Today’s passage is rather lengthy. Try to read it as though you had never heard the account of Esther. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a fresh vision that will speak to your heart and your daily life.
Search for a New Queen
Esther 2:1-23 (HCSB)
1 Some time later, when King Ahasuerus’ rage had cooled down, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what was decided against her.
2 The king’s personal attendants suggested, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.
3 Let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom, so that they may assemble all the beautiful young virgins to the harem at the fortress of Susa. [Put them] under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women, and give them the required beauty treatments.
4 Then the young woman who pleases the king will reign in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he did accordingly.
5 A Jewish man was in the fortress of Susa named Mordecai son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite.
6 He had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the other captives when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jeconiah of Judah into exile.
7 Mordecai was the legal guardian of his cousin Hadassah (that is, Esther), because she didn’t have a father or mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was extremely good-looking. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter.
8 When the king’s command and edict became public knowledge, many young women gathered at the fortress of Susa under Hegai’s care. Esther was also taken to the palace and placed under the care of Hegai, who was in charge of the women.
9 The young woman pleased him and gained his favor so that he accelerated the process of the beauty treatments and the special diet that she received. He assigned seven hand-picked female servants to her from the palace and transferred her and her servants to the harem’s best quarters.
10 Esther did not reveal her ethnic background or her birthplace, because Mordecai had ordered her not to.
11 Every day Mordecai took a walk in front of the harem’s courtyard to learn how Esther was doing and to see what was happening to her.
12 During the year before each young woman’s turn to go to King Ahasuerus, the harem regulation required her to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months and then with perfumes and cosmetics for [another] six months.
13 When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take with her from the harem to the palace.
14 She would go in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second harem under the supervision of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She never went to the king again, unless he desired her and summoned her by name.
15 Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai who had adopted [her] as his own daughter. When her turn came to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king’s trusted official in charge of the harem, suggested. Esther won approval in the sight of everyone who saw her.
16 Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus in the royal palace in the tenth month, the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women. She won more favor and approval from him than did any of the other virgins. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.
18 The king held a great banquet for all his officials and staff. It was Esther’s banquet. He freed his provinces from tax payments and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.
19 When the young women were assembled together for a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the King’s Gate.
20 Esther still had not revealed her birthplace or her ethnic background, as Mordecai had directed. She obeyed Mordecai’s orders, as she always had while he raised her.
Mordecai Saves the King
21 During those days while Mordecai was sitting at the King’s Gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two eunuchs who guarded the [king’s] entrance, became infuriated and tried to assassinate King Ahasuerus.
22 When Mordecai learned of the plot, he reported it to Queen Esther, and she told the king on Mordecai’s behalf.
23 When the report was investigated and verified, both men were hanged on the gallows. This event was recorded in the court records of daily events in the king’s presence.
Even in this chapter we see God preparing the circumstances that will save His people. Esther, who is a Jew, becomes queen (Like the story of Cinderella). Mordecai, a wise and Godly man, tells Esther not to reveal her ethnic background, and she obeys. Later, Mordecai – through Esther – saves the king’s life. In future chapters, we see where God uses all of these things to save the Jews from the evil Haman.
Ladies, do you ever feel useless? Do you ever feel like God wouldn’t want to use you? God never made anyone or anything that was “useless.” God desires to use all of His children. We are vessels created to bring Him honor and glory. He doesn’t want beautiful, above average, gifted, talented, exceedingly smart women. He just wants available, obedient women.
Esther must have been fearful when she went to the palace; yet she was obedient and willing. That is all that the Father asks of us.
When Jesus approached the woman at the well, she had been used and abused for many years. She probably had that hard look that comes from the kind of lifestyle that she was living. Yet she was willing to listen and heed the Savior. She was responsible for her whole village coming to the Lord.
Rahab was a harlot. She probably wasn’t thought of as an especially gifted or wise woman; yet, she saved the Jews and her family - when all of Jericho fell.
Mary underwent heavy criticism for her way of worshipping the Lord.
John 12:1-8 (HCSB)
1 Six days before the • Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 So they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.
3 Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray Him), said,
5 “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?”
6 He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.
7 Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of My burial.
8 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”
Love God; love people. This is what the Lord requires of us. Sometimes we feel useless because we are not recognized; or we are criticized. And the fact that Jesus was criticized doesn’t always comfort us, especially when some of our sisters seem to always receive recognition. Maybe it isn’t the praise of men that you want, but affirmation.
Sweet Sister, every kind deed done in the name of Christ is written down in Heaven where you will one day receive the reward.
“I don’t do anything worth recognition!” You cry.
Matthew 25:37-40 (HCSB)
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?
38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You?
39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’
40 “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
Matthew 10:42 (HCSB)
42 And whoever gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple —I assure you: He will never lose his reward!”
When you take that extra minute to listen to that neighbor child, when you open the door for the woman struggling with her packages, when you smile at the beggar that no one sees, when you offer to hold that crying child so a mother can tend to another toddler - - - Jesus notices and He sees that you are rewarded.
Sometimes, caring is such a natural thing for you that you do not realize that you are serving Christ. You become like those in Matthew 25 who didn’t even realize that they were serving Jesus. You become like Esther who chose to be available and obedient.
Do not judge your success by the number of people who show you acclaim. Do not judge your success by the world’s standards. Do not judge your success by anything earthly. Rather look to your Savior Who stands with arms outstretched and smiles down on you because you are seeking to please Him.
Daily draw near to Jesus in prayer. Pray without ceasing. Draw your significance from the Only One Whose praise matters.
You are a daughter of the King!
If you want to be truly beautiful, inside and outside, read your Bibles and pray. Jesus will shine in your eyes and in your deeds. You will truly be a beautiful woman, worthy of the reward that awaits you in Heaven.
**Holy Father, please, use me to bring glory and honor to Your Precious Name. Forgive me for when I would doubt my worth. I am Your child and there is no greater worth. I want to be obedient and available. Use me, Lord. Amen.
