Today’s Reading: Esther 7-10; Revelations 3
The book of Esther is one of renowned understanding of how to use words, and how to use respectful silence to move mountains. In the book of Esther, we see an orphan who is given an opportunity to rise above her station. She’s given an opportunity to allow God to work in her life without trying to live according to her own agenda. Esther had a great understanding of the importance of observation and willingness to submit to God’s will and authority. The way that Esther accomplished this is using her words and influence.
Each day, we all want to have our voice heard. In most interactions that we have we want our intentions known and we want to be noticed. We do not want to be left out of the conversation. We don’t want to feel uninvited or unimportant. We want to be a part of the conversation and the community. Many times we aware of what’s going on, but many times we may have misinformed and try to communicate our desires and feelings which are completely off-base. Esther in our passage has an excellent understanding of when to use her influential words and when to allow the king to use his own understanding.
Throughout the last chapters of Esther, Esther uses her connection with the king to change the course of history. She allows her words to help guide the king to protect her people. What Esther does is not being over, powerful or brash, but she uses her words at the correct time with the correct tone to influence the king to save her people. She also uses her words to elevate her people and protect her people as well.
Esther is an amazing example of how meekness can be a powerful force. Esther saved her people without the harshness of the world. She shows us how gentleness is a force to change the hearts of the most powerful people.
“And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.””
Esther 7:2-4 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/est.7.2-4.ESV
She knows how to speak to the king, because she had seen the wrath of that king for many years. She understood that her station could be changed at the slightest change in the king’s countenance. She understood that the main focus was not on her, but in a bigger purpose. She understood that she was part of God’s plan for something special. She was part of the future of the people, which would lead to our salvation.
Can we be more like Esther? Can we set aside our own ambitions and words to allow God to use us as he needs? Can we choose to be slow to speak and allow God to work in our favor for his good and not out satisfaction of being correct?
Be blessed