Esther, like Mordecai, believed that God would save a remnant of His chosen people, but she also felt the full weight of her responsibility. “If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
After praying and fasting for three days, Queen Esther was ready to make her plea to Xerxes, the Persian King. She knew that the fate of the Hebrew people might depend upon her, so she was prepared. “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
“On the third day, Esther dressed in her royal clothing and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace facing it. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing its entrance. As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she gained favor with him. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter” (Esther 5:1-2)
I’ve never been invited to the White House to meet the President or to Buckingham Palace to greet Queen Elizabeth. But I have been invited into the Royal Chambers of the King of all kings, the King of Heaven and Earth, the High Priest and King… Jesus.
“Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14–16).
In the Tabernacle and Temple, the glorious presence of God that rested upon the Mercy Seat was hidden behind the veil, but when Jesus had accomplished His eternally-important mission, when He had paid the cost of our atonement, when He cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30), the veil was torn. “Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split… When the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’ ” (Matthew 27:51–54).
We mustn’t fear entering His throne room. He’s given us an invitation. Like Queen Esther, we’ve “gained favor with the King. He’s extended the gold scepter in his hand toward us, and we can boldly approach and touch the tip of the scepter.”
Come as you are. Come reverently. Come boldly. In His royal chambers, we’ll “receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.”
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations” (Psalm 100:4–5).
