She trembled as her hair was styled just the way he liked It. She couldn’t help but imagine her head on the platter. She shook herself. You should have better faith than this, she chided quietly. After all, had she not spent the past few days in fasting and praying to Yahweh together with the thousands of her people spread across the whole empire. Yahweh still loved his people in spite of their faithfulness. Surely, Yahweh will deliver her people. She started as her servant spoke out of her reverie, “You look beautiful, my Queen. The King will be so pleased to see you.”

She forced a smile as her stomach churned. She was either going to save her people from certain death or plunge to her death. As she walked through the majestic corridors of the palace, Esther prayed silently, “Oh Yahweh, God of my ancestors, God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, show me great mercy this day. Let me see your grace that King David always sang about. Let me see your deliverance this day.”

As she reached the Inner courtyard of the palace, she suddenly had an idea. She turned and whispered a series of Instructions to her servants and positioned herself right there in the court yard making sure she was in full view of the king. She trembled again as she realized the foolishness of her initial plans. Praise Yahweh for his mercy. She stood there rehearsing her speech as she waited for him to notice her. Whatever were they so intensely discussing about? She stared him with such longing, Oh how she missed her husband! His head suddenly jerked up to look at her, having sensed her stare. His face registered surprise and wonder and finally a tender smile. He stretched out the scepter In his hand towards her being filled with an overwhelming desire to see her and hold her.

Esther, rejoicing quietly, gracefully walked into the throne room. The court was quiet as they watched the exchange. The King did not often stretch out his sceptre. The Queen was well aware of this fact and yet dared to try. It must be pretty serious. The King boomed with pride, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!” So Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”” Special Paraphrase of Esther‬ ‭5:1-4‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

An Encounter With Grace & Mercy

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A very popular scripture but I wonder, among those who quote it, how many really realize the full import of it. I have seen no better picture in scripture expressing it than that of the Queen Esther. Esther was In trouble. Her people were in trouble. Their existence was at stake. She was the best person positioned to speak for her people to her husband. But at that point, he wasn’t her husband but a King she had to make supplication to. The fearful law of the Kingdom in approaching the King made her doubly hesitant but ringing within her being was Mordecai’s statement, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?””

For Esther’s request to be granted, she needed help. Not just any help, but grace and mercy. She really did receive them. Mercy was the stretching forth of the sceptre to bid her to approach. By her actions, she deserved death. She even said earlier, “If I perish, i perish.” She knew she deserved death but rather she received life and not just that. The king asked of her request even to half his kingdom, making her a co-reigner with him. Amazing! She never asked for that, she didn’t even have It in mind. That Is grace – receiving what you DON’T deserve. You cannot work for it and even if you did you wouldn’t acquire it.

Sometimes, these two run into each other so closely that you cannot tell the difference. They are part of the help system put in place to help the believer live the life he was intended to live. When you look at the context of Hebrews 4:16, it was about the weakness of humanity. The fall and its subsequent disconnection from God placed an inherent weakness in us such that we always need God’s help. The bible teaches us that Jesus, when He became man, did not escape that part of humanity. He was in it with us and so He understands our humanity and its subsequent weakness. It is on the premise of this that the bible declares that we come with boldness towards God.

Before Esther approached the King, there Is one thing she did. She put on her royal robes (Esther 5:1), thus establishing and reminding the King (and herself) she was the Queen. It is important we grasp this because it was on this premise she made her request. She was Queen and inviting her husband to a special meal she has prepared for Him. The question is this, Who are You? With who do you Identify with? When you approach God, how are you approaching Him? As a son or a servant? That would make the difference on your attitude of entering. I am sure Esther did not enter before the King cowering In fear. Inwardly maybe, but her very apparel reminded her she was Queen.

We, by the foundation of the blood of Jesus and the forgiveness of sins, have become Sons of God. God calls us sons and as a son will go before his father so does He expect us to come before Him, in boldness, pleading our case. His throne is the throne of Grace. So you know that you will receive what you do not deserve on your own but on the basis of who you are in Christ, you will receive. The purpose of this grace is to help you in your moment of need, right now.
You will also obtain mercy – receiving pardon for the mess you made. The Mercy of God just blesses my heart. One of my favorite scriptures says but for the mercies of God we would have been consumed. (Lamentations 3:22). We would have been consumed by the wrath of God towards sin. His mercy stands between His wrath and our sins because He has compassion on us and He hesitates to destroy us because of sin.

What do you need Help with right now? Is It to break away from an addiction? Or it could be to help your mood In the turn of events this year came up with? Is it your academics? Or Is It just to grow deeper in your relationship with the Lord? Whatever it Is, put on your sonship clothes and go before your father. You will find the helpers there – Grace & Mercy. You will be sorted out.
As the King’s scepter was stretched towards Esther to bid her to approach, God’s ‘sceptre’ Is ever stretched towards you to approach His throne. His question is, “What do you want my son, even if it is the whole of the kingdom, ask me?