Esther Chapter 2: 1-12
We are starting Esther chapter 2 today, so without further adieu, lets open our Bibles and look at verse 1:
“After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, what she had done and what was decreed against her.”
Chapter 2 opens with the king remembering Vashti.
There is an interesting tidbit here. There is actually a four-year span between chapter 1 and chapter 2. During this time, the king invaded Greece and was defeated. He returned home with his tail between his legs from this humiliating event! Apparently, Persia greatly outnumbered Greece, but the Greeks soundly defeated them. That was when he really begins to miss his queen. Isn’t that the way it often goes? We can run from our bad mistakes and choices and regrets for a certain amount of time. Even years! Eventually, they catch up with us. Sometimes it takes a while to realize we left the ones we love behind as we set out to please ourselves.
Vashti must’ve been truly special to the king. He certainly had his share of concubines, but he misses Vashti.
The servants saw him sorrowing over his lost love and they began to chew their nails. The law of the Medes and Persians “could not be revoked,” and they likely feared that King Ahasuerus remembers who had the idea to toss the queen out!
The Chamberlains quickly come up with a plan!
“Then said the kings’ servants that ministered unto him, ‘Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king, and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of women, unto the custody of Hegai the kings’ 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.” Esther 2:2-4
Gather all the beautiful virgins! The Jewish Historian Josephus records that there may have been 400 of them! The king took a liking to this idea! (Obviously!)
Some of the women felt honored. Some may have been sad to be torn from their homes and families. Picture this. You have a lovely young daughter and the king just gets to take her! She will become his possession and you may never see her face again. No zoom calls or telephones to stay in touch! Sure, she will live in luxury in a castle on the hill, so that’s good, but throughout Sushan, hearts ached for their loved ones!
Now, I have to say, this was a crazy, worldly, Hugh Hefner-esque thing to do! Despite that, I want to look at this story in a symbolic way:
Does not our King gather his beautiful ones and set us apart from the world around us? Esther 2:3 also tells us that a Chamberlain was put in charge of them, reminiscent of the Holy Spirit, is it not? Then, they were to undergo a “purification” process for 12 months involving oils and perfumes. Again, is not this how God deals with his own children? He sets us apart, under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit, and purifies our mind, soul, and Spirit. All is done to prepare us to meet our King.
This purification involves healing oils, such as Myrrh, just as Jesus heals our wounded hearts. It involves aromatherapy, just as Jesus causes our prayers to rise like incense. It involved lotions to soften the skin, just as Jesus softens the hard walls we build up as protection from a hard life.
Not all would be chosen.
In Esther’s case, only one could be the leading lady! The rest joined the chorus and the stagehands. Otherwise known as the house of concubines.
In God’s case, He calls us to Himself and gives us all, everyone, a lead role! That’s pretty exciting! There are no tears when we read the call-back list God puts out! The problem is, many never respond to the call. Many see their name under the cast list, realize they have a role to play, and flee!
It may be exciting to be chosen for a play, but once you dive into the next round of try-outs, it often becomes clear this role requires sacrifice. It will be long hours memorizing lines, sitting through rehearsals, working late at night and missing family time. It means hours spent with fellow actors and actresses. It means worrying about how well the play will go, paying for, and being fitted for, a costume.
That is a sacrifice many decide they do not want to make.
There’s a parable in the Bible where a man calls a wedding feast and all his friends and relatives make excuses to stay home. The man is angry, and bids his servants to go out into the highways and byways and bring in everyone, great or small, rich or poor, to come to the wedding. Jesus finishes his story with the moral of the story: ”Many are called but few are chosen” Matthew 22:14
God has roles to fill and He is calling for you! It may be the reason you feel “set aside” or alone is that you are undergoing the purification that will prepare you for a future role!
You might think you were only given a bit part in God’s kingdom, but that seemingly bit part is crucial! Play it well and you will “steal the show” so to speak. Or at least, God’s heart!
One of the bit roles few desire is that of the intercessor. There are long, lonely nights praying like Jesus on a hillside. There are times everyone is happily munching on Pizza when the intercessor is fasting. There are prayer meetings attended by a meager few among the many who gladly attend a Christian concert.
And yet, Prayer is a leading role!!
God’s eyes roam to and fro throughout the earth searching for that one who He may show Himself strong for! He is looking for the one in the middle of the night, hands clasped, begging for the nation to return to God. He sets a mark on those who sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done in the earth!
The intercessors are stars in God’s Kingdom!! On earth, the praying ones may look and feel like stagehands, but God sees Oscar winners!!
To be chosen for a lead role in God’s kingdom, all you have to do is show up! He takes over from there. We simply go when God calls for us. He sees deep beauty in surrender. That is all He needs to mold you into the star he created you to be.
That’s good news for those who once worked so hard to get a part in an earthly play and never made the cast list.
I remember striving so hard to “be” somebody when I was younger. I tried to make money. That landed me n debt. I tried to be “special” or famous in the world. Instead, people laughed when I sang. I wanted to go to college, get a social worker degree, and help to hurt people, but my own boyfriend said I was too selfish! I always failed and discovered how small and unimportant I was.
God had been calling for a very long time, but I didn’t think I could live the Christian life! I always sinned. I had no willpower! I was finally desperate enough to answer the call. To my surprise, I soon learned it was not about my effort.! It was God’s will and God’s power.
Suddenly, I was becoming the person I always wanted to be: kind, caring, giving… and I could even sing without people laughing at my monotone voice.
Abide first. First and foremost.
Go and be with your tutor, the Holy Spirit. Do not resist his gentle voice. Give him your time, your attention, and your life. It may feel lonely at first, but soon you will experience His power transforming you into His Will, by His Power!
