So I’ve been working my way through Esther this week as part of my reading plan. And a word has popped out at me a number of times. The word? “Favor.” The object of this favor? Esther.

First, Esther obtains or wins the favor of Hegai, the king’s custodian of the women brought for evaluation to replace Vashti as queen (2:9). And as Esther becomes known in the palace it says that she obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her (2:15). Then, after spending time with her, “the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight” (2:17).

The next time we see Esther finding favor is when she enters the kings courts uninvited to start her plea on behalf of the Jewish people. High risk proposition for Esther for she knew that anyone entering into the kings court without being called was to be put to death “except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, so that he may live” (4:11). “And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand.” (5:2).

The last three times we find the word favor, they are spoken by Esther to the King. “If I have found favor in your sight, come to a banquet” (5:8) . . . “If I have found favor in your sight, spare my life and the lives of my people” (7:3) . . . “If I have found favor your sight revoke the edict made by the evil Haman” (8:5).

So in this wonderful portion of Scripture that makes no specific mention of God or anything else religious (except maybe for fasting) there seems to be this theme of “favor”. Seven times the word is found . . . twice it translates a Hebrew word which means “mercy” or “kindness” . . . the other five times it translates a Hebrew word which means “grace”. And I sit back and say, “Yes! Isn’t the record of Esther a record of grace?”

She is part of a group of people who chose not to return to Jerusalem to rebuild when they were given the chance. The absence of anything religious in the account might indicate they were pretty secularized. And yet, God’s hand is so clearly on His people. The “coincidences” in the book can only be seen as the sovereign orchestration of a God determined to protect His people. Why? Not because of their devotion . . . but because of His grace and favor.

Esther’s position and power were through the favor she found . . . not because of the favor she merited. Her influence was because of the grace extended to her not because of the greatness in her. Esther’s protection was because of the mercy toward her not because of the magnificence within her.

It’s the grace of the King of Kings that holds out the golden scepter in acceptance.

And as I read Esther . . . and see my God quietly working behind the scenes . . . and see His care and protection for those He has made His own . . . I can’t help but fall in love with Him afresh. I can’t help but place myself in Esther’s shoes . . . a sinner who has found favor . . . a person with no rights to be in the King’s court yet who is accepted into His presence by the grace extended to me . . . and so I enter . . . and I love the King . . . because He first loved me.

Oh wondrous King . . . thank You for grace . . . thank You for finding favor in Your sight . . . thank You for the way into the inner courts through the blood of Christ Jesus . . .

When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. (Esther 8:4-5 ESV)

Me too!!!!