You are His Esther.

Two of my most favorite books of the Bible are Ruth and Esther. So today I wanted to talk (or well…write) about Esther, because let me tell ya, that book is just fire.

A little background of this story:

King Xerxes had a beautiful wife and her name was Queen Vashti. One day, King Xerxes summoned his wife and she refused to come to meet him and it made him really angry because it was a serious form of disrespect. So after meeting with some wise council, he declared an order that Queen Vashti must not ever be in his presence again, therefore also sending the message to all the women in the kingdom that they should respect their husbands.

So there was a man in the kingdom who was named Mordecai and he had taken in his cousin, with the Jewish name Hadassah (but her Persian name was Esther), and raised her like his own daughter. She was absolutely beautiful. So when the King sent a decree asking for young virgins, Esther was brought to the palace. When she was placed in the harem, Hegai (the man over the harem) was pleased with her and he immediately began to help her learn about the king and how to please him.

She began soaking herself in myrrh in order to get rid of the sent of her old life and her past. She continued this process for 6 months and then for another 6 months she soaked in frankincense because the smell pleased the King. She underwent cosmetic treatments and ate special foods to prepare herself for meeting King Xerxes.

Now, to us, or at least to me, this seemed like a little much at first. But when someone began explaining this passage to me and the significance it carried, I began to understand why she went through these things.

She washed away her past to prepare for her royal future that she was pursuing in faith. That’s exactly what happens when we are washed in the blood of the Lamb! Our old selves are gone and up rises the new creation that we are declaring as devoted to OUR KING.

See another cool thing about this story is that Esther has the inside scoop on things. Hegai helps her to know what King Xerxes is looking for, what he likes, what he wants. Is that not the same as what Jesus has done for us? His teachings tell us not only of God’s huge immense love for us but also how we can show Him love back. He gave us the inside view, just like Esther got the inside view.

But now listen to this next part too.  So so so stinking cool.

When Esther had been prepared to meet the King, she adorned herself with beautiful robes and gold jewelry because that was what he liked. She smelled like frankincense because that’s what he liked. She took what she knew the King would be please with, and she meditated on it. She lived it. She transformed into it. And can you imagine when she walked through that door?

The King knew. He had to. He just had to. Everything about her. Every little thing. He knew that she was special and she was now his. And you know what it says?

“Now the King was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he sat a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Verse 17)

Such a beautiful picture is painted in this book. A common girl given an opportunity for something amazing, given an opportunity to become royalty.

Isn’t that us, sisters? We have been given this chance too! We have the insider who helps us know what is pleasing to God. We have His words to meditate on. We have the blood of Jesus to wash away our dirtiness and our impurities, to make us pure.

God loves YOU. He is your King, and you are His Esther! He knew when He saw you (before He ever even formed you in your Momma’s belly!) that you would be His love.

This is only the beginning of the story. Truly sisters, if you haven’t read this book, please please please read it! It’s so beautiful.

Daddy God,

Today I just want to thank You for giving us the chance to be Yours. Thank you for Your everlasting love. Thank you for the example set for us and for lessons you give us. I just want to ask that You help us because sometimes we may struggle with letting go all the things of our past or we may struggle with meditating and focusing wholly on You. I ask that You give us the grace and strength to just pursue You with everything we have Daddy God. Thank You for everything You’ve done, that You’re doing, and that You will do. 

Love,  LB