All Hail The King! — O, Beloved!

If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.

– Esther 7:4

These words…they are beautiful to me, for so many reasons.

I find it helpful though, first, to consider the context: Esther was only bringing this to the king’s attention because of the dire circumstances: “For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated.” Haman was trying to make a full end of the Jews. This reminds me of Jeremiah 5:10 when God was declaring righteous judgment on Jerusalem: “Go up through her vine rows and destroy, but make not a full end.”

Esther, here, is responding beautifully to this situation, yes, but also in her petition to the king! What is slavery and a bit of affliction, when compared with a loss to the king? What honor, what respect, what reverence she had for him! It would be inconsequential, she says, but wait...to make a full end? Now, that is something. That cannot be. No sir.

Also, note what she said: “I would have been silent.” This reminds me of yet another example of how Esther typified our King’s forbearance of Love expressed in Isaiah 53:7:

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

For silence is indeed a covering, a bearing of love for another, yes? — 1 Corinthians 13:7: “Love bears all things…” Notice how she was confessing her love for the king in that she would have even kept silent had she needed to bear slavery and affliction for the good of her king! She wouldn’t have uttered a word of complaint or despised the king for such forbearance. Nay. She would have been silent.

O, beloved, we should have a likeminded perspective towards our King, yes? We should not only welcome slavery and possible affliction on behalf of our Beloved King, but aye…we deserve such…and worse! Yet, did our King count equality with God a thing to be grasped? No, beloved. He emptied Himself, took on human form and became a servant — all so that we would not suffer God’s righteous wrath and rightful judgment, but also! that we would not be brought to a full end – aye. And! our King not only said He would be silent, but did keep silence. He could have drowned us in shame and reproach, all with words of righteous truth. But…He chose to bear all of that shame and suffering for us. O, beloved – what love!

This statement of Esther’s, it’s much more than a respectful and adoring sentiment toward the king. It embodies sacrificial love, yes, but it also typifies the loving character of our merciful God.

My! His mercy! His love! I wish I had proper words to express my gratitude and reverence and awe for such a Beautiful King as ours!

May He receive all glory and honor and praise forever and ever! Amen.