Bible Study - Stand Up (1) - Be Ready to Stand - Esther 2:5-10, 15-17 - April 22, 2018

Bible Study – Stand Up (1) – Be Ready to Stand – April 22, 2018

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled “Stand Up: How to Fight Injustice.”

Our focus scripture is Esther 2:5-10, 15-17.

GOD is always at work behind the scenes.

For the next six-weeks we will study one of my favorite books of the Bible. It is the only book where GOD is not mentioned by name but certainly HE is manifested throughout the book. GOD is the invisible presence. The book is named for the heroine of the book, Esther.

Esther, born a Jew, became the Queen of Persia and her position enabled her to save her people from destruction. GOD always has HIS plan to save a remnant of HIS chosen people to ensure that the “Branch of Righteousness”, JESUS, The promised Messiah, which we studied in last week’s lesson, is maintained and fulfilled.  

GOD places us at the right time in the right place to achieve HIS purpose. Each Christian is vital in accomplishing GOD’S plan and purpose. We may never know that we have achieved that purpose because GOD works in mysterious ways. It may be a pat on the back or a cup of cold water at just the right time that a person may need to carry on. Life is exciting when we are willing to live it for our JESUS!

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Esther 2:1-7:

1 Sometime later, when King Ahasuerus' rage had cooled down, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what was decided against her. 

King Ahasuerus, also known as King Xerxes, ruled the Persian Empire from 486 to 465 B.C. He ruled over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. In the third year of his rule he had a banquet at his winter place located in Susa, aka Shushan. He invited the leaders of these provinces to visit him. Over a 180 day period he showed his guests his vast wealth. Then he had a banquet that lasted 7 days. On the seventh day of the banquet the king was tipsy and asked that Queen Vashti be brought before him wearing only her royal crown. She was to be naked except for her royal crown. The king wanted all to see her beauty. She refused and the king went into a rage. This led to the removal of Vashti as queen and for the king’s personal attendants to find a replacement for Queen Vashti. ---- The king’s leaders and male subjects were concerned that the queen’s refusal would empower the ladies in the provinces to also refuse their husbands. Let’s read Esther 1:15-22:

15 [The king asked,] "According to the law, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey King Ahasuerus' command that was delivered by the eunuchs?" 

16 Memucan said in the presence of the king and his officials, "Queen Vashti has defied not only the king, but all the officials and the peoples who are in every one of King Ahasuerus' provinces. 

17 For the queen's action will become public knowledge to all the women and cause them to despise their husbands and say, 'King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti brought before him, but she did not come.' 

18 [Before] this day [is over], the noble women of Persia and Media who hear about the queen's act will say [the same thing] to all the king's officials, resulting in more contempt and fury. 

19 "If it meets the king's approval, he should personally issue a royal decree. Let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media, so that it cannot be revoked: Vashti is not to enter King Ahasuerus' presence, and her royal position is to be given to another woman who is more worthy than she. 

20 The decree the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom, so all women will honor their husbands, from the least to the greatest." 

21 The king and his counselors approved the proposal, and he followed Memucan's advice. 

22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language, that every man should be master of his own house and speak in the language of his own people.

GOD orchestrates and makes history according to HIS plan and purpose, yet within the freewill of people. GOD knows each of us and our decision making process.

When we obediently serve HIM, HIS will and purpose is accomplished through us. When we see GOD at work that is our invitation to discern and join HIM in HIS work.

The key is that we recognize and acknowledge GOD at work as we journey through life. It is not responding to what we like to do, although that is a temptation, but it could be what we like to do. When our Spiritual eyes are opened and we see GOD at work that is our invitation to join HIM in that work.  

2 The king's personal attendants suggested, "Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. 

3 Let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom, so that they may assemble all the beautiful young virgins to the harem at the fortress of Susa. [Put them] under the care of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women, and give them the required beauty treatments. 

4 Then the young woman who pleases the king will reign in place of Vashti." This suggestion pleased the king, and he did accordingly. 

5 A Jewish man was in the fortress of Susa named Mordecai son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite. [Mordecai means “little man.” Mordecai is a Jew. Son of, can be thought of as descendant of --]

6 He had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the other captives when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jeconiah (AKA Jehoiachin and Coniah) of Judah into exile. 

7 Mordecai was the legal guardian of his cousin Hadassah (that is, Esther), because she didn't have a father or mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was extremely good-looking. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter. [Hadassah means “myrtle” or could be “bride” and Esther means “star.” Some think “star” related to or was derived from Ishtar a Babylonian deity – a goddess of fertility. ]

Those searching for a replacement for Queen Vashti found Esther. Esther was a Jew and an orphan but her cousin, Mordecai, adopted her as his daughter. She was a beautiful young virgin with a great personality and intelligence.

Now, let’s see the hand of GOD at work in the life of Esther, Mordecai and the Israelites.

Let’s read Esther 2:8-10:

8 When the king's command and edict became public knowledge, many young women gathered at the fortress of Susa under Hegai's care. Esther was also taken to the palace and placed under the care of Hegai, who was in charge of the women. 

This was a huge beauty contest. Some translations use the word “taken” to the palace by force or simply taken to become considered for becoming the new queen. The latter seems to be implied. As we read on, we see that Esther not only was great to look at but she was intelligent.

9 The young woman pleased him (Hegai) and gained his favor so that he accelerated the process of the beauty treatments and the special diet that she received. He assigned seven hand-picked female servants to her from the palace and transferred her and her servants to the harem's best quarters. 

10 Esther did not reveal her ethnic background or her birthplace, because Mordecai had ordered her not to. 

11 Every day Mordecai took a walk in front of the harem's courtyard to learn how Esther was doing and to see what was happening to her. 

12 During the year before each young woman's turn to go to King Ahasuerus, the harem regulation required her to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months and then with perfumes and cosmetics for [another] six months. 

13 When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take with her from the harem to the palace. 

14 She would go in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second harem under the supervision of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch in charge of the concubines. She never went to the king again, unless he desired her and summoned her by name.

The selection process is revealed. How many young ladies were selected? According to the Jewish historian, Josephus 400 young ladies were considered.

It is clear that Esther received special treatment for her debut before the king. The young virgins could select the clothes and jewels they would wear for their audience with the king and they could keep them. Once the young virgins appeared before the king the next morning they were sent to a separate location which housed concubines.

Let’s read Esther 2:15-17:

Esther Becomes Queen

15 Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai who had adopted [her] as his own daughter. When her turn came to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king's trusted official in charge of the harem, suggested. Esther won approval in the sight of everyone who saw her. [Esther’s father was Abihail which means “my father is powerful.”]

Esther trusted Hegai’s counsel. Esther received the approval of everyone who saw her. She was ready for the king to see her. This process took some time to complete as revealed in our next scripture.

16 Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus in the royal palace in the tenth month, the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 

This time period reflects our months of December and January. King Ahasuerus’ reign was from 486 to 465 B.C. So in the third year of his reign he held a banquet where Queen Vashti was dethroned. This would be 483 B.C. SO the king’s seventh year of rule would be 479 B.C. While the king was waiting for a new queen, he was busy fighting against Greece.

17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women. She won more favor and approval from him than did any of the other virgins. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.

GOD’S plan for Esther was at work. The king crowned Esther as his queen. She found favor and met the approval of the king over all the other women. So a Jewish virgin and a pagan king would be instrumental in GOD’S plan and purpose.  It is interesting that the name of the former queen is not mentioned again in the Book of Esther. There was great celebration.

18 The king held a great banquet for all his officials and staff. It was Esther's banquet. He freed his provinces from tax payments and gave gifts worthy of the king's bounty. 

19 When the young women were assembled together for a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the King's Gate. 

20 Esther still had not revealed her birthplace or her ethnic background, as Mordecai had directed. She obeyed Mordecai's orders, as she always had while he raised her.

GOD orchestrates those to accomplish HIS will and purpose. Can you look back over your life and see HIS hand at work? You are precious to HIM and he has a plan for you but you have to be willing to be obedient to HIS call. HIS call to Esther was to be queen and her role will be made evident as we continue our study. Step one is to be born into GOD’S family through faith in JESUS. Step two is to be willing to obediently serve GOD as HE reveals your path forward. “Here I am LORD JESUS, take my life as it is and use me according to your will and purpose. Help me to be the man or woman YOU want me to be.” This may mean that you will continue doing what you are doing but with a Spiritual eye open to the opportunities around you or it could mean a lifestyle change. The key is to let the Holy Spirit lead you according to the will and purpose of GOD.

Blessings!!!