QUIET STRATEGY
Esther 5:1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
4 “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”
5 “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”
So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. 6 As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
7 Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8 If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
BACKGROUND: Right from chapter five until the end of this book, the unexpected twists and turns makes the book of Esther fascinating. When a person is bloviating all the time, it’s easy to dismiss all discourse as chatter; however, Esther moves with poise and quiet confidence. Amen. Esther is filled with courage, boldness, quietness and trust in the power of God. Go-getter, trend-setter, game-changer, never-content, fearless, alert, unstoppable, unbreakable, tenacious, efficacious, tireless, confident, shrewd, astute, sharp, patient, wise, strong prayer warrior - all these qualities shoehorned into one great package – she was Esther the star!
I would like to discuss this subject under the following subheadings
1) TIME: On the third day
2) DEEDS ARE WEIGHED :
3) GARMENTS
4) DIVINE SHIFT
5) BOLDNESS
6) FINALE
1) TIME: On the third day
Hosea 6:2: “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.”
Time of God is everything friend! You cannot push God, you got to push yourself to prostrate in front of Him like Esther in order to know the heartbeat of God. Esther stepped out only ‘ on the third day’, says the opening words of this chapter. This speaks of patience and smart movement! Your umpteen educational degrees become just a piece of paper if you lack knack to crack problems with dexterity and wisdom.
Haste brings waste but smart movement comes from shrewd calculation and discernment. Esther had fasted along with her maids for three days before stepping into the devil’s domain. Are you listening? I will be speaking more about ‘fasting’ below, before that I want to talk more about TIME OF GOD.
Isaiah 60:22 is a powerful verse that reverberates with anyone waiting for God’s perfect timing. It reads: "The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time, I will do this swiftly." It may look like delay but He will move swiftly, like on escalator when the right time arrives. Say Amen.
Ecclesiastes 3:2:
"A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted."
Psalm 31:15 in the Bible reads, "My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who pursue me.”
Illustration: I would like to speak about an incident that happened in Abide School, the free School that we run for the underprivileged in Hyderabad. As principal of the School, I had suspended one particular student because of some issues, her brother is also studying in our school. The next day her father, who is a daily wage labourer in construction work came to drop the brother, I was standing outside in the morning as usual, but the father stood far away, dropped the brother and left. I was actually expecting him to come near me, talk, argue or something but he did nothing, very respectfully he left without saying a word. He did the same thing for the next two days, I was actually alarmed and wondered what was happening, on the third day, in the evening after the school was over and after all the students left, he came along with his wife very humbly and spoke to be very gently and said, ‘ I apologize for my daughter madam, please take her back.’
His calmness and patience actually baffled me, I just said ‘send her school tomorrow’. Did you see that? His timing, his patience, his calm observance of my mood and when to move were simply awesome. You can hold huge number of educational degrees from affluent universities but if you are clumsy then you have lost the sheen. When an uneducated, idol worshipping man who consumes alcohol daily can handle things so cleverly, patiently and smartly , should we not be more intelligent and efficient????
2) DEEDS ARE WEIGHED :
ESTHER NEEDED THE REQUIRED PUSH TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD:
Mordecai was the propelling and impelling force behind Esther (God watched that)
Esther 4:4 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it.
Chapter four opens with giving us details of Mordecai fasting, it was Mordecai who started the ‘fasting’ first, which gave him the wisdom, boldness, aggressiveness and strategy for the freedom of Jews. He was able to boldly request Esther to take the risk of going before the king.
PRECISE DETAILS WERE GIVEN BY MORDECAI:
5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
Later God handed over the signet ring of the king to Mordecai and also the house of Haman was handed over to Mordecai.
Blessings and elevation comes only after God's assessment of a person's worth not according to his wealth, bank account or personal appearance but based on his walk with God, obedience, decisions taken, discipline, commitment, holiness, hard work, perseverance and passion for God. Your actions are weighed by God!
1Samuel 2:3” “Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.”
My testimony: When I started Abide School, on September 11, 2011, we rented a house put the Abide School banner but we had no students despite being free school, it actually started as Children Home, I dared to call a building a ‘School’ with no teachers or students. (I have written more about the School in point 5) I would come daily to the building with the keys and bag in my hand, open it myself and close it myself. The sweeping and mopping of the building was also done by me even after students joined us later on. We printed a flyer and distributed in the surrounding areas as promotion, after which 7 students joined and then the increase began very slowly – brick by brick. In fact I promised the rag pickers that I would be in school at 6 am so that they can leave their children in the School and go for their work.
This was my dedication and commitment for this project, eventually Abide School received Telangana Government (India) permit and in 2015 we received Telangana Government recognition for our School. Abide School is the ‘FIRST” English medium School in our Ranga Reddy District that offers ‘Free education’.
God does not give you the KEYS without first analyzing your capacity to handle it and retain it.
Esther 8:2” And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.”
3)GARMENTS : AFTER SACK CLOTH COMES ROYAL ROBE
Sackcloth:
In ancient times, sackcloth was a rough, dark-colored fabric, often made of goat hair, worn as a sign of mourning, repentance, or humility. It was a visible symbol of sorrow or distress, often accompanied by fasting, weeping, and lamenting.
Royal Robes
Royal robes represent honor, authority, and high status. They are typically rich, colorful, and made of fine materials, symbolizing power and prestige.
Esther 4:15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
The book of Esther says, ‘the city of Sushan was in confusion.” (Esther 3:15) Mordecai wore sackcloth and fasted against the evil, demonic forces that was coming against the people of God. He knew this could be broken only through fasting and on his knees. Let me tell you friends, certain things cannot be amended, rectified or set right through arguments, quarrel and reasoning – you got to fast. Amen. Hear me say this today, you got to fast.
4) DIVINE SHIFT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SIT BEFORE GOD!
The transition from sackcloth to royal robes signifies a change in spiritual or physical condition.
SETTING: The SETTING CHANGES WHEN YOU SIT BEFORE GOD!
ESTHER STOOD IN THE INNER COURT-
A risky move as she had not been summoned.
COME INTO THE INNER COURT...When you spend time in the ‘inner court with God’ then you can stand before kings in their inner court.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is ligh
Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Exodus 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
5)BOLDNESS:
Esther 5:2 ‘When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court..’
It is just not normal to go and stand in the palace in front of the king, without being summoned. Are you listening? Esther got the guts not from being physically strong and flexing the muscles…no….no…this was divine boldness that she got from spending time with God in fasting and prayer. Say Amen.
Proverbs 28:1 states, "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion,"
Esther knew God has got her back in this and that’s the reason she was fearless! 2 Timothy 1:7: "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." This verse highlights that God's Spirit empowers believers with boldness rather than fear.
Illustration: When God told me to go to Telangana, a Telugu State in India, without knowledge of the local knowledge, it was the most scary thing that we all went through as a family. Added to this after a year, God stirred my heart to start a free school for the underprivileged children in Hyderabad. After renting a small independent house to run the ‘school’ we understood that it has to be done the proper way by obtaining ‘permit’ from the Government. Carrying all the certificates, documents in a file, when I entered the educational office along with my husband, I would never say that I was walked fearlessly – never – with wobbly legs, intimidated by the strange local language everyone spoke in the educational office, I felt like a kinder garden student on the first day in School. My husband and I would sit in the lobby seeking an appointment to meet the officer. When I did meet the secretary of the officer on duty, he was anything but courteous or kind, immediately he said, ‘why should you start a free school in Hyderabad, we have enough Government schools offering that service.’ He was actually chatting with his colleague when I entered his office, he carelessly wrote down some points and certificates that I need for the project and he went back to chatting with his colleague.
It was actually an hour drive to this office from our home, we went back to our car, never spoke what we just experienced but we drove back home to take the matter to God. Continuous prayer, fasting and waiting of God, we got our Government permit after rigorous and continuous visits to the educational department office, fulfilling all the documents that they required with the help of God. After two years, we also received Government Recognition without paying single penny as bribe . God would give you the boldness and confidence to do His Work when you wholeheartedly depend on Him.
Hebrews 4:16 reads, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
“If you go out in faith and are willing to look crazy for God, He will reward you with a crazy harvest.”
? Sebastien Richard
6)FINALE
ESTHER DID NOT RUSH & PUSH BUT it was kept hush-hush, KEEPING THE DETAILS UNDER WRAPS.
Esther 5:7 Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8 If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
Esther 7:7 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request.
Esther pleaded again:
Esther 8:3 Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him.
5 “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”
Esther boldly and wisely talked to the king, identified Haman as the prime culprit who schemed to kill the Jews and kept subtly interceding with the king until she got Haman hanged. Not enough she brought her uncle into the presence of the king and together they get the keys to the house of Haman. Incredible. The STAR that brought light in the city of Susan and saved scores of lives through her perseverance, intercession, prayers and wisdom.
We need more of such STARS in our church, Sunday School, Youth groups, women groups, prayer cell and in the secular world too! One such star can be the vital catalyst.
CONCLUSION:.
Illustration: I would like to quote an incident and conclude this sermon. Before I could join the Lord’s vineyard as full time servant, I worked for many organizations holding important positions, one of them was hotel industry where I worked for one of the Sheraton Hotels in the F & B department( Food & Beverage) I saw something beautiful unravel right in front of my eyes, a very ordinary, sweet young girl was working as receptionist in one of the restaurants in the hotel.
On one particular day, a large group of people along with foreigners came for lunch, unruffled she handled the guests with poise, ease and efficiency. As they were discussing about the menu, she did not butt in to disturb or overact but she stood far away from them with a smile, but her eyes were on them so that she could run the moment they need her. She gave them excellent service and made sure that she did not over impose on them, making it difficult for them to have a free-flowing conversation.
Her excellent performance was admired by the entire team, before they left besides giving her a handsome tip they took her number, by the end of the day she received an offer to join British Airways as airhostess – the guests who arrived were from British Airways.
You cannot win being impatient, sloppy, lazy, naïve, careless and foolish, we can see from the life of Esther that she had the qualities of a winner imbibed in her, even though she was not from a royal background.
“Patience includes perseverance—the ability to bear up under weariness, strain, and persecution when doing the work of the Lord.”
? Billy Graham,
