She Acted Wisely, Bravely, and Selflessly

 She Wisely Chose "a Time to Speak"

Should Esther have revealed to theking the whole problem in front of his court?  Doing so might have intimidated him and given his adviser  Haman time to dispute her charges.  So, what did Esther do?  Centuries earlier, wise King Solomon was inspired to write:  "For everything there is an appointed time,, . . . a time to keep quiet and a time to speak."  (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7)   We may imagine Esther's adoptive fatehr, the faithful man Mordecai, teaching the young woman such  principles as she grew up under his care. Esther certainly understood the importance of choosing carefully the  "time to speak." 

Esther said: "If to the king it does seem good, let theking with Haman come today to the banquet that I have made for him." (Esther 5:4)  The king agreed and had Haman summoned.  Can you see how wisely Esther spoke?  She preserved her husband's dignity and created a more suitable setting for revealing her concerns to him. - PROVERBS 10:19. 

No doubt Esther prepared the feast carefully, seeing to it that every detail she catered to her husband's preferences.   The banquet included  fine wine to encourage a happy mood.  (Psalms 104:15)  Ahasuerus enjoyed himself, and he was moved to ask Esther again what her petition might be.  What this now the time to speak?

Eshter thought  not. Rather she invited the king and Haman to come to a  second banquet, on the following day.  (Esther 5:7, 8)  Why did she delay?  Remember, all of Esther's people were facing death by the king's decree. With so much a stake, Esther had to be sure that the time was right. So she waited, creating yet another opportunity to show her husband how highly she regarded him.

Patience is a rare and precious quality.  Though distressed and eager to speak her mind, Esther patiently waited for the right moment. We can learn much from her example, for all of su have likely seen wrongs that need to be put right. If we seek to convince someone in authority to address a problem, we may need to imitate Esther and be patient.  Proverbs 25:15 says: "By patience a commander  is induced and a mild tongue  itself can break a bone."  If we wait patiently for the right moment and speak mildly, as Esther did, even opposition  as hard as bone may be broken. Did Esther's God, Jehovah, bless her patience and wisdom?

Next time: She Acted Wisely, Bravely, and Selflessly - Patience Paves the Way for Justice

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