After three days of prayer and fasting, Esther prepared to go in to the king's presence.  She put on her royal robes and stood in the garden of the king's royal house.  The king saw her standing there.  Now was the moment!  And it turned out to be a great moment.  

The king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand.  This meant that Esther was welcome.  She went forward and touched the scepter.

Then the king asked, 'What do you want, Queen Esther?  I'll give you anything you ask for - up to half of my kingdom!'

Wow!  What do you think Esther asked for?  You might be surprised.  Esther said, 'I would like the king and Haman to come today to the banquet that I have prepared for the king.'

When Haman heard about the invitation he was thrilled.  He felt so important.  A banquet with the king and queen!  He was so happy.  The only thing that bothered him happened after the banquet.  When Haman passed the king's gate on the way home, there was Mordecai the Jew - and Mordecai didn't bow!

Prayer: Dear Lord, I'm so glad You know all the dangers Your people face and You give us wisdom to deal with them.  Amen.

In the palace, Esther had to think about a message her uncle sent her.  'If you remain completely silent at this time,' Mordecai said.  'Relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish.  Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?'  

Even though the king had not sent for her in the past thirty days, Esther made up her mind.  She knew what she had to do.  She sent this reply to her uncle.

'Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day.  My maids and I will fast likewise.  And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!'  This brave young Jewess was willing to risk her life to save her people.  Already, she had a plan.

Prayer:  Lord, thank You that Esther put her confidence in You.  Help me to follow her example.  Amen.

Amongst the many laws of the kingdom there was one which stated that nobody, including the queen, could appear before the king unless he commanded it.  

Any person who did appear before the king was risking the death penalty.  Esther knew the king loved her.  But he always followed the law.  She also knew that only the king could deal with Haman's wicked plans.  

She had to talk to the king.  But he hadn't commanded her to come.  Should she risk her life by going anyway?  Esther knew very well that King Ahasuerus trusted Haman and his advice.  If she walked into the king's presence, she had no way of knowing whether he would accept her - or have her put to death for breaking the law.  But if she didn't talk to the king, all the Jews in the kingdom would be killed.  

Esther had a big decision to make.

Prayer:  Lord, give me courage to do what is right.  Amen.

Amongst the many laws of the kingdom there was one which stated that nobody, including the queen, could appear before the king unless he commanded it.  

Any person who did appear before the king was risking the death penalty.  Esther knew the king loved her.  But he always followed the law.  She also knew that only the king could deal with Haman's wicked plans.  

She had to talk to the king.  But he hadn't commanded her to come.  Should she risk her life by going anyway?  Esther knew very well that King Ahasuerus trusted Haman and his advice.  If she walked into the king's presence, she had no way of knowing whether he would accept her - or have her put to death for breaking the law.  But if she didn't talk to the king, all the Jews in the kingdom would be killed.  

Esther had a big decision to make.

Prayer:  Lord, give me courage to do what is right.  Amen.

Haman had the date set for the new law to start - the very day when it would be legal for all the people to attack the Jews in every city and kill them.  When Esther's uncle Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes.  That was a sign of great sorrow.  He went to the king's gate but he couldn't go into the palace because nobody in mourning was allowed to do so.

It was the same in all other cities.  When the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing.  Esther's servants came and told the queen about the new law.  She was very sad.  She was even more upset when she read a copy of the wicked law and learned that Haman hated the Jews so much he was actually paying the king to destroy all Jews.  What a wicked man Haman was.

Prayer:  Lord, thank You for protecting Your people from all those who rise up against them.  Amen.