Reading: Esther 1-3
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; 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. 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 (Esth. 2:5-7).
Over the past two weeks, we have read through the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah and have explored some of the events that occurred after the Jews had been permitted to return to their homeland from their exile in Babylon. Today, we turn our attention to the Book of Esther and to an account of what was happening among the Jews that were still living in the land of Medo-Persia.
As the Book opens, we are given an insider’s view of royal life in the Shushan palace of the Persian king, Ahasuerus. Toward the end of a long drunken party (1:1-9), the king made specific demands of his queen, Vashti, which she refused to honor (1:10- 12). This sent the king into a towering rage and resulted in him issuing an unbreakable decree banishing her forever from his presence and stripping her of her title as queen (1:19-22). Not long afterward, the lonely king (2:1) held “auditions” for a new queen. 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: And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so (2:3-4).
At this point, we are first introduced to Esther and her cousin/ adoptive father, Mordecai. As Jews descended from those taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, their presence in the country had not come about through personal choice. Likewise, when the king decided to search for a new queen, Esther did not volunteer. She was brought to the king's house along with other maidens to be trained and judged. Neither her consent nor that of Mordecai, her adopted father, was sought beforehand. These events could have easily led to bitterness and dissatisfaction on the parts of Mordecai and Esther. Instead, we find in each of them an attitude of quiet confidence. Esther trusted entirely in the counsel of her father as she had been raised to do under the Law (Ex. 20:12; Esth. 2:10), and Mordecai trusted utterly in God (Ex. 20:2-6; Esth. 3:1-4).
A person that has surrendered their life to God is the recipient of a peace that can be found in no other way. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7). When you KNOW that God is in control, you can accept any situation that comes your way with equanimity and grace. You can stand strong in the face of adversity, confident that God's plan will prevail no matter your current struggles, and your eternity is secure!
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God (I John 5:4-5)?
Thought For Today: Despair is a rejection of the possibility of hope and thus a rejection of God. No matter what, we must hold onto our faith and trust in Him.
Christ Portrayed:By Mordecai, who adopted Esther (Esth. 2:15). We are adopted into the family of God by Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:5; I John 3:1). Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26).
Word Studies:1:10 chamberlains = officials; 2:16 Tebeth compares with our December/January; 3:8 to suffer them = to let them remain; 3:13 Adar compares with our February/March; 3:15 posts = special messengers.
Pray For Staff:Tifany Parisi • Government Officials: Rep. Mark Amodel (NV) • Country: Romania (21,729,871) Southeastern Europe • Major Languages: Romanian, Hungarian • Freedom of Worship • 86.8% Romanian Orthodox Church; 7.5% Protestant; 4.7% Roman Catholic; 0.9% Other/Unspecified (Muslim; Jew, Jehovah's Witness, Baha'i, Mormon, Zen Buddhist, Unification Church, Krishna); 0.1% None • Prayer Suggestion: Intercede in prayer for others, knowing that God hears your prayer (II Chr. 30:18-20).
Optional Reading:Galatians 1.