Esther Chosen to be Queen
May 30, 2019
Commentary
It took one whole year to prepare these women for their presentation to the king (v. 12). During this time beauty treatment was prescribed, with oil of myrrh and six other perfumes and cosmetics (v. 13). We are not told how her turn to come before the king was determined. When called she would spend the night with the King (vv. 14-15). Keep in mind that she is probably meeting a man that she has never seen before. It appears that she had no choice in the matter. In keeping with the royal edict, she was simply taken to the king’s palace (vv. 16-20). When Esther was finally brought before the king, he loved her above everyone else and he made her queen (v. 17). To celebrate her elevation to the throne, he proclaimed a feast (v. 18). You may be prone to believe that God works only in the “important events” of life. However, all events are important if you are living in the will of God. Do your duty today, and let God take care of the consequences.
Have you ever performed some service for which you expected a reward or at least a thank you, and you received nothing? In the last part of this passage it states that “Mordecai sat at the king’s gate” (vv. 19-23). People didn’t know of Mordecai’s relationship with Esther. Two persons are introduced, and their plan to kill the king is revealed to Mordecai (v. 21). He reveals this to the new Queen, Esther (v. 22). After an investigation is made, Mithan and Teresa are found guilty and hanged on a tree (v. 23). Mordecai acted on this knowledge as a loyal subject of the king. For five long years nothing was said about this good deed, but Mordecai left the reward with God.
Application
The most important choices I make in life is whether I obey God or do my own thing. When I have opportunity to do good deeds, I need to do them with no expectation of reward.
Esther 2:12– 23 (NET)
12 At the end of the twelve months that were required for the women, when the turn of each young woman arrived to go to King Ahasuerus—for in this way they had to fulfill their time of cosmetic treatment: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfume and various ointments used by women— 13 the woman would go to the king in the following way: Whatever she asked for would be provided for her to take with her from the harem to the royal palace. 14 In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to a separate part of the harem, to the authority of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was overseeing the concubines. She would not go back to the king unless the king was pleased with her and she was requested by name.
15 When it became the turn of Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (who had raised her as if she were his own daughter) to go to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who was overseer of the women, had recommended. Yet Esther met with the approval of all who saw her. 16 Then Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus at his royal residence in the tenth month (that is, the month of Tebeth) in the seventh year of his reign. 17 And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she met with his loving approval more than all the other young women. So he placed the royal high turban on her head and appointed her queen in place of Vashti. 18 Then the king prepared a large banquet for all his officials and his servants—it was actually Esther’s banquet. He also set aside a holiday for the provinces, and he provided for offerings at the king’s expense.
19 Now when the young women were being gathered again, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 Esther was still not divulging her lineage or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed her. Esther continued to do whatever Mordecai said, just as she had done when he was raising her.
21 In those days while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who protected the entrance, became angry and plotted to assassinate King Ahasuerus. 22 When Mordecai learned of the conspiracy, he informed Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in Mordecai’s name. 23 The king then had the matter investigated and, finding it to be so, had the two conspirators hanged on a gallows. It was then recorded in the daily chronicles in the king’s presence.
Illustration: Choices we Make in Life
British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith once spent a weekend at the Waddesdon estate of the 19th-century Rothschild family. One day, as Asquith was being waited on at teatime by the butler, the following conversation ensued: “Tea, coffee, or a peach from off the wall, sir?” “Tea, please,” answered Asquith. “China, India, or Ceylon, sir?” asked the butler. “China, please.” Lemon, milk, or cream, sir?” “Milk, please,” replied Asquith. “Jersey, Hereford, or Shorthorn, sir?” asked the butler. In the same way, we chose whether we want to accept God as the Creator, Jesus Christ as Savior and whether we want to allow him to be Lord of our life (Today in the Word, May 5, 1993).