints, that grace reveal to me.”

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