11 For Such a Time

The 11th track on the album, Glory, “For Such a Time” is a narrative ballad that follows the story of Esther, a young woman thrust into influence and danger in the Persian court. The song captures her inner struggle: Is this God's will? What if I fail? What if someone else steps in? The turning point comes when Esther chooses courage amid fear, stepping forward without visible signs of God's direction but with unwavering trust in His hidden sovereignty. Her story foreshadows the ultimate Deliverer, Jesus, who stood in the gap at infinite cost for the salvation of His people.

Devotional Reflection

God’s name is never mentioned in the book of Esther, yet His providence is everywhere. This mirrors our own lives—seasons when we wonder if God is speaking, guiding, or even present. Esther didn’t receive a vision or a prophecy. She faced uncertainty, risk, and silence. And yet, she responded in faith: “If I perish, I perish.”

Her dilemma is ours: How do I know if I’m the one to act? What if it costs me? The answer is not in clarity, but in calling. Esther was where she was, when she was, for a reason. And so are we. God’s glory often unfolds not in thunder but in obedience—especially when the outcome is unknown.

Esther's bravery also foreshadows Christ’s ultimate courage. He too faced death to stand in the gap. But where Esther risked her life to save her people, Jesus gave His life to save the world.

When you face moments of decision, risk, or calling, remember this: You were made for such a time as this. The God who placed Esther on the throne has placed you in your story too—with purpose.

Lyrics

Verse 1
I was taken from silence, from shadowed halls of exile,
To the courts of the king, where power wears a crown of pride.
My name was hidden like breath held in fear—
A daughter of Judah in robes not mine to wear.
No voice, no right, no certainty of place,
Just beauty used to cover grace.

Verse 2
When the summons came, I bowed low and obeyed,
But I knew not the weight that obedience gave.
The scepter glistened, but so did the blade,
And the throne-room door still makes the faithful afraid.
He saw me. I lived. But I lived with a cry:
Is this why I’m here? Must I risk and die?

Verse 3
A letter was signed, and the gallows rose high,
For the people I loved, there was only goodbye.
Should I speak? Should I move? Should I break the disguise?
Would another stand up if I closed my eyes?
Do I dare to believe I was placed by design,
Or am I just a girl caught in Babylon’s time?

Pre-Chorus
What if I perish? What if I fail?
What if I stand and the silence prevails?
But what if this trembling, this moment of dread,
Was meant for redemption long before it was said?

Chorus
For such a time, though the heavens seem still,
Though God’s voice is hidden and I bend to His will,
For such a time, I will lay down my name,
If deliverance rises, let it rise through my pain.
I was not made for comfort or ease,
But for courage to bloom in a garden of grief.
If I perish, I perish—but I will not run,
For such a time as this, let His glory be done.

Verse 4
I fasted in silence, my hands void of power,
Yet heaven leans low when the weak choose the hour.
The feast was prepared, the plot was made known,
And Haman fell where he built up his throne.
The tables were turned, but it cost me the night,
Each step in the palace a war not of sight.

Verse 5
I spoke, and the king stretched his hand once more—
Not just for me, but for all I bore.
A nation’s name, a forgotten plea,
A whisper of hope through the ancestry.
And I saw in the light of his lifted decree
That the God of my fathers was speaking through me.

Pre-Chorus
Not with thunder, not with flame,
Not with prophets or the parting of waves—
But with presence that hides in the folds of a dress,
And courage that walks through the valley of death.

Chorus
For such a time, though the heavens seem still,
Though God’s name is unspoken, His hand shapes the will.
For such a time, I will give what I can—
My breath, my crown, my life in His plan.
He writes His glory in stories like mine,
Where silence and risk are the ink of divine.
If I perish, I perish—but I will not run,
For such a time as this, let His kingdom come.

Bridge
And there came another who stood in the gap,
Not in Persia’s palace but in Roman trap.
He said, “Not My will,” and He drank the cup,
For His was the crown that was lifted up.
He perished, and yet He rose from the grave—
A better deliverance, the whole world to save.

Final Chorus
For such a time, though we tremble and pray,
Though God's path is hidden in the dust of the day,
Still we rise, with the cross as our sign—
That courage and faith meet in mercy divine.
Let the call come clear when the fear’s the most near:
You were born for this moment; I Am is here.
If I perish, I perish—but I will not run,
For such a time as this, let Your will be done.

7-Day Scripture Reading Plan

Purim

Purim (pronounced POO-reem or PUR-im) is a joyful Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from destruction in the Persian Empire, as told in the Book of Esther. It celebrates how God worked—though invisibly—through the courage of Esther and the wisdom of Mordecai to rescue His people from a genocidal plot by Haman.

Biblical Origin

You can find the story in Esther 1–10, with the festival itself established in Esther 9:20–32. After Haman is defeated and the Jewish people are saved, Mordecai and Esther send letters throughout the empire, instituting an annual celebration on the 14th and 15th of Adar (late February or March, depending on the year).

“These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family... as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday.”
— Esther 9:28

The Meaning of the Name

The word Purim comes from the Hebrew word "pur", meaning lot. Haman cast lots to determine the day of the Jews' destruction (Esther 3:7), but God overturned the outcome—highlighting His unseen providence.

How Purim is Celebrated Today

Purim is one of the most festive and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. Traditions include:

1. Reading the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) – Often in synagogues, with cheering for Mordecai and booing or noisemaking at the mention of Haman's name.

2. Costumes and Plays – Celebrants often wear costumes and perform humorous or dramatic retellings of the Esther story.

3. Mishloach Manot – Sending gifts of food to friends and neighbors (Esther 9:22).

4. Matanot LaEvyonim – Giving gifts to the poor (also from Esther 9:22).

5. Festive Meals – With traditional foods like hamantaschen (triangular pastries representing Haman’s hat or ears).

Spiritual Significance

Even though God’s name is never mentioned in the Book of Esther, Purim is a powerful testament to His hidden hand in history. It celebrates:

• Divine Providence even when He seems silent

• Courage and responsibility in crisis

• Reversal of evil plots by unexpected means

• Joy and thanksgiving after deliverance

Connection to Christ and the Gospel

Though Purim is a distinctly Jewish holiday, Christians can see in it a foreshadowing of the Gospel:

• Esther risked her life to save her people; Jesus gave His life to save the world.

• Esther stood before the throne of a king to plead for mercy; Jesus now stands before the Father as our intercessor (Hebrews 7:25).

• The invisible providence in Esther points to the sometimes-hidden but always-present work of God in redemption history—culminating in Christ.