In the Days of Queen Esther
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ashes.”
Esther 4:3
. The decree of the Medes and Persians could not be
revoked; apparently there was no hope; all the Israelites were doomed
to destruction.
But the plots of the enemy were defeated by a Power that reigns
among the children of men. In the providence of God, Esther, a Jewess
who feared the Most High, had been made queen of the Medo-Persian
kingdom. Mordecai was a near relative of hers. In their extremity
they decided to appeal to Xerxes in behalf of their people. Esther was
to venture into his presence as an intercessor. “Who knoweth,” said
Mordecai, “whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as
this?”
Verse 14
.
The crisis that Esther faced demanded quick, earnest action; but
both she and Mordecai realized that unless God should work mightily
in their behalf, their own efforts would be unavailing. So Esther took
time for communion with God, the source of her strength. “Go,” she
directed Mordecai, “gather together all the Jews that are present in
Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night
or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in
unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I
perish.”
Verse 16
.
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The events that followed in rapid succession,—the appearance of
Esther before the king, the marked favor shown her, the banquets of
the king and queen with Haman as the only guest, the troubled sleep
of the king, the public honor shown Mordecai, and the humiliation and
fall of Haman upon the discovery of his wicked plot,—all these are
parts of a familiar story. God wrought marvelously for His penitent
people; and a counter decree issued by the king, allowing them to
fight for their lives, was rapidly communicated to every part of the
realm by mounted couriers, who were “hastened and pressed on by
the king’s commandment.” “And in every province, and in every city,
whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews
had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people
of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.”
Esther 8:14, 17
.
On the day appointed for their destruction, “the Jews gathered
themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the
king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man
could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.” Angels