Favorite Lines in the Bible – Esther

By Pastor Paula Lund Burchill

This devotion was previously published on SoundCloud.

For my next several devotions, I’m going to share what are in my humble opinion some of the best lines in the bible.  Today’s line comes from the book of Esther:

Perhaps it was for just such a time as this that you came to your royal position….

Esther holds a unique distinction in the bible—it is the only book that never mentions God.  Let me give you a refresher on Esther’s story.

King Xerxes was married to Vashti, who was a bit of a rebel.  The king wanted her to parade in front of his guests in her crown, and she refused, so he had her killed and decreed all women must obey their husbands in his kingdom.  Then he went looking for a new wife.

Enter Esther, a beautiful orphan who, when brought before the king, he fell in love.  They were married, but he never knew she was a Jew.  One day her uncle Mordecai found out about a plot to kill Xerxes, alerted Esther, who told the king, who then recorded Mordecai’s valuable service in his books.  

Enter Haman—the bad guy in the story—who became the king’s advisor.  Mordecai would sit at the gates of the city, where most men hung out in those days, and when Haman passed, would not bow to Haman like the other men did.  This was because Mordecai was a Jew, and Jews only bow down to God.

Well that got on Haman’s nerves, and Haman started plotting to get rid of Mordecai. In fact, he plots not just to kill Mordecai, but all of the Jews in the kingdom.

When Mordecai hears of the plan, he immediately goes to Esther, begging her to approach the king.  She is afraid, because well, you remember how he was to Vashti, and if she approached him unbidden, she could be killed.

This is where the best line in the book comes in.  Mordecai says to Esther:  Perhaps it was for just such a time as this that you came to your royal position….

Esther tells Mordecai that all the Jews should fast for three days, and she does as well, then she invites her husband to a party.  When she isn’t killed for her invitation, she gets to work. She overhears Haman talking about killing Mordecai and suggests he build a gallows.  That night the king has a dream and remembers how Mordecai saved his life.  So the next day, he asks Haman, how should one honor a man who has done really good work?  Thinking the king was talking about him, Haman suggested purple robes and a parade.  So the king orders Haman do just that…for Mordecai!

Then Esther has a second banquet, and at that, the king says he will grant any wish she wishes.  She tells him “I’m a Jew and Haman is planning to kill me and all my people!”  The king is incensed, has Haman killed on his own gallows, and Esther saves her people.

I love what Mordecai says to Esther.  Perhaps this is why you’re queen, Esther!  I hear it as a subtle challenge that is full of encouragement.  Not unlike what a mom might say to encourage her kids to use their talents.

I also love how God is always at work in Esther even though we don’t ever hear God’s name.

I find that good news for us today.  In these challenging times in which we live.  Maybe it is for just such a time as this that the church is here, still alive and well despite the fact that we can’t worship in our building.  And perhaps it is for just such a time that God made the church—to share a message with the world of hope, and forgiveness.  A message that we are all God’s good creation.  That we are all sisters and brothers. 

Perhaps it is for just such a time that the church is at work—calling each other, sharing worship and devotions with friends near and far.

Who knows, perhaps it is for just such a time that you are here as well!