God had planned our lives even before we were conceived. Jeremiah 1: 5 says before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. God is the creator of life and knows all about us before we are formed in the womb. We are not formed with a purpose based on God’s plan. The background of Queen Esther as we have previously discussed, a maid to a slave who rose to become a queen in a captor’s land tells it all to God’s glory and honour.
In Esther 1: 11-12 Queen Vashti, the wife of King Ahasuerus, refused the king’s request to attend the banquet. In order to avert grave embarrassment, the king took counsel to commission Queen Vashti’s replacement. Mordecai the Benjamite, also a captive from Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon advised Esther who was an adopted daughter of his uncle Abihail to participate in the contest. She was successful and became the new queen. What were the legacies of Queen Esther?
Esther was sober and took advice
When Mordecai advised Esther to contest for the queen’s position, she was to be discreet about Mordecai’s role. We must learn to be discreet and quiet about some events because we may fall out of favour one day. Jeremiah 9: 4 says let every one beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a supplanter, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. Esther kept her promise not to expose Mordecai’s role or association with her.
We must be truthful and trustworthy to our words of promise. Jesus said in Matthew 5:37 let your yes be yes, and your no be no. Good and lasting relationships thrive on trust and confidence. Jesus likewise demanded quiet from his disciples about some crucial events and facts in Matthew 16: 20; 17: 9; Mark 8: 30; 9: 9; Luke 5: 14; 8: 56. We must know when to say what and not all information is for public consumption. May the Holy Spirit guard our lips, to give us utterance, and to keep our promise always.
Esther was humble and obedient
Esther was a delight to the king because she was obedient and humble unlike Queen Vashti. She obeyed the king’s rules including not entering the king’s court except by the king’s golden scepter or invitation even when she had compelling issues to discuss. She did not assume equal rights based on marriage or royal status. She subjected her wishes to royal rules and thereby won the king’s heart and received favourable responses to her requests from King Ahasuerus.
Matthew 23: 12; Luke 14: 11; 18: 14 say whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Ephesians 5: 22 says wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. This is not subject to affirmative rights but what scripture says. Colossians 3: 18 says wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 1 Peter 3: 1 says likewise you wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that some, though they do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the behaviour of their wives, when they see your reverent and chase behaviour.
Men must equally reciprocate good manners and character and must love their wives. Ephesians 5: 25 says husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Colossians 3: 19 says husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. These passages suggest some hidden insensitive and abrasive nature of men towards our wives. We must be accommodating as King Ahasuerus was to Esther, and as Christ was to the church.
Esther was loyal to her people
Mordecai became aware of a plot by Bigthan and Teresh to kill King Ahasuerus. Mordecai therefore informed Esther to report the same to the king based on her loyalty to the king and to the Jews. Upon confirming the plot, the two men were hanged. Many of us condone all manner of crimes and evil against those we allegedly love rather than seeking their welfare. Proverbs 3: 3 says let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 16: 6 says what I desired of a man is loyalty, and a poor man is better than a liar.
Bigthan and Teresh rather suffered what they planned against King Ahasuerus. Their love for the king was not genuine. Romans 12: 9-11 say let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. We must overcome evil with love. Romans 12: 17 says repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. Romans 12: 21 says do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Are we loyal and act with conscience as Esther did?
Esther was a woman of prayer
When Esther had to report the plot against the king’s life, she was constrained by the king’s decree about his royal scepter. Rather than complaining she asked Mordecai and his people to join her to pray and fast for three days and nights. Thereafter, the king invited her whereupon she reported the plot. Prayer is the key and the answer to all situations. 2 Corinthians 1: 11 says you also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers. Esther accessed the king in good time because of prayer and fasting before the LORD.
Esther in faith turned to God for strength and patience in troubled times. Romans 12: 12 says rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Luke 18:1 says we should pray without ceasing and not lose heart. She was resilient in prayer because she knew the God she served. Genesis 18: 14 says is anything too hard for the LORD? Jeremiah 32: 17 says.. Nothing is too hard for thee. Jeremiah 32: 27 says behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me? We must also pray for one another because God wants us to pray. James 5: 16 says the prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Is it our nature to pray for one another?
Esther showed love to all
Haman, King Ahasuerus’ overseer made a decree that, (a) Mordecai should be hanged for being disrespectful to the king; (b) to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day; and (c) to take the spoils of them for a prey and with a promise for money. In appreciation for Mordecai having saved the king’s life, Esther asked the king to reward him who had saved his life. A number of us easily forget those who have in part made us who we are.
Haman, who considered himself as the most favorite of the kings, gave a worthy recommendation. King Ahasuerus accepted the recommendation but chose Mordecai as the most deserving beneficiary. Esther also got Haman’s orders to kill the Jews to be quashed. Rather, Haman, his ten sons and those who supported his evil decree were killed. 1 Timothy 5: 8 says if any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than unbeliever. Like Esther, do we remember our people and/or their good deeds when we are in a position of favour?
Esther celebrated the Lord’s goodness
Based on the Lord’s intervention for saving the lives of the Jews and rather exterminating their enemies, the Jews celebrated the day as the day of the Lord’s kindness. Esther was their mouthpiece before King Ahasuerus. 1Thessalonians 5: 18 says give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do we celebrate God for his goodness in what we know and do not know?
1 Chronicles 16: 34 says O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalms 92: 1 says it is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to thy name, O Most High; to declare thy steadfast love in the morning, and thy faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. Isaiah 12: 4 says give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name; make known his deeds among the nations, proclaim that his name is exalted.
By the celebration, the Jews made God known to the world. Our challenge today is how we celebrate our God. Do we announce God’s goodness based on honesty and righteousness or do we celebrate God for our success in plundering the assets of individuals, the community, or the state? God abhors sin and must not be celebrated as a blessing. God knows the roots of our wealth and successes.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we have known the divine qualities by which we may be elevated from our current circumstances. Help us to lean on you in prayer and fasting as Esther did in all circumstances for such is your nature. Teach us to pray fervently by the Holy Spirit. Help us to show love where there is hate; show humility where there is pride; show loyalty where there is betrayal; and to seek wisdom from above in all circumstances. In your holy name we pray, Amen!!
