Esther 2 (NIV)
1 Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. 2 Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. 3 Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. 4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.
8 When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem.
Be Calm. Sometimes things happen around and to us. The plan, if there is one, may have little or nothing to do with us. Esther certainly had no control over what was happening and in all likelihood had no idea she was going to be chosen until the moment that she was.
9 She pleased him and won his favour. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.
15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favour of everyone who saw her.
Be Kind. It would have been easy and perhaps understandable for Esther to have blamed Hegai for her situation. When we deal with people we have to remember that even if they seem to be part of the problem, it may not be of their making!
18 And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.
Be Obedient. Esther was raised up, not because she was anything special, but because it was part of God’s plan. When we see others being raised up we should rejoice for them, being aware that God may have a plan for their lives
In this case, it was so that she could be in the right place at the right time to hear the reports of the threats to the King and so save his life.
We should be aware always that God is at work in our own lives and the lives of those around us, and always be ready to play our part to the best of our ability.
In this case it was vitally important that King Xerxes survived. Why that was will be revealed later in the month.
Service Details
Theme: “The mother of all parties!” (Part 2)
Reading: Esther 2
Preacher: Robin Brenchley
Led by: Robin Brenchley
