“Esther Put on Her Royal Robes and Stood. . .”

“. . .Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, in front of the king’s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. And when the king saw Queen Esther. . .” Esther 5:1-2a

Esther was a real queen. The important aspect of this story is that Esther was Jewish, and the king was not. At her uncle Mordicai’s suggestion, she did not originally make her lineage known. As we read along we find the Jewish people are a minority group that, one of the king’s most powerful administrators, Haman, hated.

Haman schemed to have the Jew’s destroyed, in part, because Mordecai refused to bow down before him. Mordecai was Jewish and would not worship a man. When Mordecai heard of Haman’s edict to kill and plunder the Jews, he sent word to Esther to intercede with the king on behalf of the Jewish people.

At first she was hesitant because under the rules of the kingdom, even though she was the queen, unless she found favor with the king, she could be killed for coming to him uninvited. Mordecai’s reply is probably the best known passage in this book.

“Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Chapter 4: 13-14.

Her response to him was a request for all the Jew’s to fast for three days. “. . . My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” v16b She had weighed the cost and made her choice.

The Word does not say what she did for those three days, but if it was me, I would probably be seeking God for favor and wisdom to know what to do with it once I had it. I imagine she took all three days to prepare: mentally, emotionally, and spiritually by coming to terms with her obligation. She also had to know in her heart that she is the queen. And yes, she was queen for just such a time as this. The moment of truth came quickly for her to step into this pivotal role for her people.

When the time arrived, Esther dressed as the queen that she was. Wearing her royal robes to honor and impress the king, and to honor and remind herself of her position, she lifted her head and took the next step. Literally. She walked to the king’s court for the appointment the king was not expecting. On arrival, she stood. This was an active standing. she was not leaning on a wall chewing gum. She had the mindset and confidence of her calling and destiny. She new she lived for a purpose beyond herself. She stood as royalty. She understood who she was when she waited for the king to grant her favor to come before him. She was ready to die for her cause.

“And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out the golden scepter that was in his hand to Esther. Then she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.” (5:2) Esther went forward, knowing she had a plan to save her people. Esther was interceding for the Jews.

We too are royalty. Our ability to enter the presence of the King, however, is governed by different rules. We have been bought with a price. Paid in full. Our gifts and callings are irrevocable. The curtain of separation between God and people is forever torn because of Jesus Christ.

Holiness, not perfection is our condition. This requirement can only be satisfied in knowing Christ personally. It is our relationship with Jesus that puts us on the journey of becoming more like him. This is our walk, our daily relationship building, that qualifies us before the King of Creation.

We too need to wear our “royal robes.” All who are in relationship with Jesus are chosen, loved, and called to things only we can do.

We still need to stand. . . actively. . .vigilantly. . . watching. . . ready to respond to our callings and destiny when they rise to meet us.

This is not a time in life for us to sit back and relax. It is time to the lies that attempt to disqualify us, or attempt to lure us away, from our royal service for the King of Kings.

And Haman? In case you didn’t know, he died hanging on the gallows he built to hang Mordecai on. And the king chose Mordecai to take Haman’s place in the court of the king. Yep. Circumstances can change quickly.

Esther put on her royal robes and stood. It sounds so simple. In many ways it is.

Where are you called to put on your royal robes and stand? What is your next step?

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