Esther 3 & 4: If I Perish, I Perish
Verse of the Day: (4:16) Go, 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.
1. Promotion (3:1-15)
After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. (3:1)
Though the entire book of Esther does not mention God, yet throughout its pages, the hand of God was upon the Jews, His people. King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the Agagite, to be his right-hand man, and everyone bowed before him, except Mordecai, the Jew. Mordecai believed that he should only bow to his God, and not man. God was with Mordecai while the devil was with Haman. God almost allowed an extermination of the Jews as the devil wanted to hinder the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the world, who shall be from the Jewish race. Imagine if Haman succeeded in the extermination of the Jews, then there would be no Saviour. Indeed, let us continue to trust God, even though sometime evil men are promoted, but eventually God’s will shall prevail. (Psalm 75:1-10)
2. Peace (4:1-14)
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (4:14)
The Jews were depressed when they heard that Haman had commanded his people to destroy all of them, just because Mordecai had refused to bow before him. Mordecai sought help from his adopted daughter, Esther, to speak to the king. Esther told him that she could never meet the king until he called for her. They then held their peace, and spread words to all the Jews to keep praying for God’s providence and protection upon them. Let us thus hold our peace, and seek God’s peace, and trust in Him. (John 16:33)
3. Perish (4:15-17)
So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him. (4:17)
Esther told Mordecai that she was ready to perish, if the king refused to see her. Mordecai obeyed Esther’s command by gathering all the Jews in Shushan to fast for 3 days and nights, as they waited for the outcome of her meeting with the king. Let us thus trust God as His will is that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be ready to pray, preach and perish for Your glory.
