PLEASING TO THE KING
Today’s Verse: “‘And let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.’ This pleased the king, and he did so.” Esther 2:4, ESV
Theme: Pleasing the true King (God) rarely means pleasing the worldly king like it did for Esther; often pleasing the King does mean swallowing pride.
DESTINY OR PRIDE?
Queen Vashti was beautiful. At the end of a seven-day feast, her husband, the king, “was merry with wine.” This can only mean he was under the influence! In any case, he ordered the queen to appear before all his guests to show off her beauty. When she refused to submit and surrender, she lost her royal title and access to the king forever. To our modern sensibilities, it would seem she was totally within her rights to refuse to be paraded in front of a banquet hall full of drunken guests. In any event, her refusal opened the door for Esther, and God's plan to save His people.
DESTINY AND SUBMISSION
Esther was not only an ordinary Jewish girl, but she was also an orphan. The story of Esther takes place about 70 years after God had allowed the Jews to be driven out of Israel, their home, and exiled to Persia. Mordecai, a Godly man, had adopted Esther as a child and raised her as his own daughter.
Because of her beauty, Esther was taken by force and placed in the king's harem where he was cultivating young women from which to choose a new queen. This was a harsh reality, but Esther surrendered to her circumstances, bearing the year of “beauty treatments” and training with grace. She gained the favor of the chief eunuchs and ultimately with the king, so that she was the most loved and became the new queen.
Make It Personal: Although her life was far from ideal, Esther had the courage to surrender herself to God's plan. Her character was shaped through adversity and demonstrated in her continued obedience to her uncle, her submission to her captors and the eunuchs in charge of the haram. Because of her willing submission to Him, God was able to grant her power to deliver her people.
Pray: Lord, thank You for providing for me, even when I’m in a sticky situation. Help me to navigate the problems and obstacles in my life in a way that pleases You. I don’t want my pride to get in the way of Your plan, but sometimes I don’t know how to behave. Help me to see what You want and to submit to that plan as Esther did. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Read: Esther, Chapters 2 and 4
Memory Verse of the Week: “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." Luke 22:42 (NIV)