A powerful picture of true intercession! The book of Esther is added with a divine purpose to teach us the providential hand of God for His chosen people, even though it never mentions the name of God once.  It tells the story of a slave girl in captivity being raised to the position of a Queen at the right time for a great deliverance to God’s people. This story teaches us many valuable lessons, out of which the topic of Intercession is really a fascinating study through this book. Let us examine a few of those from today’s reading:

Identifying with others and representing them truly before the authority: This is a great lesson we need to learn to become a true intercessor. Even though she was the queen of a great king, she identified herself with her people who were under immediate threat from the evil schemes of the enemy. Esther 8:6: “For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” She was in real agony and she cried her heart out before the King. Her deep travail and anguish for her people was rewarded rightly by the King. As our true representative, Jesus Christ went before God in deep anguish to deliver from death and He was answered by God. Hebrews 5:7:  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared. He has accomplished our great salvation by becoming one like us and carried our burdens.

Persistent in Prayer: Esther was lying at the feet of the King, till he heard and answered in favor of her people (“She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman”). She was willing to even die in her endeavor to save her people. This is a picture of true love and courage. Her persistence till the matter was resolved shows her true love and determination to get the matter resolved—the character trait of a true intercessor! See how the first intercession in the Bible is recorded in Genesis 18 :16-33. We see here Abraham, pleading with God the case for Sodom and Gomorrah, even at times fearing the displeasure of God himself. Similarly, we can see Moses who pleads for his people on their way to Canaan (Exodus 32).

Intercessor becoming the Executor: here in the case of Esther, when she was found pleasing to the eyes of her King and her husband, she was given the authority to execute the verdict according to her own will. She then wrote the will against the enemy strategy and has executed it under the delegated authority. Esther 8:8: “But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring….” Similarly when we become acceptable and pleasing before the King of Kings, we will also be given the authority to execute His will upon this earth. Isaiah 54:17: “..no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment….”

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Prayer:

Dear Abba Father, mould me to be a

true intercessor who in turn will become the executer

of Your will. In Jesus name,

Amen.