Esther (Greek) 8:1-6: a reflection

1On that day, King Ahasuerus gave to Esther all that belonged to Haman the slanderer. The king called Mordecai, for Esther had told that he was related to her. 2The king took the ring which he had taken away from Haman and gave it to Mordecai. Esther appointed Mordecai over all that had been Haman’s. 3She spoke yet again to the king, and fell at his feet, and implored him to undo Haman’s mischief and all that he had done against the Jews. 4Then the king extended the golden sceptre to Esther; and Esther arose to stand near the king. 5Esther said, “If it seems good to you, and I have found favor in your sight, let an order be sent that the letters sent by Haman may be reversed—letters that were written for the destruction of the Jews who are in your kingdom. 6For how could I see the affliction of my people, and how could I survive the destruction of my kindred?”

Though Haman has been defeated and Esther's own life is no longer in immediate danger, her people still face the decree of destruction Haman had set in motion. And so Esther, at continued risk, goes again to the king, falls at his feet, weeps, and pleads: If it please the king, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised for the destruction of the Jews. For how can I bear to see the disaster that would come to my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred? She cannot rest while her people are in danger; she keeps pleading for their rescue.

Notice what drives Esther's continued intercession: love for her people, unable to bear their suffering. Her own danger had passed; she could have rested content, safe. But she could not bear to see her people destroyed, and so she kept interceding, at continued risk, moved by love for their welfare. How can I bear to see the destruction of my people? she says. Their peril was her burden, and she would not stop pleading until they were saved.

That is a picture of intercession moved by love. Esther interceded not for herself, her own danger was past, but for others, out of a love that could not bear their suffering. We are called to that kind of intercession: to plead, before God and before others, for those in need or danger, moved by a love that cannot rest while they suffer. Do not rest content in your own safety while others are in need. Let love for others move you to intercede for them, as Esther interceded, unable to bear their suffering, pleading persistently for their good. Carry the burden of others' need, and plead for them, out of a love like Esther's, that will not rest until they are helped.

Lord, though her own danger had passed, Esther could not bear to see her people destroyed, and so she kept pleading for their rescue, at continued risk, moved by love: how can I bear to see the destruction of my people? Give me that intercession moved by love. Keep me from resting content in my own safety while others are in need or danger. Let love for others move me to plead for them, before you and before others, unable to bear their suffering, interceding persistently for their good. Help me carry the burden of others' need as Esther carried her people's, and not to stop pleading until they are helped. Give me a heart that cannot rest while others suffer, and make me a persistent intercessor, moved by love, for those in need.