While they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “What is you petition? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”
Esther 5: 6
It is common to hear people say, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Those who believe this proverb promote the idea that to get noticed, one must be loud or pushy. While this may certainly be true in the natural world, the Bible offers a different paradigm on more than one occasion, and Esther’s story provides such a paradigm.
On this day, Esther needed the king’s favor. As the king’s wife, she could have approached the king directly in the palace, but such hastiness could have cost her life. Instead, Esther did the wiser thing, she stood opposite the king’s hall. That was the best decision she could have made. She was wise in positioning herself where the king could see her beauty at its best, away from all the men milling within the king’s inner court. That was her vantage point, and it worked. The king, possibly relaxing in his chaise and slowly sipping his wine, had just one goal in mind after noticing Esther, to grant her every wish, (and she hadn’t even spoken a word yet), “What is you petition?" He asks, "It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled (Esther 5:6).”
Dear friend, where are you standing? What is your vantage point? Are you still trying to impress God with your deep knowledge of his word and expertise? Are you trying to get God's attention through your good works or religious rituals? Have you deemed yourself qualified and placed yourself in his inner court? Or are you grooming yourself (1 Thessalonians 4:11) for the king's appearing, so he can invite you into his inner court and shower you with his favor when he returns? The word is clear, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33)”
God wants to give you every good and perfect gift, but he cannot do it, while you are grabbing and grasping, and "working it" on your own. Prepare your heart (Matthew 24:44), work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), find your vantage point, and wait for his perfect timing at his appearing (Matthew 25:23). God has even given you a cheat sheet. His word says, "But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word (Isaiah 66:2b)."
Almighty God, grant me the wisdom I need to wait on you. Help me to understand, that promotion comes neither from the east nor the west, nor the south, but directly from you (Psalm 75:6-7). Search my heart oh God, and create a right spirit within me (Psalm 139:23-24). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.