Israelites, sheep and faith

 Psalm 95:1–11 (ESV): 

95 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; 

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 

 2  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; 

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 

 3  For the Lord is a great God, 

and a great King above all gods. 

 4  In his hand are the depths of the earth; 

the heights of the mountains are his also. 

 5  The sea is his, for he made it, 

and his hands formed the dry land. 

 6  Oh come, let us worship and bow down; 

let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 

 7  For he is our God, 

and we are the people of his pasture, 

and the sheep of his hand. 

  Today, if you hear his voice, 

 8  do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, 

as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, 

 9  when your fathers put me to the test 

and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. 

 10  For forty years I loathed that generation 

and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, 

and they have not known my ways.” 

 11  Therefore I swore in my wrath, 

“They shall not enter my rest.” 

At the beginning of the psalm you may notice the repetition of the phrase ‘let us’. Yet this is not used to ask for permission to do something, but rather the Israelites are encouraging one another TO do something. They are calling each other to worship God. Reminding one another that God is Lord, He is Saviour and He is worthy to be thanked and praised because, ‘the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods’. There is no-one and nothing like Him. He is supreme. He alone created the deepest and highest parts of the world, no-one else has. He also made the seas and the land, all the expanse that we see, and that we do not - God crafted it all. Therefore how can any other power or person ever have authority over Him?! He is ‘a great King above all gods’. Other things may claim power, seem great, make great boasts or be assertive and convincing, but none can even stand before the great King of all. It is good for us to remind ourselves of this. and to encourage one another to worship the One who deserves it. It is easy to lose focus, get distracted or feel down about circumstances and so not feel like worshipping. At times you need other godly men and women to call you to worship to say to you, ‘let us sing’, ‘let us make a joyful noise’, ‘let us come into his presence’, and you need to do this for others too.. There is no reason great enough for you to withhold worship to ‘the Lord, our Maker!’. Who keeps you to account and keeps calling you to worship God? ’the Lord is a great God’ all of the time therefore you can sing, dance, pray, praise and be joyful always because that truth always remains. The fact the God is great is so powerful and strong a truth, that when you really think about it you cannot help but ‘make a joyful noise’!

God is the Maker, He not only made all of the Earth, but he also made you. Therefore He is THE God and He is YOUR God - the only One in supreme authority, plus He makes it personal, He is your God, for you and with you plus you can have relationship with Him. Yet the relationship is not equal - He is your shepherd for you are like a sheep before Him - helpless, fluffy and vulnerable. You need looking after, guiding, carrying, and even telling off sometimes. Do not be like the Israelites by becoming stubborn and hardening your heart (v8). You are vulnerable and weak before God, you do need Him. Do you allow God to guide, correct and carry you? Or are you too intent on doing things your own way? You were never meant to sort all your problems out or make all the decisions independently. A sheep that does that wanders off, gets lost and injured - they don't even know where the best grass is or where the dangers are, that's why they need the shepherd. The Israelites kept forgetting that they were sheep. God provided and guided them, and He urged them to be obedient, but they did not adhere to His words in the big or small things. Instead God says they hardened their hearts and went, ‘astray in their heart’. They didn’t do what they were told, they didn't follow their shepherd. Can the same be said of you? When you hear God’s voice, do you listen and obey, even when it is something you don’t want to hear? Or do you allow your heart to go astray as the Israelites did when they encountered testing times? 

Two notable times that we can see that happening are in Meribah and Massah. These were areas that the Israelites came to during their 40 years in the wilderness where they felt they were not adequately provided for by God as they had no water. This is a big problem. Humans cannot survive more than a couple of days without water. Plus they had cattle to care for, so they were rightly concerned about this. Their response was that they moaned at each other and complained that they had been better off in Egypt. They feared for their lives because they did not have the basics for survival. When that happens it is natural to be concerned and to try to find a solution as something essential is missing from your life. However, the Israelites did not seek their shepherd. They did not trust Him or turn to Him. Instead they complained to one another, then blamed Moses as their earthly leader. The Israelites did not pray. They did not seek God. They did not worship. Instead they moaned to one another about their situation, becoming increasingly fearful that they would all die. When Moses heard about it, he and Aaron approached God. This was their first response, unlike the people, Moses and Aaron demonstrated great leadership and loyalty to their shepherd and ‘great King’. They trusted that even when death stared at them, God could do something. So they prayed, and at both Massah and Meribah, they witnessed God’s miraculous solution as water gushed forth from a rock! These separate situations occurred almost 40 years apart. So we can see that God was giving the Israelites the chance to learn from their previous mistake and lack of faith. He was inviting them to have a different response, but they didn’t. Despite the amount of times that God had healed them, won their battles, guided them with fire and smoke, stopped their shoes from wearing out and provided manna for them each and every day. Despite these miracles, these proofs of God’s power and presence, the people failed to appreciate that God could fulfil every need. They still did not trust Him or surrender to Him. They failed to comprehend that God can do anything, you just need to ask! The Israelites happily accepted God’s daily blessings but seem to see them as something they had a right to, rather than seeing them as a beautiful expression of His love and care for them. Even though they had a lot to be thankful for, and a history of God’s provision and power, their response to this lack of water the second time demonstrated their lack of faith and trust in God. They had not learnt, they had not allowed the mighty miracles and the everyday blessings from God to influence their hearts or faith. The Israelites made the same mistakes and made the same complaints previous generations had. Yet God still provided. Two men had enough faith to approach God, Moses and Aaron. They talked with Him, and God provided, again, miraculously. God acted for the whole nation on the faith of two. Do not underestimate the power of prayer because it does not depend on who is praying, but on the One who hears!

God says of the nation of Israel, ‘They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways’. It was easy for them to enjoy the benefits of the safety and care that God gave on a physical level, but they did not have the internal security, confidence and joy of knowing God as their King and Saviour. On the surface they accepted that they were God’s people as part of Israel, but internally their thoughts, desires and mindset were not aligned with God and did not demonstrate any allegiance to Him. When times got tough they did not talk to Him about it. They did not trust that as He is Maker, King and Lord that He could and would do something about their troubles. They just complained. Are you the same? Do you follow God out of habit, duty, or because others do? The fruit of faith is seen when you encounter difficulty. What do you do when life gets hard? When people let you down, disaster occurs, or something life threatening happens, what is your first response? For that shows if you are a sheep faithfully trusting in your shepherd or not. Do you call out to God, let Him know what has occurred and invite Him to show up and change things, or do you go around moaning to whoever will listen? You could approach God, recalling that God has been great before, and trusting that He still is and will be again. This is what Moses and Aaron did unlike the rest of the nation. The people had not really given their lives to God, they only wanted Him to give them what they wanted. Yet they were not obedient, trusting or loving towards Him. Only Moses and Aaron trusted God. When there was a problem, they knew who to go to. They knew there was only One who could solve any issue and bring transformation, the ‘great King above all gods’. So they went straight to Him, and they were involved in some great signs, wonders and miracles because they were all in, are you?

The Lord on high is mighty

 Psalm 93:1–5 (ESV):

93 The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; 

the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. 

  Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 

 2  Your throne is established from of old; 

you are from everlasting. 

 3  The floods have lifted up, O Lord, 

the floods have lifted up their voice; 

the floods lift up their roaring. 

 4  Mightier than the thunders of many waters, 

mightier than the waves of the sea, 

the Lord on high is mighty! 

 5  Your decrees are very trustworthy; 

holiness befits your house, 

O Lord, forevermore. 

The writer of this psalm has had a revelation of the greatness and mightiness of God. They repeat the sense of His greatness as they explore the fresh revelation of the kingship of God. How powerful are the simple, oft repeated truths when they are deeply revealed.

1) The Lord God is King. He is adorned with majesty - no other monarch carries or is cloaked with such beauty, magnificence or authoritative presence. God’s throne, authority and kingdom are everlasting. His leadership will not cease, His power not wane. He reigns, will reign and has reigned from the beginning of time throughout all eternity! God is the true and ‘great King above all gods’.

2) God’s magnificence and might is so great that His strength is merely a belt! When you and i strengthen ourselves it is not a piece of clothing we put on, but it involves our whole body and mind which carries the power, the confidence and stress of displaying that strength. Yet God is so powerful that it does not require His whole being to be strong, it is merely something He demonstrates almost as an accessory! As a result of the truth of God being the universal and eternal great King, He displays strength. Yet this is not His main characteristic. God is magnificent, majestic and strong because He is King. We can admire and be fascinated and enthralled by these aspects of God, but they are not His total being. God is strong, but He is not only supremely strong. 

3) No matter how mighty, powerful and life-changing a flood can be, or a storm with raging waters where the power drowns out all other sound, God is mightier! He can drown out the flood, ‘mightier that the thunders if many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty’! A storm may be powerful and change lives, but the Lord God is mightier! No force of nature or storm of life can outrule, outwit or overpower Our God.

4) Not only is the Lord mighty and strong, but He can also be trusted, ‘your decrees are very trustworthy’. When you think of leaders, other kings or politicians, no matter how good they may seem, are they trustworthy? Are they both powerful and honest? It is important to recognise thst although the leaders on Earth may be weak or untrustworthy, you cannot apply the same expectations to God. He is almighty, powerful, majestic, strong, mighty and trustworthy. God is honest. He will do what He says, always. This is why ‘holiness befits your house’. He is pure and completely holy. There is no fault or impurity in Him. He is totally trustworthy and good. 

When you accept God as King over your life and the universe, you are acknowledging that God is sovereign, He is mighty, majestic, strong and trustworthy. What a privilege to live life knowing that this is the tyoe of King you are living for. You are in His kingdom as one of His citizens. So, whatever you are fearing, worrying about, confused by or in awe of, compare it to this King, The Lord our God is a magnificent, eternal, majestic, honest and powerful monarch unlike any other. How is this truth impacting your life?

I am poor and needy

 Psalm 86:1–17 (ESV):  

1  Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, 

for I am poor and needy. 

 2  Preserve my life, for I am godly; 

save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. 

 3  Be gracious to me, O Lord, 

for to you do I cry all the day. 

 4  Gladden the soul of your servant, 

for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 

 5  For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, 

abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 

 6  Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; 

listen to my plea for grace. 

 7  In the day of my trouble I call upon you, 

for you answer me. 

 8  There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, 

nor are there any works like yours. 

 9  All the nations you have made shall come 

and worship before you, O Lord, 

and shall glorify your name. 

 10  For you are great and do wondrous things; 

you alone are God. 

 11  Teach me your way, O Lord, 

that I may walk in your truth; 

unite my heart to fear your name. 

 12  I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, 

and I will glorify your name forever. 

 13  For great is your steadfast love toward me; 

you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 

 14  O God, insolent men have risen up against me; 

a band of ruthless men seeks my life, 

and they do not set you before them. 

 15  But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, 

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 

 16  Turn to me and be gracious to me; 

give your strength to your servant, 

and save the son of your maidservant. 

 17  Show me a sign of your favour, 

that those who hate me may see and be put to shame 

because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. 

This psalm written by David shows his humility. Even though he is a strong, powerful, blessed king, he describes himself as, ‘poor and needy….your servant’. As a young man in his father’s house we can see how this would relate to David, but when he wrote this psalm as the anointed king of the nation of God, it can seem odd to try to comprehend. Yet, ‘poor and needy’ is how David describes himself in several of the psalms. As David considers and praises God, i think he recognises how poor and needy he is in comparison with Him. No matter the earthly riches, authority and reputation he has on Earth, what is it when you compare it to God? It is ‘poor’ and insignificant in comparison, and the level of capacity and capability is ‘needy’ indeed. David acknowledged this in a way many of us miss. 

It is not encouraged or desired by society to be known as ‘poor and needy’. In fact, those who are can be looked down upon and pitied so David does not go to people in his poverty or neediness. The only one David wishes to show his lack to is God, for what could man do? God can get to the heart of the deprivation that David feels. It must have been hard for him to relate to being king. From the lowly, overlooked position of a shepherd to a throne, it is not surprising that David felt like he didn't belong, that he wasn't prepared and that he didn't have enough within himself to perform his duties. Yet he was king because he went to the place we all need to when we feel insufficient for the task ahead of us - he went to God. The only one who can give life, salvation, grace, forgiveness, love, courage, hope and joy. These are the things you really need when you feel ‘poor and needy'.

As well as acknowledging the poverty and need in his own life, this psalm also glorifies God. In fact, most of it is a psalm of recognition of how wonderful God is. David recalls how God is good and forgiving, and always loves him - you can see the genuine relationship and delight David has with God. Yet he does not, even as king, consider himself at all powerful or in control in comparison to God, when he thinks about God, he realises how poor and needy he is! As much authority as David has, or as much influence, as many people or wealth he has at his fingers, when you match it up to the wealth, authority, power and capacity God has it truly is ‘poor and needy'. David honours God as the Almighty King. The One who can change any circumstance, the only truly God because no-one and nothing else can compare with what God can do (v8-10). 

In his humility, David asks God to show him what His ‘way’ is. Sometimes we can be so confused and distressed that we do not know what way to go, or what God wants from us in a particular situation. So even in this time where David is in need, he seeks God to show him how to live right to, ‘unite my heart to fear your name’. David knew that his emotions were all over the place, but even so he wanted to honour and serve God well in this season. So he asked God to help unite his heart with obedience to God. What is your response when you are in distress? To you accept your feelings and allow yourself to be mastered by them or do you, even then, in the midst of overwhelming disappointment and sadness decide to subject your emotions to God? This is what David did, and this is powerful. In an age when people do what they feel and follow their emotions, the people of God are not to do that but instead to seek God first. Above thoughts, desires and feelings, they are to invite God to restructure their hearts so that they can live their lives in truth. Is your heart's cry to God in times of difficulty;  'Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name'?

You are poor and needy. You will encounter disappointment and heartache, but you are not to be led by those experiences or emotions. For in your need you have an Almighty God, and Everlasting Father and a Faithful Friend you can call upon to uphold, strengthen, love and guide you. Will you call upon God in your times of need? At the end of this outpouring of love, praise and recognition of the greatness of God David declares, 'Lord, have helped me and comforted me'. Just through spending quality time with God, David has felt comforted, listened to and helped. The situation has not radically changed in the moments of this prayer, but offloading to God and showing that you are willing to do things God's way, not your own, allows God to minister to you. Relying on God gives strength, purpose and unites your heart. I wonder what His way is for you. Are you prepared to ask God to show you, and trust God to unite your heart?

Knowing God defines who you are

 Psalm 8:1–9 (ESV):  

1  O Lord, our Lord, 

how majestic is your name in all the earth! 

You have set your glory above the heavens. 

2  Out of the mouth of babies and infants, 

you have established strength because of your foes, 

to still the enemy and the avenger. 

3  When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, 

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 

4  what is man that you are mindful of him, 

and the son of man that you care for him? 

5  Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings 

and crowned him with glory and honour. 

6  You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; 

you have put all things under his feet, 

7  all sheep and oxen, 

and also the beasts of the field, 

8  the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, 

whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 

9  O Lord, our Lord, 

how majestic is your name in all the earth! 

Did you know that because of who God is, you can know who you are?

Through this psalm we see something of the majesty of God and the reality of humanity revealed by David. He firstly begins by extolling God reminding himself that God is; majestic, all-powerful, in charge, magnificent and glorious. So much so that every living thing testifies of God’s goodness, no matter if they can even speak or not! God’s creativity is strong and beautiful, nothing can compare with it. Is this who you know God to be? 

It is good to remind yourself of the nature of God, because no matter what is going on around you or who you think you are, God still remains. He will always have these awesome characteristics, He will never change, He will be the same for all eternity, and He has seen and created all things. Therefore you can trust what He says about humanity. and what He says about you. 

David from beholding God, wonders about man. Considering God’s character, he ponders why does God even care for people? Why does humanity get so much of God’s attention and care? Why does a majestic, powerful, glorious, peaceful creator even bother with mankind?

These are good questions to ask - What is mankind’s significance? Why does God take time to consider and care for you? When you consider who God is, do you ever wonder why he bothers with humanity or even just yourself? David ponders these things and is blown away by the realisation that not only does God think about mankind and look after us, but he has given us authority and power too! Not only is God your creator and sustainer, but He also enables you to have the life you should have. He has given you responsibility, purpose and worth. Do you realise that? Are you living in the truth of that? You have been crowned ‘with glory and honour’ and you have a purpose and responsibility here on Earth (v5-6).

God values you. Yes, you! The almighty, powerful, glorious God likes, loves and looks after you and He has a job for you to do. He has given you glory, honour, power and authority - are you using it?

God has given you a position here on this planet on purpose. Do you think such a consistent, capable and creative God would make a mistake? As undeserving and as incapable as you may feel, you have been ‘crowned’ by the King of Heaven to take responsibility on this Earth. God has given you:

Position ’a little lower than the heavenly beings’, 

Purpose, ‘dominion over the works of your hands’,

Authority, ‘all things under his feet’. 

The question is - what are you doing with what the Lord has given you?

If you are reading this and feel unworthy, then you are absolutely right! You do not deserve the consideration and position that God has given you. Yet He has given it to you all the same. He expects you to use the gifts, talents, skills and position that He has given you to take care of His creation. So, how are you doing that? How are you living up to the reality of who you are in light of who God is? This glorious, majestic, powerful, mighty, creator God has a plan and purpose for your life, are you seeking Him to find it? God has given you a task to do that you are capable of, after all you are only, ‘a little lower than the heavenly beings’! You have a position, purpose and authority and you have a duty to find out what that is and how you can use it to honour God and all He has made. Can you imagine the beauty of the world and mankind if everyone knew and lived their God-given roles and responsibilities? Not everyone may do so or come to know what they are made for, but you can. You can bring positive influence and care into this Earth by stepping up and stepping into what God has got for you. So, like David, take time to appreciate who it is whom has formed you and then go and show His majesty and power through being who He has created you to be!

‘O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!’ God, help us each to remember you and find out what it is you will have us do today. Amen

Servant of God

As we commence the book of James, the first question many have is; who is this James, the writer of this letter? I have no answers for you. It is widely believed that this James is the brother of Jesus, but that idea can be contested. In all honesty I do not think it matters. I say this because it clearly was not of upmost importance to the James that wrote this letter. James writes this letter introducing himself as, 'a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ'. This is how he commends himself to his readers, so this is how he wishes to be known. Therefore we will take it that this James, whoever he was, was first and foremost a man that desired to serve and honour God with his life by understanding who Jesus really is whether or not he was the biological brother of Jesus. The first verse of James reads thus;

‘James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.’ James 1:1

We may read this and think that this is really a humbling introduction James calling himself a servant, especially if he actually is Jesus' brother! Yet, in one way or another we are all servants. 

We can be servants of: our faith, work, desires or passions. It is, in fact, human nature to be a servant to something - we were created to be under authority but also to have it. It was God’s design right at the beginning when He created everything. We were designed to have authority by taking responsibility to look after God's creation under His supervision. So it should not be a shocking thing for us to realise that we are all servants, but what are you serving? 

Being a servant to something is about putting that thing first. Having it as the focus of your money, time, energy and talent. For James, he makes it clear that first and foremost, he is God’s servant. This is what he has put his time, energy, money and talents into. He has chosen to serve God and Jesus. This is what he is invested in. It effects his whole life, it influences where he lives, works, rests, spends his time and money and what he focuses his energy on. James is fully invested in the kingdom of God, and he is not ashamed of it. Considering himself a servant is no minor thing for James. It is a career choice, a job role he is satisfied with and has given his life for. 

If you think about it, James is in good company as a servant of God as; David, Moses, Peter and Paul are also identified as servants of God. These men are renowned for their faith-filled lives and were all quite different in their roles and responsibilities, but they still had the same title - servants of God. Even though these men were very different, they still sacrificed and invested into the same cause. They had the authority and recognition of those with responsibility and they all humbly served God. Yet by being subservient to God, they had great influence and authority as they led significant amounts of people by publicly putting God first. When we consider the lives of these men, David, Moses, Peter, Paul and James, all considered God’s servants, we can struggle to comprehend that such a subservient role can also one of great power and responsibility. We are unused to servants having such influence. However when someone decides to live their lives as a servant of God - look what can happen! An overlooked shepherd boy becomes a king, a runaway murderer becomes the leader of a nation, uneducated men become instigators of a new faith adventure that has influenced millions over thousands of years! Being a servant of God means that you recognise God's authority and put yourself in His hands to do His will. In return, He will lead you to be the man or woman of God you can be and will give you responsibility for some things. Who knows what you could achieve by being a fellow servant of God?

Do you want to have a life that impacts others like these men? Do you want a life that can inspire others for a lifetime? The feats of faith, knowledge, miracles and strength these servants of God experienced are engaging, exciting and admirable. You too can have a life like that - a life that makes a difference and looks different. When you are serving God, a servant life is adventurous and powerful. 

servant or son?

At the beginning of Hebrews 3 we see a great comparison of two great men of faith - Moses and Jesus.

The writer shows that both of these highly thought of religious figures were faithful in the house of God.
They were both obedient and faithful. Both are worthy of glory, they are honoured and revered by others. They both conversed with God and had a significant relationship with Him. They both have been essential in building up the household of God through their service and unending faith in God. They both knew who they were, their roles and responsibilities and they recognised the privilege they had in the household. Both Moses and Jesus were all in.

With so much similarity - what actually differentiates these two men?

One is a servant, the other a son. 

Moses knew who he was, he knew he was a servant, and he accepted the role and lived it well. He enjoyed the benefits of the household but realised the limits of his capacity. He served whole-heartedly and enjoyed a close confidential relationship with the master.
Moses was a great precursor to Jesus. He showed as best he could, how to be a part of the household of God. He was faithful and worthy, a honoured member of God’s house, but no matter how great and magnificent a servant he was, he could never own the house or gain the recognition a son does. Moses earned his position through faithful service, obedience and bravery. A servant earns their recognition and authority through acts of service whereas a son is born with it.

The son of God, Jesus, is not only born with authority, but he carries the very DNA of God and shares the same characteristics. The son carries the essence of the father inherently. As the son of the master, he is born to govern and serve and so carries a different authority and standing in the household than a servant.

However this in no way diminishes the role of the servant. A faithful servant is still a revered, loved and trusted servant. It is just that the role and responsibility of a servant and a son differ. Moses could in no way attain the glory of son-hood. Yet, those who trust and believe in Jesus can.

If you know Jesus is the son of God, and you place your life in his hands, as he placed his own life into the hands of the human race, and you know that he died as an innocent man with the weight of your sin on his shoulders, then rose again to prove that he truly is God, and he truly can absolve you of every nasty thing you’ve ever done - if you believe in all of that, then you have the blessed privilege of being in God’s household, not as a servant, but a son.

Are you living in the knowledge that you are no longer a servant but a son?
Do you take seriously the responsibility you have for God's household?
Are you accessing the privilege of access and relationship you are entitled to?

Pleasing the King

when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favour in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. *3*And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” *4*And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.” *5*Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. *6*And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” *7*Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: *8*If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.” 
Esther 5:2–8.

After the nerves and anxiety of the past few days, why doesn’t Esther just get it over with? Why doesn’t she just blurt out what she wants? What her people need?
The king has asked twice in this passage to know what Esther desires, so why doesn’t she just tell him?

Esther is, wisely, being patient. Despite the imminent danger, the worry and confusion, Esther waits. She has assessed the situation and knows that her standing with the king is not certain. She has previously witnessed how ill-timed requests have been dealt with, and she doesn’t want to end up dead, so she bides her time. She hasn't been requested by him for over a month. So, she wants to make sure she, once again, captures his heart before she makes her request. How refreshing that must of been for the king. He must of been used to people coming in, in humility and trembling, pouring out their emotions and wishes and then expecting a favourable response from him, and action that relieves their suffering. Ultimately, that is what Esther wants too, but before she makes known what she needs. she puts the king first. She knows he enjoys feast and celebrations, so, despite the enormity of her task, Esther seeks to satisfy and win over the king. Esther is not just an average citizen - she considers and concerns herself with the king - his wants and desires before her own. She wishes to please him before she asks for him to do something for her. I wonder how many people approached the king in the same way. Many would of manipulated him, cajoled him and begged him, so Esther's approach stands out. She invites the king. She asks, not for his power, but his presence. She doesn't ask for change right away, but relationship. She seeks to earn favour, not expect it even though she has every right to as a queen and as a wife.

Esther understands that she has a big ask, so she realises she needs to earn her favour with the king. She knows the far-reaching effects of her request, and knows that it isn’t right to ask for such a big thing in a moment, or even after an enjoyable party. The favour she needs must last not just for a moment or one night. So, instead of approaching the king with her wants, she first makes it clear that she is keen to satisfy him. It is clear that Esther’s desire is to ensure the king is happy and accepting of her before she states her cause. Even when the king asks a second time, Esther still waits. She wants to secure her affection in the king's hearts and ensure that the he is satisfied with her, and will act decisively when her request is made known. She wants to have insight into his heart and character once again, to gain the closeness they have previously enjoyed before making any issues known. That way she will be more certain of success, or at least, she will gain insight into hesitation from his side.

Esther has understood how to approach a king. Even when it’s risky business, even when it is dangerous and scary, Esther understands what is required. She knows that the king has all authority and power, and in order for her to gain privilege with him she needs to put him first, not herself or her wants.

Do you approach The King in the same manner?

When you pray, what is your attitude towards God? What are the things you talk about with the King of Kings?
Are you sometimes in such a rush to make your needs known that you just real of a wish-list? Or, do you realis, like Esther, that you have the priveleged position of access to a relationship with the King?

God desires the intimacy that Esther was seeking with her king. He wants to be first in your heart, not to just have your woes and worries poured out as ramble of requests. He will listen to those too, but do you know who He is when you approach Him? Is it more important to you to have your requests fulfilled or your relationship with God grown?

As you enter His presence in prayer, do you consider who He is? That He is the one with ALL authority and power? Do you enter, as Esther does, acknowledging the little she is and has, but keen to satisfy His heart? Do you intend to deepen your intimacy with God and have a relationship with Him every time you chat with Him?

I think we can get forgetful and lazy, and easily reel off our concerns and desires without first considering the mighty King we are approaching.We are fortunate in that we know we have the golden sceptre already reached out to us every time we approach our King. He saves us from death each time, He extends His favour and love to us always. Yet, do you recall that when you approach Him?
You are invited, not just into the throne room, but into the heart of the King, you have an invitation to sit and feast at His table. Remember that next time you talk to Him. Enjoy your time with the King, relax and enjoy His presence, you can tell Him your wants, of course, but take a lesson from Esther and ask yourself - am I pleasing the King? What can you do for Him today?

The king's command is supreme

*2*I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him. *3*Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. *4*For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” 
Ecclesiastes 8:2–4.

Who can say to the king, let alone God - “what are you doing?”! 
I think we forget that. We often question authority and the decisions of our leaders, yet what gives us any right to do so?

The verses above show that we should be obedient and honouring of an Earthly king - of the monarchy, government and those in authority - we should honour and respect them, but do we?

How often do you hear people bemoaning the current leaders? Grumbling about government? How often are our leaders scrutinised and found to be lacking?
Yes, leaders may let us down, those in authority may abuse their power or make poor decisions, but they are the ones who have been given the authority by Almighty God. They have been put in their position of power for purpose. We have no idea of the difficulty of governing and ruling, our leaders have to make big, difficult decisions and they do it to the best of their ability and knowledge. They will, at times, make mistakes, just like the rest of us do in our everyday lives. I don’t know why we place those in authority on a different level to ourselves - they are just as human as we are and we should honour and respect them, if for no other reason than, ‘because of God’s oath to him’. God has ordained those in leadership, therefore if we believe and trust in God, we should believe and trust in Him for those in authority. God has ordained their position, who are we to question, “what are you doing?” Some may seem like they are the most ungodly characters around, appear stupid or irresponsible, yet God has His plan. He has allowed them in that position for a time, so, even we disagree with our leaders, their policies or decisions, what benefit is it to moan about it? What good does it do to question, “What are you doing?” Instead, trust in Him, the ultimate King as He has all power and authority.

As God is the highest king, and, ‘the word of the king is supreme’ - Are you following what God has asked you to do?

Are you being obedient to His instructions in your life? The words of the king are supreme - That’s an interesting concept isn’t it? God’s word is supreme - it is unchanging, unchallengeable and is of the highest authority. I guess that ties in with the previous verse where it talks about honouring our leaders and being obedient. The kings word outweighs any other agenda. God gives us commands and words to follow - He is the supreme authority, so what do you do when He asks you to do something?

Often, when God asks me to do something I feel fearful and try to back out of it, but I need to live more with the recognition that His words are supreme, they are the ultimate authority, outweighing any kind of excuse or emotional response that I may have. My feelings are not supreme, fear is not supreme, worry, joy, sadness, - these things are not supreme, but the words of our King are supreme. They matter, they have significance and power. Recognising the supremacy of His words should help us to, ‘Keep the king’s command’.

In summary then, God is ultimate, He is control and even has authority over the leaders in this world. We have no right to question the supremacy of God’s words, works or wisdom. When God speaks, when God acts, we should trust completely in who He is. The truth is, He is not just a King, but also a gentle, loving father. Whatever He does, He does with purpose, whoever He places in positions of power, He does for purpose, whatever he speaks or commands you to do, He does for purpose.