Esther 5:3, commentary and pictures

After Esther risked death by coming to the king without being summoned, with fasting and prayer behind her, he spared her life by holding out the golden scepter and invited her to state her request, promising to grant it even up to half of his kingdom. She did not reveal her full purpose at once, but asked only that the king and Haman come to her banquet, and when he repeated his offer there she asked them to return the next day, when she would make her request known, taking his welcome as a sign that her prayer had been heard. Her finding favor and gaining access formed part of God's frustrating of Haman's plan to destroy the Jews under Medo-Persian rule, through which He delivered His people. Her fear turning to confidence before his favor portrays the welcome believers receive when they bring petitions to Christ, whose entrance is opened by favor and clothed in His righteousness. The king's limited offer of as much as half his kingdom is small beside Christ's boundless grace, for He offers not a portion but all things and the riches of heaven in answer to believing prayer. Her tact and intercession in seeking the king's favor is an example for mothers in prevailing with God, the King of the universe, over perplexing questions.

Esther's Risk and Reception

After risking death by coming before the king without being summoned, Esther was received with favor and invited to name what she wanted and what she requested, with the promise that it would be given even to half the kingdom. Her approach was welcomed, and favor opened to her both access to the king and the opportunity to make a request. The king extended the golden scepter toward her and spared her life, though to enter his presence unbidden ordinarily meant death. She had faced that danger with fasting and prayer before entering.

She did not yet use the favor and opening to reveal her full purpose for her people. She asked only that the king and Haman come to a banquet she had prepared. At that banquet the king repeated his gracious offer to grant her request even to half the kingdom, and she asked them to return the next day, when she would make her request known. The king’s welcome and assurance that her request would be granted was a sign to her that her prayer had been heard.

The verse belongs to the account in which God frustrated Haman’s plan to destroy the Jewish people under Medo-Persian rule, with Esther’s access to the king forming part of the events through which that destruction was prevented. In the history of Esther 3-9, Satan worked through Haman in the reign of Ahasuerus to destroy all the people of God. Those people are the woman through whom the Man-child should come, and in this Satan was perverting the Medo-Persian government, the second head of the beast system of government, to his own ends, but God frustrated his purpose and delivered His people. Esther’s successful appeal in finding favor with the king brought deliverance to her people.

Prayer Access Through Christ

After risking death to enter unsummoned, Esther was welcomed by the king, and his favor turned her fear into confidence, portraying the welcome believers receive from Christ when they approach Him with petitions. She found favor where approaching ordinarily meant death, her life was spared, and King Ahasuerus received her request with the offer to grant it up to half his kingdom. Her experience illustrates that favor opened access to the king and the opportunity to make a request.

Her entrance before the king is an imperfect picture of a believer entering heaven with petitions, where angels make way. Her former slavery and royal marriage picture the believer's lowliness joined to majesty through union with Jesus by faith. The believer's clothing pictures Christ's righteousness, and its adornment pictures the graces of the Spirit, which win the admiration of angels.

The Persian king's generous offer to give as much as half his kingdom is limited, and serves as a small contrast to Christ's boundless grace. He offers no mere portion, but makes all things His and places the riches of heaven at the believer's disposal in answering believing prayer. The king holding out the golden scepter with an open offer of grace pictures what Jesus still does, with the royal hand still held out by Him who walked the sea as land.

A believer therefore should not fear but should make a large request, for a large request honors Him as King. The largest request to bring is that He Himself will be guest, which is asking for all gifts in one. Trust is placed in Him who gives as a King who will give gems and sheaves to bring until sunset and a thousandfold harvest beyond. Esther's tact and intercession in bringing a difficult request before the king to seek his favor is an example for mothers, who need faith and diplomacy to face perplexing questions and prevail with God, the King of the universe.