Rev. E. Anderson
BANG ON TIME!
The Bible gives quite a lot of emphasis with regard to true prayer to God. It is regarded as a real dynamic and possesses the power when properly used in relation to God to bring about some amazing things. Prayer paves the way for divine intervention even when things are seen to be in an extreme situation and defy a possible solution. In the case of Esther she proved that God could move bang on time when things had reached a critical nature in relation to her people, the Jews. The book that is written under name is all about the dynamic of prayer.
THE INVETERATE HATRED OF HAMAN
A principal character of the book is Haman who took a great dislike to Mordecai because the latter did not show him any seeming honour or respect – 3: 2, 6. Mordecai being an honourable person himself must have had just reasons why he did not do so. The very fact that Haman became obsessed with this reveals that he was not such an honourable person after all and certainly his actions expose him as an evil man. He sets out on a plot to not only remove Mordecai but all his people, too. The subtle plan was instigated and engineered in hell!
THE SUPPLICATION OF MORDECAI
Something needed to be done to amend the decree that the king had sent out to annihilate the Jews. Mordecai along with his compatriots turn to the Lord with earnest entreaty – 4:1—4. He senses the awful plight that God’s people are in and so takes the spiritual steps to remedy the matter. There is an awareness that help from the Lord is required if this is be dramatically changed. He and his people humbled themselves before God recognizing they needed His providential hand to work on their behalf. Besides there was a calling on Esther for her help 4: 1 and encouraged her to an action emphasizing the fact that this could be the reason why she had been exalted as queen – v14 ‘who knoweth whether you are you come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’
THE RESPONSE OF ESTHER
She is prepared to become involved but lays down a spiritual course of action by fasting and prayer. During those three days there would be a turning to God before there was a turning to the king. The Sovereign Lord was able to give favour and cause this evil to be averted in a remarkable fashion. She employs a wise strategy first of all in gaining the favour of her husband/king first of all in the preparation of s royal feast.
THE INTERVENTION OF GOD
The Lord is seen to work in the developments that take place at this time that makes it obvious that what occurred was more than human coincidence or chance. For instance, the king could not sleep and asked for a the reading of the chronicle of records of his reign as to what had transpired – 6: 1. And the account of Mordecai’s good deed was read and he discovered that he had not been justly rewarded and felt it should be attended to – vv2-12. Haman arrives and wrongly interprets the king’s purpose in thinking he was the one to be honoured only to find out it was Mordecai. Haman then discovers to his horror that Esther putting in a plea for the salvation of here people and he realizes he is in problem and so in unbecoming manner solicits her help because he knows he is in trouble – 7: 7. The end of the story is that Haman is hanged, Mordecai is exalted and God’s people are saved with a mighty deliverance. It is apparent that God was bang on time!
It is important that the Christian Church and every Christian believer understands that the Lord is ever in control. Although things occur as the result of wicked people coming to power which would damage and destroy God’s people, they have resort to God through the dynamic of prayer. He still reigns in omnipotent power and can cause His special providences to work to bring about major deliverances. Prayer is still a powerful agency to be used in the days we live in.
