Esther
chapter 2 reminds me that real beauty is so much more than outer
appearance. Young women in our society are under a constant
barrage of images about the how they should look. Sadly, there
is as much pressure on how they should act in order to be “hot”.
Many young women, driven by insecurity, or searching for love, are
deceived. The chapter begins, “Let a search be made…
to bring all these beautiful girls into the harem… and let beauty
treatments be given to them. Then let the girl who pleases the king
be queen instead of Vashti“. Remember, King Xerxes
dismissed his queen because she publicly embarrassed him, so the
king’s attendants came up with this plan to lift the king’s
spirits. I love the reaction, “This advice appealed to
the king“. Next we are introduced to two key characters,
Mordecai “a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin… who had been carried
into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon“;
and Esther, his cousin “who was lovely in form and features“.
We learn that “Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when
her father and mother died“. Esther was brought to the
king’s palace along with many other girls, but we learn Esther
found favor with “Hegai, who had charge of the harem“.
We read that he “provided her with her beauty treatments and
special food… assigned to her seven maids… moved her and her
maids into the best place in the harem“. What made Esther
stand out in a harem of beautiful women? I do not think it was
her looks!
We
learn, “Esther had not revealed her nationality and family
background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so“.
Notice that Esther wise enough to listen to the counsel of her
“father”. Also notice Mordecai was involved in her life.
“Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the
harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her“.
The chapter next outlines the process for selecting the next queen.
“Before a girl’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to
complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women,
six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics…
In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to
another part of the harem“. It seems the king had a
series of one-night stands. And notice what happened to the
girl, She was sent to the become part of the king’s concubines.
“She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her
and summoned her by name“. I think many women today have
wondered “why doesn’t he call?”
In
contrast to the other girls, “Esther
won the favor of everyone who saw her“.
And we are given an interesting piece of information. When the
woman was taken to the king, “Anything
she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the
king’s palace“.
Esther on the other hand “asked
for nothing other than what Hegai… suggested“.
Perhaps Esther understood the king was in need of queen, not another
concubine? We read the result, “Now
the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women,
and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other
virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen
instead of Vashti. And the king gave a great banquet“.
We are also told “But
Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as
Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s
instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up“.
So what if you did not have Godly instruction growing up? My
friend, we serve a God of new beginnings! 2 Corinthians 5:17 is
my life verse. “Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed
away; behold, all things have become new“.
Jesus tells all of us that come to Him for forgiveness, “Neither
do I condemn you; go and sin no more“.
(John 8:11).