2002-01-01
Good Morning Faithful Ones,
Yesterday, I began relating the story of Esther from the Bible book of the same name. I’m late in doing this as the Jewish holiday of Purim which is based on this story has already been celebrated this year. It is always in the Spring, just before Passover. However, this was the first chance I’ve had in view of the Lent/Passover/Easter season upon us, so I hope you will forgive that. If you are wondering why Esther’s story is important for us to read, it is because it is a story that will give us insight into the times she lived in and into God’s hand in the events that transpired. It also allows us to have a deeper understanding of the Jewish culture upon which our own faith is based. You will see as the events unfold, that Esther demonstrates great courage of faith in the face of dire danger to both her and her people. It is an example from which we can all benefit.
As you saw in yesterday’s message, a rashly constructed decree was put out to expel Queen Vashti because of her refusal to appear with her crown on her head before King Ahasuerus and his official guests. Memucan, one of the king’s seven advisor’s not only recommended the king expel Queen Vashti, but he and the others also suggested that a search be done to find a new queen to take her place from among the beautiful virgins of Persia [ES 2:2]. ES 2: 3, “You can appoint the officials in every province of the empire and have them bring all these beautiful young girls to your harem here in Susa, the capital city. Put them in the care of Hegai, the eunuch who is in charge of your women, and let them be given a beauty treatment.” It is at this point in the story that two prinicples, Mordecai and Esther are introduced.
ES 2:5-7, “There in Susa lived a Jew named Mordecai son of Jair, he was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei. When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) of Judah into exile from Jerusalem along with a group of captives, Mordecai was among them. He had a cousin, Esther, whose Hebrew name was Hadassah; she was a beautiful girl, and had a good figure. At the death of her parents, Mordecai had adopted her and brought her up as his own daughter." [See also 2 K 24: 14-16]. “Hegai liked Esther, and she won his favor” (ES 2: 9]. Mordecai was no fool; he understood the anti-Semitism of this Persian culture. That is why he told Esther to keep it secret that she was Jewish in verse (10). If we can imagine this, the girls were given beauty treatments for a year and then were invited to go before the king wearing the clothes of their own choice. This was truly a culture of the flesh. Then, they were put under the care of Shaashgaz, the eunuch in charge of the king’s concubines (14). A girl would not go back to the king again unless he liked her enough to ask for her by name.
Esther took Hegai’s advice on what to wear when it was her turn to go to the king. ES 2: 15-17, “The time came for Esther to go to the king. Esther-the daughter of Abigail and the cousin of Mordecai, who had adopted her as his daughter; Esther-admired by everyone who saw her. When her turn came, she wore just what Hegai advised her to wear. So in Ahasuerus’ seventh year [there’s that number again] as king, in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, Esther was brought to King Ahasuerus in the royal palace. The king liked her more than any of the other girls, and more than any of the other she won his favor and affection. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. “ Afterward, he held another banquet for his officials and administrators, distributed gifts worthy of a king, and proclaimed a holiday.
ES 2: 19-20, “Meanwhile Mordecai had been appointed by the king to an administrative position. As for Esther, she had still not let it be known that she was Jewish. Mordecai had told her not to tell anyone, and she obeyed him in this, just as she had obeyed him when she was a little girl under his care.” Later, two of the enuchs who guarded the palace became hostile to the king and plotted to assassinate the monarch. Mordecai found out about this and told Queen Esther. She went to the king, and an investigation followed which revealed the truth. Both of the plotters were hanged on the gallows before they could carry out their plan. The grateful king ordered an account of this incident written down for the official records of the empire (21-23).
Up to this point, this has truly been a story of the flesh. However, it is interesting to note the comparison between the preparations for taking Esther to the king with that of our lifetime as a preparation for the time when we will reign with Jesus Christ in God’s Kingdom. Look at EPH 5: 25-27, “Husbands, love you wives just as Christ loved the church and gave His life for it. He did this to dedicate the church to God by His word, after making it clean by washing it with water, in order to present the church to Himself in all its beauty-pure and faultless, without spot or blemish.” We can never forget that the stories of the OT foreshadow the events of the NT. For that reason, we never waste our time when we read them.
PRAYER: O Lord, throughout the Scriptures, which You gave us, are stories of courage and of deception. You allow us to see Your righteous hand in these people and the events in which they are involved to help us better understand our own relationship to You. You teach us righteousness and let us see the consequences of its opposite. You reveal Your own compassion and love for us. We are provided with a way to understand the roots of our own faith. Most of all, You teach us that we should obey you and put our trust in You, for a life of faith in Your Son really is the only way to eternal life and everlasting fellowship with You. We thank, praise, adore, honor, and glorify You, because that is what You deserve. We accept You invitation to join You in Your work, because that is what is right and fitting. To You belongs the glory! In Christ’s name, amen.
Tomorrow, we will meet the villain of the piece, Haman, and learn about his plot to destroy God’s chosen people. In the meanwhile, never forget that Christ’s greatest desire is to stand by our side and guide us to a better life. May we always feel the living presence in our lives of each person of the Trinity. May we never spend a day in our lives feeling that we aren’t loved by our Father in heaven. Peter and I send our love too.
Grace, Peace, and Love Be Yours Forever,
Lynn