Let’s pause the story for a moment. How would you have responded to your uncle’s report? It sounds like the whole of the Jewish people were hanging their hopes on Esther. Her first response appeared to be panic. Everyone knew, Esther included, that going to the King without being summoned was a death sentence; and he had not been too interested in seeing her lately! I think we all like to dream that we would rise to the occasion ourselves if it were presented to us, but if we are being honest, self-preservation is the usual response.

The more I grow in my walk with the Lord the more I realize that God knows, understands, and sees so much more than I could ever comprehend. He has a perfect plan, and my job is to submit my will, my mind and soul, to His sovereignty. This would be frightening, except that the character of God is complete goodness, love, justice, and mercy. His ways are higher than ours and we can trust what He is doing, even when it doesn’t make sense from our limited perspective.

Around 500 BC the King of Persia was throwing a party.  Persia was an area stretching from the upper Nile region all the way through India. Xerxes, known for his heavy drinking and quick temper, had been partying for 180 days; that is not a misprint.

David had to pay the price for his sin. He knew he could no longer hide. So rather than wallowing in self-pity, David sought God’s forgiveness and redemption. The fact of the matter is this, we are all sinners and all have fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), but we have a choice to make.

David had to pay the price for his sin. He knew he could no longer hide. So rather than wallowing in self-pity, David sought God’s forgiveness and redemption. The fact of the matter is this, we are all sinners and all have fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), but we have a choice to make.