The Royal Compass Part VI: Victory of Unbroken Ranks

While in the eunuch Hathach’s presence, Queen Esther stands painfully alone. The words of Mordecai boom in echo through her mind. “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13,14)

Could what he says be true? Could she really have been strategically crowned because this persecution would happen? And if she refused, because of her refusal, would she surely die? Will her people undoubtedly be saved? And if not by her, than by whom? She knows what she must do and she knows what is needed to carry it out. With resolve and courage, she sends a message back to Mordecai:

Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.  I and my maids
will fast as you do.  When this is done, I will go to the king, even
though it is against the law.  And if I perish, I perish.”

In her time of distress, this heavenly princess of beauty reveals to all that her royal qualities deeply exceed her outward appearances. While her form positioned her for the call, it is this daughter’s heart and character that compels her to complete it. As anguish surrounds her, it will not overtake her, for she knows to whom she will turn.

Not only does she seek her Father, but she calls on the help of those closest to her and many more as well, to do the same.  Like shields braced together in battle for protection, the faith of many covers far more than the faith of one.  “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

The duty that comes with the crown will require great courage and the help and prayers of others. A princess has not been given a crown to merely hide away in a castle; she has been given a crown for a life of bold service. “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.” (1 Timothy 1:12). What an unfathomable privilege to be given.

“He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house
and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying
out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.’

So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel
and of the assembly of the Lord,
and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow
all the commands of the Lord your God,
that you may possess this good land and pass it on
as an inheritance to your descendants forever.”

Without exception, the calling of a princess reaches far beyond herself and her own abilities. To step into any calling alone would result in certain failure and defeat. Instead, she must go to her indomitable King who stands before every single one of His called warriors.

A princess must understand and accept the impossibility to fulfill her calling independently. When she does this, an unbreakable trust, need, and intimacy with her Father and Savior will be cultivated within her. How beautiful and powerful it is when a princess’ will is to do the will of the King’s, no matter how difficult.

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father,
and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind,
for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive
behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you;
but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.  Consider now,
for the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary.
Be strong and do the work.”

The Lord of all creation does not merely point you in the right direction. He stepped down from his throne on high to say, “Follow me.” He walks right into the place He has called you. More so, he leads the way. So with a servant’s heart filled with the sole desire to please the King, go where He goes—where His will will be done—and you cannot fail. No matter how great or seemingly small the task, no matter who comes against you or what circumstances stand in your way, the Lord will prepare the way of His treasured daughter who follows Him.

“David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work.
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.
He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for
the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.”

Esther’s feet, led by her Father and the King of kings, were ready to enter into the presence of a king who had just ordered the death of all her people. On the third day, Esther puts on her royal robes and stands in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall.

Sitting on his royal throne in the hall, Xerxes spots his beautiful Queen. He is pleased with her and holds out the gold scepter in his hand. After the Queen reaches him, king Xerxes asks Esther what it is she desires. “Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” Esther’s only request at this time is to have the king and Haman come to a banquet she had prepared.

As they drank wine, the king asks his queen again to tell him her petition. Esther replies, “My petition and my request is this:  If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them.  Then I will answer the king’s question.” (Esther 5:7,8)

Haman, the enemy of the Jews, is filled with pride at his own importance. However, when he sees Mordecai at the king’s gate and observes that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he is filled with rage against Mordecai. Delighted by the suggestion of his wife and friends, that very night, a gallows, seventy-five feet high, is built against Mordecai. The following morning, Haman would ask the king to hang Mordecai on it.

With evil hard at work, the night rings with the hammering of nails. High above all, the King whose eyes never close is also at work in the palace. Sleep does not come for king Xerxes. So he orders the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be read to him. While the stories are read, the king is reminded of Mordecai and how he exposed the officers who had conspired to assassinate him. At the very moment Xerxes is planning to honor Mordecai, Haman has come to accuse and destroy Mordecai. Xerxes orders Haman in from the outer court and sends Haman to personally and publicly honor Mordecai through the city streets.

Later that day, Haman accompanies the king to the queen’s banquet. The king again asks Esther what her request is. After seeking hard the Lord and patiently waiting, she follows Him courageously. The time has come. Queen Esther replies,¹

“If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty,
grant me my life—this is my request.  For I and my people have been
sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation.”
King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, ‘Who is he? Where is the man
who has dared to do such a thing?’  Esther said, ‘The adversary
and enemy is this vile Haman.’ Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs
attending the king, said, ‘A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by
Haman’s house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.’
The king said, ‘Hang him on it!’  So they hanged Haman
on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.”

Cherished daughters, you have been filled with the hope of the Lord. He has, indeed called you to greatness, but He has also filled you with His spirit. His spirit is not one of fear. Go fulfill His will and call for you boldly and courageously. But wait patiently and blamelessly for your signal to enter. Do not charge past your King in the attempts to fulfill His call without Him or you will find yourself alone.

Instead, submit to your position and let the King lead. As you wait, your Father—the King of circumstances and favor—storms ahead. By the time you are called in, seemingly impossible aspects for your success will already be in place due to the preceding work of the King. All you have to do is be prepared to step in and do your part faithfully to completion. “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24)

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God,
you will receive what he has promised.  For in just a very little while,
‘He who is coming will come and will not delay.
But my righteous one will live by faith.
And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.’

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed,
but of those who believe and are saved.”

Dear Lord, I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart. I will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted about all things your name and your word. When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted. May all the kings of the earth praise you, O Lord, when they hear the words of your mouth. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me. Lord, you will fulfill your purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands. To you be the glory forever!  Amen.²

^{1 :} Esther 5 & 6

^{2 :} Psalm 138

Click here if you missed the previous installment The Royal Compass: The Mirror’s Reflection

Read Samantha DeJaynes’ The Royal Compass series from the beginning! The Royal Compass:  Part I