WE ARE WHERE WE ARE FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

PROCLAMATION

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your family’s family will perish.  And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”  Esther 4:14 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After Queen Vashti was banished from the kingdom, King Xerxes decreed that a search be conducted for all the beautiful young virgins in the kingdom in order to find a replacement for Vashti. (Esther 2:1-4)  Esther, who had been raised by her Jewish cousin Mordecai, was one of many young women brought to the king’s palace and placed under the care of Hegai, who was the eunuch in charge of the king’s harem. (Esther 2:5-8)  After twelve months of beauty treatments each woman would go in and spend the night with the king.  Afterwards she would return to another part of the harem under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines and stay there until summoned by the king. (Esther 2:8-14)  Esther pleased the king more than any of the other virgins and he made her the new queen to replace Vashti. (Esther 2:17-18)  At that time, Mordecai angered Haman, who had the highest position of honor among the king’s nobles, because he would not kneel down to him and he wanted to kill Mordecai and all of the Jews. (Esther 3:1-6)  Haman convinced the king to issue a decree to kill all of the Jews on the same day and he sent couriers out to proclaim this in all provinces. (Esther 3:8-15)  When Mordecai learned of this, he requested Esther’s help to plead for the king’s mercy to save the Jews, but she initially refused. (Esther 4:1-11)  Then Mordecai told her, “who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? 

APPLICATION

All things happen for a reason.  Each of us has a sphere of influence, a person, or a group of people whose behavior we can affect.  These people will listen to us and they will do what we say or suggest.  We may not all have a title, but we are still in a position of influence.  It is by the providence of God that we are where we are at any given time.  Let us be careful regarding the advice which we give to others.  We do not want to be the one who causes someone to stumble and fall into sin. (Malachi 2:8)  We especially do not want to cause a child of God to go the wrong way. (Mark 9:42 and Luke 17:2)  Let us pray that our words and advice will always be given with grace and be helpful to those who receive them. (Colossians 4:6)