The King's Heart

"Then Mordecai sent back word to Esther: 'Just because you live in the king's palace, don't think that out of all the Jewish people you alone will escape. If you keep quiet at this time, someone else will help and save the Jewish people, but you and your father's family will all die. And who knows, you may have been chosen queen for just such a time as this.'

Then Esther sent this answer to Mordecai: 'Go and get all the Jewish people in Susa together. For m,y sake, fast; do not eat or drink for three days, night and day. I and my servant girls will also fast. Then I will go to the king, even though it is against the law, and if I die, I die.'

The king asked Esther again, 'What are you asking for? I will give it to you. What is it you want? I will give you as much as half my kingdom.'

Then Queen Esther answered, 'My king, if you are pleased with me, and if it pleases you, let me live. This is what I ask. And let my people live, too. This is what I want.'"
                                                                                                              (Esther 4:13-16; 7:2-3)




The story of Esther is a dramatic and passionate one that occurred in the fifth century B.C. This drama, however, was a spiritual one that included: the evil Haman, the courageous Mordecai, the powerful King Xerxes, and a determined young girl who happened to be the queen. The outcome of Queen Esther's perseverance was that millions of Jews from 127 countries were saved. This happened all because Esther understood how to move the heart of the king.

There are so many aspects of Esther's story that parallels our lives today. Even though we don't live in Persia or don a royal regalia, we still have a direct access to our King, who also happens to be our Father. Not just any king, mind you, but our communion is with the King of Kings.

This relationship gives us special privileges that suppressed the privileges of those who are not His children. We have the distinct honor of inviting our King to occupy and reign over every facet of our lives. When we are confident in our position, we do not shrink back. Instead, we "come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive His mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

God grants the desires of our hearts when they are for our good and in alignment with His will for our lives. John explains it this way, "And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.  And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have  [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him" (1 John 5:14-15).

God also responds to prayers that are sincere and heartfelt. Sincerity moves Him. James tells us that the "earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power" (James 5:16).

While we know that God has given us the victory, we also see through the story of Esther that there will also be a battle. Haman is the diabolical antagonist that opposes Esther and all the Jews. If you were to peruse all the pages of Scripture, you would not be able to find one good thing that is written about him.

Haman had a position of authority as he was the king's right-hand man. He possessed an insatiable ego that craved the worship of every living thing.  He also had an inexhaustible hatred for God's chosen people and he purposely devised a date for their genocide.

The person of Haman depicts the image of Satan. Both long to be worshipped and existed to persecute the promised people of God. Satan hates the presence of Jesus in the world and will do all he can to "steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10).  Especially now "He is filled with anger because he knows his time is short" (Revelation 12:12).

The laws in Esther's days prohibited her from entering into the inner courtyard of the king without being invited to do so.  But, Mordecai encouraged her to take the risk and do the right thing. This was her response, "Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner courtyard of the king's palace, facing the king's hall" (Esther 5:1).

The king was pleased when he looked up and saw Esther. His heart was touched when he saw his beloved. He responded and, "held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand, so Esther went forward and touched the end of it" (Esther 5:2).

When the king's heart was moved, what followed was the collapse of Satan's house of cards. All the diabolical planning and scheming came to nought. Not only that, but then Esther's enemy was destroyed!

Her story reminds us just how important our lives really are. Even though we are ordinary people, we have an extraordinary God. He has pulled us from obscurity and given us a position of royalty. He has clothed us in royal robes and given us the privilege of making our requests known to Him.

God is faithful and He is good. The story of our lives extend far beyond all that we can see or know. God always has a good purpose and a good plan and He is forever "working things together for our good" (Romans 8:28). Run after God and pursue Him with all your heart. This is what moves the King's heart!


                                               "He's after your heart."
                                                          Hosea 6:6