Song of The Day: Alabaster Box by CeCe Winans

Memory Verse: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16).

God promises that where two or three are gathered together in His name, there He will be in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). We also read in that by faith, we can receive those things which we ask in prayer (I John 5:15).

In today’s reading, the Jews cried out to God because of the sentence pronounced against them. They were condemned to death at the King’s decree, which was instigated by the wicked prince Haman. When word of the pending fate came to Mordecai, uncle to the now Queen Esther (Hadassah),

Esther 4:1-3

1 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;  2 And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.  3 And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

Haman thought himself assured of revenge for being embarrassed when Mordecai refused to bow before him. Yet, God had already prepared a trump card that would not only cancel the plans of Haman, but would elevate His servants for their supplications before Him. Mordecai was a relative of the queen. He could get a message to her; and she could speak to the King personally. The Jews now had an open line of communication, directly to the King. God had orchestrated a perfect offence. The players were all in place before Haman had ever thought evil against Mordecai and his people.

Esther was the prefect ally for the Jews. She also had respect for her elders. Esther harkened to the words of Mordecai (Esther 4:16), saving her people and herself. She had to do something extraordinary. She had to risk her life to save the lives of others. Knowing that to go before the King uninvited could mean death, Esther had to have courage.

Though Esther could not see the future, she was walking in a covenant made long before she lived on earth. The prayers of the righteous were about to avail again; and the way before her was already prepared (Mark 1:2).

More than courage, Esther’s venture was covered by prayer. We know that the Jews in every place where the decree had gone for the against them were fasting and praying to God. This was more than two or three people gathered together. No doubt they prayed that God would trouble the king’s mind. When sleep eluded the king, God brought the good deed of Mordecai to the king’s attention. Without knowing that the Jews were also Mordecai’s people, the king determined to reward Mordecai’s good deed.

Haman’s vanity called for praise that he thought would be bestowed upon himself. Instead, he was told to herald Mordecai (Esther 6:10-11) – whose good had brought him before great men (Proverbs 18:16).

When Haman came to the banquet of Esther with the King, then he thought to beg for his life after perceiving that evil was coming against him. We read in that living by sword is a dangerous undertaking (Matthew 26:52). The better life is to live by the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). For when we protect the Word, we are protected by Our Father, who is a present help in time of trouble (Proverbs 30:5, Psalm 46:1).