Esther 2:1-23 KJV
(1) After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
(2) Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
(3) And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
(4) And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
(5) Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
(6) Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
(7) And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
(8) So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
(9) And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
(10) Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
(11) And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
(12) Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
(13) Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.
(14) In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
(15) Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
(16) So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
(17) And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
(18) Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
(19) And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
(20) Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
(21) In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
(22) And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
(23) And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
Saving of a king might seem like some small act, but in truth it probably a more noble act. At the end of the chapter Esther is able to save the king due a plot against him, and Mordecai name was written down because of this great deed. This one act of salvation perhaps would influence the king to protect Esther people when knowledge that her people were Jewish was known. Yet the story begins for Esther with her first finding favor with the king so much that he makes her his new queen. God puts people in place for protection, for nobility. Esther a queen, was a woman that found herself in submission to both her uncle and the king of the ruler of the land of Babylon. King of Babylon had many wives not just one, but only one head wife. King David had many wives and so did many of Israel’s kings. Yet this part of these two culture are not usually highlighted as being the same. The idea of more then one wife began before Abraham day with Lamech who was a descendant of Cain who had two wives. Having more then one wife was against God original call to man. Yet it was a society law by man. To have more then one wife often meant wealth, and large families. Even Sarah seen the need for Abraham to have a second mate. The ideology is foreign to many of us in Christian culture though we know it exist. The fact Esther had passed the first stage of being able to enter the palace she did not let her faith be known. She had been orphaned as a child and raised by her uncle who worked in the palace. She was given a position above her station in life because of her beauty and she was favorable to the king. Before she could go to the king she had to purify herself. And then she would be brought to the king.
Some tradition of man are against God laws for man, yet they still exist. They exist because man uses his power to gain all he desires. Esther had no inhibition, but found herself in submission to the king and her uncle. She had gained better position in life then could have been hoped for as being picked to be queen. Yet this station would be to protect her people, for what was not told was the deep faith of Esther. We can not hide the fact there are people in places that have faith that are not always in places where God’s law’s can be freely obeyed. Esther kept her faith in God in her heart and did not demonstrate it outwardly but in her actions and deeds which were common in the country even among the heathens. Esther faith was not found lacking but found to be hidden. Yet in the future it would be exposed. It would be exposed to protect her people from a slaughter.
Just because you do not live the puritan life style does not mean you can not have faith in God. Even Apostle Paul understood these principals yet taught against sin. Has believers we are called to be holy, however holy to God does it effect our body. It should, but God allows freedom in governmental positions, do to the nature we are under the authority of the government. Was that ever God’s intent no, but man desired to be like other nations instead of under God’s rule and for that reason God gave man exactly what they wanted.. With the choices of our ancestors comes consequences for each of us. Our laws and rules handed down to each generation. Esther was brought up with these traditions and had learn to live with these consequences of past history, yet God enabled her to find much favor with the king that she gain first wife status. Her position not as prostitute for the king, but as wife.
We can not ignore God ability to use places of power for His glory as well as placing his people in the right position for protection of his people. Despite what laws might be in opposition to God’s. law. Learning to obey God and serve him to the best of our ability despite one’s circumstance is required by God. He understands our station in life is in opposition to things of Him, because of man‘s previous choice, yet God can deliver and make a way that we can continue to follow in his footsteps has he did for Esther.
Dear Heavenly Father help us where we are in life to obey you and rely on you for protection. In Jesus precious name, Amen.
