Why was Esther not sinning when she broke the law and approached the king?
Upvote:-2
I don't think Esther was disobeying the law at all.
For instance, the law could be written like this:
"Anyone is allowed to come into the King's presence without his permission, but if the king doesn't approve of your coming you will be killed."
Esther took her chance with this law and survived. But even if she had not been approved of by the king, it still would not have been actually disobeying the king, (and certainly no sin). As such, I cannot see this in any way a violation of Romans 13.
Upvote:0
The first question to address is this: What is the nature of Mordecai's ministry? He does not begin his words to Esther with a formula like, "The word of the Lord came to me..." But in his actions - refusing to abandon his sackcloth and pronouncing judgment on Esther's house if she refuses to act - he behaves like a prophet. If we take him to be prophesying, then Esther must visit the King as it is a direct command from God.
If Mordecai is not a prophet with a command from the Lord, we have Galatians 5:22-23 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5&version=NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The plot to commit genocide was a brutal evil, and there is no valid law to prevent a person from opposing evil and doing good.
A final point is that Esther asks Mordecai and her other friends to pray and fast for her. During that time the Lord has the opportunity to tell her what to do, whether to seek an audience with the King or follow another path. She eagerly seeks another way and only risks her life when no alternative is given to her. This demonstrates her faithfulness, patience, humility, self control, and courage. With so many tokens of the Holy Spirit at work in her, it is evident that her actions are approved by God.
Upvote:1
Esther 4:11 (ESV) (emphasis mine)
11 [Esther said to Mordecai through her servant] “All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”
12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
- The King's Visitation Law: no one can come to the kings inner court without invitation
- The king hasn't called Esther for thirty days to his inner court
- Mordecai reprimanded her for being silent of the issue of far greater importance - the impeding Jewish genocide.
- Mordecai made her realize that her position as the queen can serve as a leverage to influence the king, and in effect, avert the genocide
Now, you might say that they can wait for the time for the king to call her as to not break the king's visitation law. Yet, you may also think that by visiting the king, Esther trust God that she'll find favor.
Furthermore, If both conditions were to happen - Esther visiting the king AND the king reaching out his scepter - she does not technically violate the visitation law. Even if the king did not reach out his scepter, going to the king to plead for her people is better than remaining silent about it.
Esther decided by faith to visit the king, hoping that God will ensure that the she'll find favor in the king's sight.
BTW, you may reference Mark 2:23-28 and 1 Samuel 21 (ESV) for the background, interesting.
Upvote:1
The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Mark 2:27
AKA desperate times call for desperate measures.
David ... when he and those who were with him were hungry ... entered the house of God, and they ate the sacred bread, which is not lawful for him or for those with him to eat, but only for the priests Matthew 12:3
Worrying about breaking a law about entering the palace when the whole lot of them was about to perish seems like a moot point.
It wouldn't be sin because actions are sins depending on the context. If it had been any other time and she broke this law because of disregard for it, it might be sin. But in this context it is not.
Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgement. John 7:24
Upvote:5
A few verses earlier, Esther states the law as such,”…any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives.” Under these circumstances, it is no stretch to say that the king, who had ultimate authority, is the judge who determines whether or not the law has been broken and punishment is meted out. If the king had decided that she was guilty, she would have paid the penalty instantly. On the other hand, if he extends the scepter (as he did) he is saying, “I accept her presence, the law is not compromised.”
There have been many instances where man has taken measures into his own hands to accomplish God’s work. This was not at God’s prompting. Mordecai’s admonition to Esther can be construed as God’s prompting and God, in keeping with his character (which He always does), would never instruct someone to sin.
I don’t know if this satisfies your question, but the way I see it we have a reasonable explanation backed up by an immutable fact.
One might also posit that we are instructed to do right or, perhaps more appropriately, Right, as in right according to God, not the local Constabulary, “Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason.”) Rom 13:3, 4. A secular comparison might be federal law can trump local law.
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