“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:13-14
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes that there is a time to keep silent and a time to speak. Godly wisdom helps us make this choice. One way to test this principle is to ask the question, ‘what is the cost of speaking out, and what is the cost of being silent?’. Spiritual discernment will cause us to pursue an outcome that glorifies God. Some issues in life are not ‘a hill to die on’ as the common saying states. But speaking out for the things of the kingdom, if it is in obedience to God’s Word, is always the right thing to do. “Who knows whether YOU have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”.
What was the cost of Esther’s speaking out? It could have resulted in her being rejected by the king and probably cast away. It could have resulted in her being the first in line for Haman’s planned massacre. The Bible in fact says that not speaking out would have resulted in her entire family being wiped out. But this young queen demonstrated incredible faith and trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. She made the wise decision. Her example led a nation of people to fast and pray. Then she took courage and spoke out in defense of her people. Her faithfulness was rewarded and the Jewish people were delivered.
This Purim, we pray that we will have godly wisdom in the days in which we are living. We pray the Jewish people around the world and for Israel’s deliverance from her enemies. We pray for the release of the hostages being held captive by Hamas – a present day type of Haman unrelentless in their hate for Jews. We believe that God is watching over Israel. We ask for courage to speak out against antisemitism and in support of Israel. We pray that we will not be intimidated into silence or retreat. But we will move forward in faith believing that the battle is already won.
