In Esther 1, we became acquainted with King Xerxes (Ahasuerus), his pride, and his bride (Queen Vashti). But, the queen rebelled against the king and was an object of his wrath. This week, we meet the prized Esther and hear how she ascended to the throne.
1 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. 2 Then the king's servants who attended him said: "Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king; 3 and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the citadel, into the women's quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king's eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them. 4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti."
This thing pleased the king, and he did so.
The king's fury brought remorse after "he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her." We know Xerxes was a prideful man, and Psalms 73:6 (NKJV) gives us a connection point as to why he behaved with such vehemence: "Therefore pride serves as their necklace; violence covers them like a garment." There is a tie between pride in hearts and violence (think about those crazy road rage stories you've heard!). When we focus on others, we sacrifice ourselves, and self-sacrifice prohibits pride from taking root.
It's interesting how in chapter 1, the "wise men" instructed the king to dispose of Vashti. However, chapter 2 says it was "the king's servants who attended him" who suggested gathering the harem of virgins. How wonderful to know that lowly servants can influence the royal. The Lord delights to accomplish great things through weak people.
5 In Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite.6 Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
While Esther is the leading lady in this story, Mordecai is equally prominent. He is Esther's protector, encourager, and wise counsel for her and the king (sounds a lot like the Holy Spirit). "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14:26).
I love how it says, "Mordecai took her as his own daughter." Being fatherless has to be one of the most challenging hardships to overcome as a daughter. When the father (or father figure) is well-established in a woman's life, there is a bedrock of security and love. This is why it says in Psalm 68:5 that God is the father to the fatherless. He knows how divinely significant it is to have a presence in a young lady's life. For the dads or men who can influence a young lady: do so with the utmost holiness, care, safety, and love. May Mordecai be a sacred example as you rest in His enabling grace.
8 So it was, when the king's command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king's palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women. 9 Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king's palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women.
Esther was "lovely and beautiful." Some commentators believe that Mordecai tried to hide Esther from being recruited by royalty. Regardless of how it went down, she ended up being brought to the palace and cared for by Hegai. I can't imagine Esther being thrilled with this idea. Just a couple of weeks ago, I told God, "I don't like this idea," as I saw Him working unexpectedly. No matter how the path twists and turns, we must stay the course and surrender our design to the true Designer. He didn't ask us to like it but to follow Him (Matthew 4:19).
Note something quite encouraging tucked within these verses: Esther obtained favor. Favor is a powerful word with several meanings, such as kindness, goodness, mercy, and devotion. God's handprints of favor are all over your history and current events. Recently, I went through an activity where I had to document various milestones in my life. It was such a humbling experience. It required me to sit down and consider how God had worked, and I would encourage you to do the same and glorify Him. Grab a pen and a fresh piece of paper and jot down the bullet points of your life and allow God to show you His ever-present hand. Like Esther, He has written an extraordinary story for you.
10 Esther had not revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it. 11 And every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women's quarters, to learn of Esther's welfare and what was happening to her.
12 Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months' preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women. 13 Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women's quarters to the king's palace. 14 In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch who kept the concubines. She would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name.
The ladies were given oil of myrrh treatments and perfumes for six months. Talk about a spa trip! Interestingly enough, myrrh is mentioned several times in the Bible. For God's people, it represented the "oil of holy ointment." It was one of the gifts presented to Jesus as an infant and was highly fragrant.
The 12 months of preparation provide an application for us. It wasn't time yet for Esther to take the throne. Although there's little detail about what else happened during those twelve months, I'm sure it had its ups and down. Can you imagine being in a house full of women vying for a crown? It's like the biggest Bachelor show of all time. Yet, the Lord used these months to prepare Esther for what would come next. Friends, take heart in your time of preparation. Preparation is necessary no matter what movie script the Lord is writing for you.
2 Corinthians 2:15 says, "For we are to God a pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." There's no doubt after 12 months of preparation with oils and perfumes, Esther had an aroma. The same should be true of us – if we are basking in the Lord's presence and soaking in His Word, we can't help but have a Godly aroma that others will notice.
15 Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her. 16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of a king.
It was Esther's moment now and time for her to go to the king. You can tell she has an obedient heart as Hegai had given her instructions, which she followed. 1 Samuel 15:22 speaks to obedience, "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." Ponder that for a moment. While God appreciates what we give to Him and how we serve Him in action, He desires we have a heart of obedience toward Him. I have a book that is a collection of liturgies (Every Moment Holy by Douglas Kaine McKelvey), and I've inserted a snippet of one I adore that has to do with obedience:
"Let me build, then, my King, a beautiful thing by long obedience, by the steady progression of small choices that laid end to end will become like the stones of a pleasing path stretching to eternity and unto your welcoming arms and unto the sound of your voice pronouncing the judgment: Well done."
Verse 17 is where Esther becomes queen! And again, we see the word favor twice in these few verses. Where the Lord's favor rests, even the most brutal battles become victories. You are blessed and highly favored by the King, just as Esther was by Xerxes. Rest in this truth, knowing that with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
19 When virgins were gathered together a second time, Mordecai sat within the king's gate. 20 Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him. 21 In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king's gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai's name. 23 And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.
Mordecai influenced this story immensely. It says that Mordecai "sat within the king's gate." Sitting at the king's gate would imply that Mordecai was associated with the decision-makers and men of influence in the kingdom (Guzik).
You may wonder why Esther didn't disclose her Jewish nationality (per Mordecai). Let's look at the entire book of Esther and remember what we studied in Esther 1. There is no mention of faith, God, the coming Messiah, or the Holy Spirit. God reminds us through this story how He works behind the scenes, and He's doing the same for you in this exact moment. Ask God today to make you more spiritually aware of His presence and the connection He brings through fellowshipping with Him.
In 1 Peter 2:17, it's written, "Fear God…honor the king," and Mordecai did just that when he heard of the planned assassination of King Xerxes. There's some toe-stepping waiting to happen here. Mordecai could've easily said, "Esther is Queen – Jewish, for that matter – and King Xerxes is a pagan Persian king." Yet, despite their cultural and moral differences, he chose to protect the king. May we show the same honor and respect for those in authority over us, even when we disagree with how they lead their kingdom.
Lord, build our trust and confidence in knowing that Your hand is continually present in our lives and actively at work. Help us to become more keenly aware that you are Immanuel – God with us. Amen.