Esther 2:1-23
Please read your Bible text: Esther 2:1-23
‘…And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her…’ 2:15b (NKJ)
The Jews celebrate Purim on March 14. The feast of Purim began in Esther 9:28 and up till today, the Jewish people still celebrate it. Purim means ‘lots’ – as by means of broken pieces. It was the villain Haman who cast the lots to determine the best date to carry out his plan to exterminate the Jews (Esther 3:7). However, the situation was turned around in favor of the Jews through Esther’s witty and godly intercessory stand before the king. Hence Purim (the date determined by lots) became a date for a memorial feast, even today in celebration of their deliverance from destruction.
Today’s text fully encapsulates not only the physical beauty of Esther but also the divine aura that enwrapped her, captivating all who saw her give favors on her. Surely if God’s favor is upon us just as it was upon Esther – we shall obtain favor in the sight of all who see us!
Behold the beauty of this unassuming peasant girl whom God’s favor rested…
The Inner Beauty of Esther – vs.1-11
There is no doubt Esther was beautiful in appearance else she wouldn’t be taken to the palace, for the king’s order was to search for beautiful virgins to replace Queen Vashti (2:1-4). Esther’s beauty impressed both Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the royal harem (2:9), and the king himself (2:17). But what was even more impressive was the inner beauty of Esther! Even her name, Hadassah (2:7) in Hebrew means ‘Myrtle’ – a kind of plant with dark shiny leaves and white flowers, which shed a beautiful aromatic fragrance. Her Persian name, Esther means ‘a star’, as though she were a garden enclosed, encircled by the atmosphere of the divine purity and protection. Physical beauty is subjected to fade with age; what is more qualitative is the inner beauty of character that will shine for a lifetime.
The Inner Beauty of a Quiet, Steady Deposition – vs.12-22
Don’t misjudge Esther for being a king’s concubine; she was taken by force and subjected to the ancient culture of kings having many wives. Her beauty lies in her quiet, steady deposition. Orphaned at a young age, she respected her older cousin, Mordecai who took her as his own daughter. In fact, she listened to Mordecai to keep her Jewish parentage secret (2:10) and show no flinching from identification with her Jewish race at a crucial time to save her people. Her inner beauty could also be seen in her quiet obedience to the royal eunuch’s advice… ‘She asked for nothing except what he (the eunuch) suggested…’ and for that, she was admired by everyone who saw her (2:15). Even after she was exalted to be the Queen, she still continued to obey Mordecai just as she did when she was living in his home as a young girl (2:19-20).
Quietness and confident trust (in God) I believe was her inner beauty and strength. She was quiet and simple but steady and solid.
The Inner Beauty of Divine Favor
Esther’s beauty wasn’t just her natural endowment or deposition. It was also because of divine favor resting on her. God is not mentioned at all in this book—but His divine favor can be seen everywhere in Esther. It could not have been easy for Esther to retain her sweet simplicity amid the corruption of her time being taken captive to a foreign land. It was the unseen hand of God’s favor keeping her all the while. Because of God’s favor, she found favor with the royal eunuch who assigned her seven maids to take care of her (2:9).
She also found favor with the king that he set the royal crown on her and declared her queen and held a royal banquet in honor of her (2:17-18). Who would have imagined that it was a divine favor that had set Esther up for such a time as this – to save an entire people from extinction! It doesn’t matter who you are – if God’s favor rests on you – you will rise and shine!
The Inner Beauty of Serving with a Right Spirit
So Esther attained the highest position in the world to which a woman could aspire. God lifted her there to serve a high and noble purpose and Esther did it with a right spirit – a quiet and a humble submission. Mordecai her older cousin and guardian was also serving the foreign king with the right spirit too. He discovered a plot against the king and told it to Esther and she, in turn, reported to the king. This good deed was not rewarded, however, the faithful official, Mordecai felt no disappointment at all. He acted not for reward but for the right spirit – a sense of duty and loyalty. But praise God – the act was registered not only in the king’s book but also in heaven for God saw it and He was about to reward Mordecai (later in Esther 6).
Here is a lesson – even if you are working in an environment or with people that don’t think very much of you it is enough for you to know God sees.
THINK: Physical beauty will fade but not the inner beauty of the heart – Serve not for reward but out a sense of delight and duty.
PRAYER: Father God, put within me a quiet and sweet simplicity in this world of harsh reality. Where there is hate, let me sow love; where there is injury, let me sow care; where there is sorrow, let me sow comfort. Let me serve not out of gain and glory but of love and loyalty.
David Quek
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