BEFORE ESTHER MARRIED HER KING
It’s been a while, but I’m back and here is the post I had promised earlier here about a study of the book of Esther . I’ve read it a lot and each time I get something new. Esther is known to be favored by God and man, and asides that there are other lessons to learn from her. Right now I’m just going to share what I’ve learnt and made out of this wonderful story. I will be laying more emphasis on chapter 2.
KING XERXES
A wonderful man,best choice from God to you. Your king.
Vashti had been banished, Because she disobeyed her husband and embarrassed him in front of his officials. He sought advice from his counselors and that was the solution they gave him to serve as a lesson to other women in Persia. At a point the king was down , no wife , no queen and another counsellor advised him to get a new queen……..
A search was made for beautiful young virgins for the king.
Every man/guy is always on the lookout for a beautiful lady. Note this that there is always a search. And it reminds me of that part of the Bible that says he that findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtained favour from God. For you to find something, you would have searched and then proudly say, I searched and I found it, ‘there must be a search before a find’.
Also the word beautiful. To me I don’t think being beautiful is just about the physical look and all, being beautiful encompasses so many things.
What does beauty mean to you ?
Esther was taken and it was recorded that she was lovely in form and features. Good news version says a beautiful young woman who had a good figure. A bad or ugly dress sense can tone down a woman’s beauty. Make sure to dress well, modest in all ways. Just look good.😊😊
Every girl was kept in the care of Hegai; It sounds like a beauty contest right.
Who’s Hegai?
There is always a Hegai around the man God has destined for you. (Your King)
Who I see Hegai as?
A good friend, pastor, a helper from God, Linker, Family
Vs9. Esther pleased him and won his favour
I kept wondering and I asked myself, how did she win his favour?
Firstly
God had ordained it to be so. Secondly, I also thought that since we were not told the time interval between when she got to the harem and when Hegai saw her and when she found favour in his sight. it could be that Esther had a kind behaviour, good character, charming smile, good charisma, it could also be the way she talked (it drips of sweet honey, full of grace and seasoned with salt (Col 4:6). Also her dress sense, she could have acknowledged Hegai whom many ladies might have ignored (eunuchs don’t look appealing) and maybe she gave him the respect he deserved. She was also wise as she had learnt from what Vashti did and what she got as her punishment. Don’t forget she was prayerful (she fasted for 3 days and nights later on in the story). She would have been praying way before that who knows and I see prayers as seeds sown for an immediate and a future harvest.
A year of Purification (The waiting season)
What it meant then.
Every girl in the harem had to go through this. A complete 12 months of beauty treatment. Six months of oil and myrrh. Six months with perfume and cosmetics.
Myrrh
It was used in the olden days for:-
Oral hygiene care to prevent tooth decay.
Drawing out skin impurities
Colds and indigestion
Asthma
Sore throat
Gonorrhea etc.
Also, too much myrrh can cause extreme diarrhea which would help in cleansing the stomach.
Perfume and cosmetics
This was just to make their skin soft as silk and saturated with the smell of pure sweet oils…. you’ve got to smell nice (lol).
Also, leprosy, tuberculosis and sexual diseases were common and it usually meant death in the early stage. Many diseases were not evident in those days unlike now when we have vaccines and we’ve been immunized.
A year is enough for those diseases to show. A year is enough for bad, attitudes, selfishness, uncontrollable temper, emotional problems, physical problem, and mental problems. Bad behaviours generally are not befitting for a potential queen. Headaches or chronic weakness could cancel out a potential queen.
The new queen had to be prefect.
Hmmm, what are you thinking about right now and what is God telling you here? How can you relate this year of purification that I’ve tagged the waiting season to your life?
For me,
I knew here that in my waiting season, I have to get processed, getting worked on day by day to be a wonderful product befitting for a king. Allowing God to work in me, teach me and discipline me. It’s time to develop myself in all areas, spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, character wise, career wise, skillfulness, bad behaviors have to go and many other aspects of my life have to develop to be that woman God wants me to be. I love Proverbs 31 a lot ( there will be a post on that soon) and I tell myself and my friends that I’m not even half of what’s written down there but I will get there through God’s help. I want to be a gift, wonderfully wrapped with lots of wonderful goodies in it.
Vs 14
Here every girl would go in the evening and return in the morning to the care of Shaashgaz the kings eunuch in charge of his concubines. She won’t return to the king unless he was pleased with her ( that’s if he remembers her name enough to spend another night with her) They become exes
Who is Shaashgaz?
A friend of the king but this time a different one
I see him as a bad one. He’s the custodian of the kings exes(Concubines)
Vs 15
Esther’s turn came and she asked for nothing other than what Hegai( the good friend of the king) asked her to take.
See, she was very wise. She knew Hegai knew the king so well, come on he’s in charge of ladies for the king he knows his taste and all. He picked up what he knew the king would like so. Much as he knew what his heart desires, Esther sought for good counsel and advice and she followed it.
Vs 15b-17. No wonder when people saw her she won their favour and the king’s favour instantly in the 10th month (Tenth) of his 7th year reign 7 (perfection) he was attracted to her more than any other woman (Love) and she won his favour and approval more than any other virgin (remember that they were all virgins in the harem). When you see/meet ‘the one ‘ you will know, nothing else counts.
What made Esther different?
Vs 7 she was beautiful and fair
Vs 10 very discreet in what she said or did not say. Very wise
Vs 11 she was in control of her mind and emotion to be able to do difficult task
Vs 15 she was not greedy or selfish, poised and confident.
Vs 15b had dignity and honor.
Vs 20 totally obedient and trusted Mordecai (Her only family, she honored him Eph. 5)
I believe Esther determined in her heart to be the king’s wife. She can’t just be captured for no reason the second time (the Jews were scattered all over) in her life and ending up in Shaashgaz and become a concubine not to be reckoned with. She loved God and God loved her too .She was also a virgin and she wanted to settle for the best in her life. That was her goal and she had that mindset. SHE PLACED A VALUE ON HERSELF. YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT MINDSET TOO.
Every lady makes her husband her King, Proverbs 12:4.
A lady is a crown to her husband’s head. You’re a QUEEN
Finally
He proclaimed a holiday; she was too important and wonderful, that she deserved a nationwide holiday in the whole of Persia. It’s such a great honour and treasure she was.
MARRIAGE 💃💃💃
Esther married her King .
Estée ✨
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