What is the meaning of Esther 5:6? And as they drank their wine • The scene is Esther’s second banquet (Esther 5:8), a relaxed setting where guards are down and conversation flows freely. • Throughout Scripture shared meals often precede pivotal moments—think of Joseph’s feast with his brothers (Genesis 43:32-34) or Jesus revealing Himself at the Emmaus table (Luke 24:30-31). • God uses ordinary settings to accomplish extraordinary purposes, reminding us that “the earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness” (Psalm 24:1). the king said to Esther • Xerxes speaks first, showing how the Lord can turn “the heart of a king… like a watercourse” (Proverbs 21:1). • Esther’s patient silence up to this point (Esther 5:4-5) models Spirit-led timing, echoing Ecclesiastes 3:7—“a time to be silent and a time to speak.” • Compare Nehemiah, who waited until the king opened the door before voicing his burden (Nehemiah 2:1-4). “What is your petition?” • The king invites a personal plea, much as God invites ours: “Ask and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7). • Petition implies heartfelt need; Esther will soon intercede for her people, reflecting Moses before Pharaoh (Exodus 5:1) and Paul for Israel (Romans 10:1). “It will be given to you.” • Assurance precedes the request—grace before works. We hear the echo of 1 John 5:14, “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” • Xerxes speaks rashly, yet God’s promise is infinitely firmer: “He who did not spare His own Son… how will He not also… graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). “What is your request?” • The second question digs deeper; request suggests something concrete and measurable. • Jesus likewise asked blind Bartimaeus, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51), urging clarity that builds faith. • Esther’s specific plea (Esther 7:3-4) will expose Haman’s plot, showing that precise, godly requests advance divine deliverance (Philippians 4:6-7). “Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.” • A Near-Eastern idiom for lavish generosity (see Mark 6:23, Herod to Salome), yet still a human limit. • God offers more: “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). • Xerxes cannot foresee the cost; our King has already paid it in full (Revelation 5:9-10), ensuring an unshakeable inheritance (1 Peter 1:4). summary Esther 5:6 shows a sovereign God orchestrating events in the simple setting of a wine banquet. The king’s repeated invitation lays a pathway for Esther’s bold intercession and ultimately for Israel’s preservation. Each phrase foreshadows the greater King who invites our petitions, guarantees His response, and offers a kingdom beyond measure to those who trust Him. |
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