Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening" Devotional: August 5th

 Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening" Devotional: August 5th

Morning

“So will I go in unto the king.”

Esther 4

To please his favourite, the king had doomed all the Jews to destruction: we can imagine the universal distress which it created.

Esther 4:1 , Esther 4:2

He felt as if he had been the cause of the overthrow of his people, since it was for his sake that Haman had determined to massacre every one of them.

Esther 4:3

As well they might, since they were all doomed to die by the sword. The Lord’s people were in great jeopardy.

Esther 4:9

Evidence of the great danger of her race was supplied to her both by word of mouth and by the copy of the decree which she could read for herself. No one could now help the poor doomed nation but Esther; for her it would be a dangerous task, and she had no great measure of that high all-daring faith which had dwelt in some of her ancestors. Her position as queen, in an alien court, was not one which fostered the highest form of spiritual life.

Esther 4:10-14

Mordecai was sure that God would deliver his people in some way or other, and he warned Esther that if she missed the honour of being her nations deliverer, she would not herself escape, for the king’s edict would operate even in the palace.

Esther 4:17

If they would pray for her, she would venture. Surely, if she thus plucked up courage to approach a hasty, imperious tyrant, no penitent sinner need fear to come to God by Jesus Christ.

Thy church through every past alarm

In thee has found a Friend

And, Lord, on thine Almighty arm

We now for all depend.

Evening

“If ye have bitter envying in your hearts, glory not.”

Esther 5

The three days of prayer and fasting were over, and the time came for Esther to risk all, and go in unto the king unbidden, and plead for her nation.

Esther 5:1

These kings affected great state, and, partly to impress their people with awe, and partly for their own safety, none dared approach them on peril of their lives, if they had not been expressly called. For Israel’s sake Esther encountered this mortal danger.

Esther 5:3

She had good speed at the outset. If we will but act boldly, the Lord will help us.

Esther 5:4-8

Either she had not yet the courage to speak out, or else she wisely judged that her influence over the king needed to be strengthened before it would outweigh that of the cunning favourite.

Esther 5:9

Sternly would Mordecai gaze upon him, viewing him now with utter abhorrence, as intending to murder all the Jews.

Esther 5:12 , Esther 5:13

Pride is a pitiful thing, and so hungry that all the world cannot satisfy it if some one little matter go amiss.

Esther 5:14

He was such a favourite that he had only to ask and have, so that he would make short work with sulky Mordecai. Next morning he would go to court and get the kings warrant for the man’s execution. We shall see what happened.

But no such rigid law we fear,

Who to the King of kings draw near,

Boldly approach his gracious throne,

And freely our requests make known.

Beyond the inner court we press,

Enter within the holiest place;

Sure to obtain the peace of God,

And all we ask through Jesu’s blood.

Study FurtherRelated passages, insights, and questions for personal reflection.

Take today’s devotional further. Explore related Scriptures and open any verse in the Study Desk for deeper study.

    Hebrews 4:16: Therefore let's approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.
    Believers boldly approach God's throne, unlike Esther's perilous access.
    ↳ What need do you hesitate to bring boldly before God's throne?
    Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
    Haman's pride precedes his coming destruction and fall.
    ↳ Where might pride be quietly setting you up for a fall?
    Ephesians 3:12: in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
    In Christ we have bold, confident access to God.
    ↳ How does Christ's access change the way you approach God today?
    Galatians 6:3: For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
    Warns against Haman-like self-deceiving conceit and vain glory.
    ↳ In what area are you overestimating your own importance?
    James 4:6: But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
    God resists the proud but gives grace to humble.
    ↳ What would humbling yourself before God look like this week?

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This resource was produced before 1923 and therefore is considered in the "Public Domain".