Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Post-exilic Prophets (5)
Pray Psalm 105.1, 2.
Oh, give thanks to the LORD!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Sing Psalm 105.1, 2.
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
Give thanks unto the LORD Most High; call on His Name, before Him cry!
Make known His deeds in every land; sing praise for all the works of His hand.
Read Esther 4.1-17; meditate on verses 13, 16.
Preparation
1. What did Mordecai want Esther to do?
2. Why did she demur?
Meditation
Mordecai believed that Esther could lead the king to relent of his decision to slaughter all the Jews. He did not know that Esther was a Jew, but that would be revealed in due course. Mordecai urged Esther to stand forth for the salvation of her people. At first, she demurred, and not without reason (vv. 10, 11). The king had not called for her for many days, and his wrath could fall upon those who approached him outside the established protocol.
But Esther overcame her fears and offered herself, if it should come to that, as a sacrifice for her people: “…if I perish, I perish!” (v. 16) Mordecai was confident that the Jews would be rescued (v. 14), and he believed that Esther had been established in her place “for such a time as this”. It was the fullness of times for Esther and the Jews. God’s deliverance would come through the courageous and faithful act of a selfless, trusting woman.
We can see Jesus here, Who came to lay down His life—to perish on the cross—that His people, all who believe in Him, might be delivered. He expressed His own reluctance concerning this horror as He prayed in the garden, but He yielded to the Father’s will and gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Only He could accomplish that end, for He had been sent to earth in the fullness of times for just such a time and work.
Christian friend, make up your mind right now, today, that if it comes to it, you will lay down your life rather than deny your Lord and Savior. Get that commitment firmly set in your soul—heart, mind, and conscience. Rehearse it every day in prayer. The courage that comes from this sincere and ultimate commitment will embolden you for everyday opportunities to stand for Jesus. And as you fulfill these—a word, a good work, a gesture of kindness and love, a brief witness—your desire to live for Jesus will grow, and your commitment to die for Him will be reinforced.
For we have been sent to the people around us, brethren, for just such a time as this.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego had all made up their minds about how they would respond to threats (Dan. 3.17, 18).
Daniel had made up his mind beforehand about how he would respond, as well (Dan. 6.10, 11).
Joseph had already decided how he would respond to temptation (see Gen. 39).
Paul knew what he would do in the face of peril (Acts 20.22-24).
Jesus had set His whole life on the trajectory of courageous and godly responses, knowing full well how He would behave to the very end (see Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
And Esther decided she too would follow righteousness, even to the bitter end (Esther 4.16).
And if we don’t respond in like fashion, as Mordecai opined, if we remain silent, deliverance will come for God’s people “from another place” (Esth. 4.14).
As Jesus said to the Pharisees when told He needed to quieten His followers’ praise:
“I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out” (Lk. 19.40).
God’s will, will be done.
God’s chosen will hear of Him.
God’s Word will go forth.
God will be praised.
God will be glorified.
Have we decided how we will fit into all His plans?
Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-Nego, Daniel, Joseph, Paul, and Esther all found the determined attitude of “If I perish, I perish” very freeing. Most assuredly, we will too.
Jesus, through His death and resurrection destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.
And Jesus, through His courageous love for us, “released those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2.14, 15).
Freed now to joyfully live and victoriously die for Him—“for such a time as this” (Esth. 4.14).
And if we won’t, someone or something else will—even a stone.
God of grace and God of glory, On Thy people pour They power;
Crown Thine ancient church’s story, Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage for the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.
Lo! The hosts of evil round us Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways!
Fears and doubts too long have bound us, free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.
Set our feet on lofty places; Gird our lives, that they may be
Armored with all Christ-like graces In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage That we fail not man nor Thee!
That we fail not man nor Thee!
(Harry E. Fosdick, 1930)
Reflection
1. God has sent you to your Personal Mission Field “for such a time as…” what? Why has He sent you?
2. Have you committed to standing firm with Jesus to the end? Do you rehearse that commitment daily? Does this affect how you live for Jesus day by day?
3. Whom will you encourage today to set their feet on holy places so they fail neither men nor God?
We should, every one, consider for what end God has put us in the place where we are, and study to answer that end: and take care that we do not let it slip. Having solemnly commended our souls and our cause to God, we may venture upon his service. All dangers are trifling compared with the danger of losing our souls. But the trembling sinner is often as much afraid of casting himself, without reserve, upon the Lord’s free mercy, as Esther was of coming before the king. Let him venture, as she did, with earnest prayer and supplication, and he shall fare as well and better than she did. The cause of God must prevail: we are safe in being united to it.Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Esther 4.5-17
Pray Psalm 105.3-11.
Give thanks to Jesus, for He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is with us always, even in the darkest or most difficult places. Seek His holy part for you today, that you may be for Him an agent of grace to your world, whatever it may cost.
Sing Psalm 105.3-11.
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
Glory in God, rejoice in heart, all you who seek His holy part.
Him and His strength and Presence seek; His works proclaim, His judgments speak.
You holy children of Abraham, you chosen ones of Jacob, stand!
He is our LORD, of wondrous worth; His judgments are in all the earth.
He will His covenant faithfully guard—His oath, the promise of His Word.
That which He to our fathers swore, He will perform forevermore!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: We continue reading excerpts from the book, Revived! in our Read Moore column. Why not listen in? Last week’s Crosfigell letter called us to make sure we have the right priorities. And in our ReVision series, “Pray for Your Church”, we pray for the work of one-anothering. And new in our bookstore, our book, The Ongoing Work of Christ shows us how the book of Acts provides a template and footprint for all who take up the work of building Jesus’ Church.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
