Meeting with the King

Background:Esther now convinced by Mordecai of the responsibility she had before the king to go and present the case for her people. She is the queen, but she knew the preparation it would take for her to meet with the king. She prepared herself, first spiritually, then physically in order that there was nothing undone on her part. As she went before the king, she knew the results of the meeting were not her hand and was willing to risk even her life for the case of the Jews.

Esther's preparation to go before the king

1. She fasted (Esther 4:16)
2. Change in her attitude from concerning herself to concern for others(Esther 4:16)
3. She put on her royal robe (Esther 5:1)
4. She waited at the inner court before being summoned by the king to enter into his hall (Esther 5:1)

Lessons I learnt - I have often wondered why prayers sometimes go unanswered even if they sound right. This lesson from Esther's life taught me, there is a preparation to pray or to make a petition before the King of kings and Lord of lords. Our Living God is not just another person we go to ask a favour from. Too many times because of the goodness of our Lord we forget His status, His power, His authority, His mightiness, His glory, His very being.

1. Fasting-Esther fasted, her petition was regarding the deliverance for the Jews. Thats the kind of fast our King is looking for especially pertaining to deliverance. Isaiah 58:6"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" Fasting, as Esther did was not a temper tantrum, saying "I wont eat till you grant my petition". It is an act of spiritual preparation for the petition she was going to make whether it be granted in her favour or not.


2. Attitude-Esther had been thinking about her life, until Mordecai had her realise, it wasn't about her alone, but for all the Jews. Too many times we love to take a petition before our King so that when its answered we'll get some glory out of it for having done so. Wrong attitude!! James 4:3 "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."


3. Royal Robe-Though Esther was queen, she had to specially get dressed up to go before the king. Why would a wife have to do that? She was no regular wife, she was a king's wife and she had to represent that when she went before her husband, in order that she may respect his position, his authority as a king. If she goes in tattered and torn, what kind of outlook would the king have had for her. We are brides of the King to come. Our King is the Almighty King of kings and Lord of Lords and we have a robe too. Romans 13:14 "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ...". Our petition to our King is not heard because we made the petition, but because we make the right petition "In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ". This is our covering our robe that our Saviour Lord Jesus has given to us, to approach our Father in Heaven, the King.


4. Waiting at the Inner Court to be summoned in-Esther, though being the queen could just go into the king's chamber, yet with respect for her king's authority she remained at the inner court where she could be seen from the king's hall, until the king summoned her in. The best times I have had in prayer have been times when I have begun with praise and thanksgiving and then waited on the Holy Spirit to guide me and take me past the outer courts into the Holy Place where my King waits to hear my petition. Esther knew she had favour with the king when the king raised his sceptre toward her. For us our King has raised His sceptre towards us too Hebrews 1:8 "But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom."1 Corinthians 1:30 "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption."

Conclusion:Are we ready to meet with the King of Kings and Lord of lords? Hebrews 4:16 "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." The confidence that is based upon our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and not our own ability or position. Honouring and revering the power and authority of our King.