A description of the Life of Queen Esther and her impact on the people of the Old Testament during the reign of King Ahasuerus.
Esther, meaning star, an orphaned Jewish child raised in Persia by Mordecai her cousin was chosen by King Ahasuerus to replace the vacillating and adamant queen Vashti. Esther originally named Hadassah, meaning, the myrtle, is the heroine of the Biblical book that bears her name. Hadassah received her name of Esther when she entered the royal harem.
BIBLE VERSE - Esther 2:7 - "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."
Esther was the daughter of a Benjamite, Abihail. When Cyrus gave permission for the exiles to return unto Jerusalem she stayed with Mordecai her cousin.
King Ahasuerus gave authority to Haman to kill all Jews in the Persian Empire. Haman was King Ahasuerus' prime minister. Haman called for this ruling to be given because Mordecai refused to bow to Haman. Haman felt ridiculed and stripped of his authority by Mordecai's refusal to bow down to him and so he went to the king to claim that all Jews were the same and should be killed.
Queen Esther LISTENED to the Voice of God
And this day in age it was not wise for anyone to go before the king without permission, not even the Queen, but Esther having heard of what was being planned risked her life and position as Queen to go before Ahasuerus in behalf of her self and her people. Esther went before the King and asked him if he knew that his order to kill all the Jews would also extend to her since she was a Jew! Upon King Ahasuerus hearing this he over turned the order and Haman and his sons were hanged on the very same gallows that he had planned on using for Mordecai and the rest of the Jews.
BIBLE VERSE - Esther 7:1-10 "So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. 3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: 4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. 5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? 6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. 7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. 8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified."
An annual feast, the feast of Purim was set up in memory of the deliverance of the Jews around B. C. 479.
Queen Esther was a woman of faith, goodness, devotion and courage. She built upon these characteristics combining with them a sense of watchfulness. Esther was devoted to her cousin, Mordecai, and obedient to his teachings. Her grace and her beauty gave her favor amongst all that she came in contact with.
BIBLE VERSE - Esther 2:15 "Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her."
Queen Esther lifted up in the eyes of God became an instrument for God. Because of her devotion and willingness to listen to the voice of God she was able to prevent the devastation and destruction of her people. Queen Esther an instrument of God used by God because of her willingness to obey the voice of God.
Queen Esther Beauty Secrets
Much is emphasized in our day regarding beauty. Think of the money we spend on eye shadow, eye liner, lipstick, blush, etc. NO woman would be glad when their teenage daughter gets her first job and is able to buy her own makeup! Wearing makeup sometimes comes up as an issue in Bible circles. God appreciated beauty. Do you think Eve was ugly? I doubt it. We certainly know that Queen Esther of the Bible was not ugly! When we try to use the Bible as a means of defining the use or none-use of makeup we are walking on thin ground. Wearing make-up is a Christian liberty; not wearing makeup is also a Christian liberty. As Christians we need to focus on the inner beauty of the heart.
What about Queen Esther of the Bible? From the passage above we are told that Esther was very beautiful; we are also told something else. She obtained the favor of the custodian of the women. Esther spent 12 months going through beauty treatments. we can see that now, “Mom I need to take a year off school so I can go through beauty treatments!” You probably wouldn’t get a very positive reaction, would you? When it was time to appear before the king, Esther requested nothing except what the custodian of women recommended. I would say she was very humble, wouldn’t you? We’d probably have a whole list of things we’d want to take with us to give us leverage with the king.
How did the king react? The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and chose her to be his Queen. He was so delighted in her that he ordered a great feast for her: the Feast of Queen Esther!
Queen Esther
Inner Beauty of the Heart
Does the story of Queen Esther of the Bible end here? Actually it has only just begun. Please take the time to read the entire book of Esther. It is in the rest of the book that we learn of the real inner heart of Esther. Esther was willing to risk her own life to save the life of her people the Jews; which meant she also had to tell the truth about her own Jewish heritage. The Jews were not very popular among many of the Persians. She was also very submissive to those in authority over her, both the custodian of women and her own cousin, Mordecai. She was crowned Queen because of her humbleness and Her submissive attitude.
Remembering what had happened to Queen Vashti, who was dethroned by the king, Queen Esther was very brave to go before the king without a summons. Often a person who approached the king unannounced or not summoned was executed. We see, however, that Esther’s heart for God and submissive heart toward those around her gained the love of the king for as long as Esther lived.
Queen Esther A Lesson for Us
Ever think you might be a queen someday – or president? Pray to God that He would give you a heart that is faithful to Him. Read and study the Bible and spend time each day in prayer. Christ is All; no matter what you face in life. Pray to God for an inner beauty that shines forth in everything you do and say. Like Queen Esther, spend your time in beauty treatments of the heart.
Queen Esther - A woman of Godly Character
OBEDIENCE!
HUMILITY!
RESPECTED AUTHORITY!
LOVED GOD & HER PEOPLE!
GENTLE!
BEAUTIFUL!
BOLD!
LISTENS & ACTS on GOD's WILL!
FASTED & PRAYED!
DEVOTED!
Esther is a woman of so many beautiful character which you can also adopt in your own personal life. God used Esther to protect His people from their enemies. Pray and find out how God can use you for his Glory.
Be a woman of Good character!!
Be a woman of Good character!!
*BE A QUEEN DAUGHTER OF GOD
& Please HIM in ALL Your ways. *
Sources - http://www.essortment.com/queen-esther-bible-43973.html AND
http://www.devotional-reflections-from-the-bible.com/qqueenestherofthebible.html
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