Esther 5:1

Esther 5:1 says, Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.  The third day after the fast was over, Esther dressed in her royal robes and went and stood in the king's inner court but outside his house.  Matthew Henry says the three days may have just been one day and two nights, but whether that is true or not, Esther took action as soon as she morally could.  We need to act as soon as we morally can when we know that God has called us to do something.  He was on his royal throne, which was his place of authority. 

Verse two adds, And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.  When the king saw Esther standing in the court, he was pleased and held out the golden scepter to her, inviting her into his presence.  She went in and touched the top of the scepter, showing her obedience to him.  God offers us much more than a golden scepter when He sees us standing outside His kingdom.  He offers us everlasting salvation and the right to come into His presence at any time if we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, which is the only way to salvation.  Esther didn’t just barge into the throne room making demands but waited to be invited in.  We must come in to God in obedience and can never just barge in on Him making demands about what we want. 

Verse three continues, Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.  Ahasuerus then asked Esther what she wanted and said he would give it to her, even half the kingdom.  His last wife had been killed for not coming when he called, and Esther could have been killed for coming when he hadn’t called her, but God had changed Ahasuerus’s heart.  God can still bring about His will by working through those who aren’t Christians, but He expects those who are to be obedient to His call even if it might seem dangerous at the time. 

Verse four concludes, And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.  Though Ahasuerus had offered Esther half the kingdom, all she asked was that Haman and he come to a banquet that she had prepared for them.  She wasn’t making demands but was offering to honor and serve the king.  God doesn’t promise us half His kingdom if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, but He does give us an everlasting place in His kingdom if we do, and if we accept this gift of salvation, we must then serve and honor Him. 

Verse five states, Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.  The king told one of his servants to hurry and tell Haman to come and they went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.  We need to hurry to Jesus as lost sinners and come to the everlasting banquet He has prepared for us by putting our faith in Him.  It is good if we can bring others with us, but though Haman went, he wasn’t there to honor the king.  He was still looking for what he wanted. 

Verse six adds, And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.  Once more Ahasuerus told Esther to make her petition known and he would give her up to half the kingdom.  He was pleased by her actions.  When we come to God through faith in Jesus Christ, our only desire should be the forgiveness of our sins and an everlasting relationship with Him. 

Verse seven continues, Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; 

Verse eight concludes, If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.  Esther told Ahasuerus that if she had found favor in his sight to come to the banquet that she had prepared for him the next day and bring Haman with him.  Again, she made no demands but only made a request.  We cannot make demands on God but can only make requests once we have become a Christian.