71 And the king cometh in, and Haman, to drink with Esther the queen, 2 and the king saith to Esther also on the second day, during the banquet of wine, 'What 'is' thy petition, Esther, O queen? and it is given to thee; and what thy request? unto the half of the kingdom—and it is done.' 3 And Esther the queen answereth and saith, 'If I have found grace in thine eyes, O king, and if to the king 'it be' good, let my life be given to me at my petition, and my people at my request; 4 for we have been sold, I and my people, to cut off, to slay, and to destroy; and if for men-servants and for maid-servants we had been sold I had kept silent—but the adversity is not equal to the loss of the king.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Esther 7:1-4
Commentary on Esther 7:1-6
(Read Esther 7:1-6)
If the love of life causes earnest pleadings with those that can only kill the body, how fervent should our prayers be to Him, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell! How should we pray for the salvation of our relatives, friends, and all around us! When we petition great men, we must be cautious not to give them offence; even just complaints must often be kept back. But when we approach the King of kings with reverence, we cannot ask or expect too much. Though nothing but wrath be our due, God is able and willing to do exceeding abundantly, even beyond all we can ask or think.