Esther 4:16
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
In her crisis Esther, made queen in providence, joined with Mordecai to appeal to the king for her people doomed to destruction, a work demanding earnest and quick action. Knowing human effort would be unavailing unless God worked mightily, she took time for communion with God as her strength, and called for all the Jews in Shushan to fast and pray for her three days night and day without eating or drinking while she and her maidens fasted likewise. Only then would she go in to the king unsummoned though against the law, accepting that if she perished she perished, and her fasting, prayer and prompt action were the means of deliverance when no power seemed able to save. Her resolve urges sinners who fear failure to come to Christ in faith without delay and without waiting to make themselves worthy, reaching for His mercy as for the offered scepter to receive pardon, peace and cleansing from sin. It is also willingness to risk death rather than shrink from necessary duty, venturing by faith on God's promises and surrendering self at whatever cost, even as Christ made the greater venture in coming in human nature to overcome for us.
Esther's Crisis and Preparation
The verse belongs to a crisis in which Esther, a Jewess who feared God and in providence had been made queen, joined with her near relative Mordecai to appeal to King Xerxes for her people doomed to destruction, a crisis demanding earnest, quick action. Both knew their own feeble human efforts would be unavailing unless God worked mightily for them. So Esther took time for communion with God as the source of her strength, the Power that reigns among men and holds the heart of every earthly ruler in His hand to turn wherever He wills.
She directed that all the Jews present in Shushan be gathered to fast for her for three days night and day, neither eating nor drinking, while she and her maidens, the women with her, fasted likewise with prayer. Only then would she go in to the king, though it was not according to the law because she was unsummoned and it was unlawful to approach, accepting the life-threatening risk that if she perished she perished. Her fasting, prayer, and prompt action were part of the means through which God brought deliverance to her people in the emergency when no power seemed able to save them.
Coming to Christ in Faith
Esther's resolve to go in to the king though it might mean death encourages sinners who fear failure to entrust and surrender themselves to God and seek His mercy by coming to Christ in faith without delay. The king's offered scepter was a sign of favor, illustrating Christ's mercy, and reaching for it represents faith reaching out to receive grace. The one who so reaches in faith receives pardon and peace, for Jesus alone cleanses from sin and forgives transgressions, and He hears and grants the prayers of those who come to Him in faith. No one must wait to make himself worthy first or rely on his own efforts before claiming God's promises, for waiting to become worthy is a mistake.
Her acceptance of the risk, if I perish I perish, applies to repentance while Christ is still pleading in heaven. The sinner must stop protecting personal dignity and standing and, rather than shrink from the necessary approach, confess and turn from sin and come to the Saviour to touch the holy scepter. This coming is to be even at the cost of losing everything, at the risk of loss and of perishing.
The verse teaches venturing by faith on God's promises, going to the Saviour and accepting whatever may come, even perishing at His feet. It calls for surrendering self and trusting God's desire to save at whatever cost. Christ made the greater venture by coming in human nature as humanity's surety and substitute and overcoming on our behalf, so that we may overcome through His strength and merits.
Resolve in Duty and Trial
The verse expresses a resolve to face possible death rather than shrink from a necessary and dangerous approach to the king. It accepts that going in unsummoned to make the appeal may cost life, yet determines to proceed after calling the people to fast. That same resolve is echoed in the determination that moving out to act could only end in perishing, yet the duty must still be carried out. Applied to repentance, it means the sinner must stop protecting personal dignity and standing and come to Christ for mercy while He is still pleading in heaven, even at the risk of losing everything. Coming to the Saviour and reaching for the holy scepter carries over that courageous approach, calling the sinner to confess and turn from sin without delay.
The resolve also applies to resisting appetite, where one determines not to yield but to proceed in the necessary course even at the risk of death. In that struggle the determination holds even while seriously ill, continuing to seek God's help until victory over appetite is gained.