In this episode of Pray the Word on Esther 2:22, David Platt reminds Christians of the various ways that God cares for them and guides them in each moment.
“And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai and he told it to queen Esther and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai.”
-Esther 2:22
So just to make sure you have the context and the beginning of Esther 2, Esther is made queen and then her cousin Mordecai, at the end of Esther 2, discovers a plot between some people to kill the king and that’s where we pick up in verse 22. This came to the knowledge of Mordecai and he told it to queen Esther and Esther told the king, in the name of Mordecai, and this saves the King’s life and as we will keep reading an Esther, this was a significant moment that will come back later when the king decides to exalt Mordecai.
Esther 2:22 Teaches Us that God is in Control
So, I want to lead us to pray according to this verse, in light of what we prayed according to Esther 1. So in Esther 1, we talked about how God is orchestrating all kinds of things in the world, everything in the world, ultimately for his purpose. Here in Esther 2, we were reminded that yes, God is doing that and God is calling each of us to play a part in that purpose.
Remembering God is Guiding Every Moment
So Mordecai was in the right place, at the right time, to hear this news and he was faithful to tell it to Esther, who was then faithful to tell it to the king, in the name of Mordecai. When I read that, I just think, God, in my life today, I want to do everything that you call me to do, that your spirit leads me to do. To look at my life today and think nothing’s by accident.
Everything by appointment. That you are leading, that you are guiding, at every moment. So help me a walk in step with your spirit at all times and to encourage you to look at your day the same way. God is working in so many different ways in you, and through you today, that you may not realize.
Asking God to Help Us Be Faithful
So can we just pray? God help us to be faithful. Help to hear your spirit at work in our hearts, and to follow your leadership, according to your spirit, your word. Help us to walk in step with your spirit. We confess God, we don’t know all that you are doing. God, we know that. We know that you are doing how many things we can’t see or can’t know, but we trust that you are using our lives to accomplish your purposes in the world. So we pray that you would help us to obey you today, to be willing, moldable, humble, obedient instruments in your hands for purposes we don’t even see, for things we don’t even know you’re doing.
Esther 2:22 Leads Us to Pray for God’s Purpose to Be Accomplished
God help us, we pray. What an awesome picture, God, of our lives today. Instruments in your hands, as you are accomplishing your good purposes in the world. So help us to be faithful instruments, we pray. And God, as we pray for unreached people all the time on this podcast, today for the Tajik of Uzbekistan, almost two million of them. So little knowledge of the gospel among the Tajik people, specifically in Uzbekistan.
Praying for the Tajik of Uzbekistan
God, we pray for the spread of the gospel to them. And God, we pray that you would use our lives as a part of that purpose. Even our prayers right now, God, hear our prayers and answer them. We pray, send laborers to the Tajik of Uzbekistan. And even as we pray that, we pray that you would raise up laborers to go to them and we say in our lives, show us if we’re those laborers. God, we want to play whatever part you call us to play.
Praying for Our Communities
We want to do all that you call us to do, in your purposes. Right around us, in our lives, in our families. And our churches and our neighborhoods, communities, cities. God, we pray you’d help us be faithful to you today. To faithfully follow you wherever you lead us in the days ahead. Help us to walk in step with your spirit, at all times. Do all that you call us to do. Knowing that you are working in ways we could never imagine. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
