Esther 2
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Esther 2:17-18, Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
Now, the search is on for a new queen. It’s quite the process as well. Beautiful virgins from far and wide are brought into the palace for all kinds of exceptional beauty treatments. Esther is one of those women.
Esther was a Jew. She didn’t reveal her identity to anyone but she was part of the Jewish diaspora, the Jews who were spread outside of Jerusalem, trying to live faithfully in pagan lands. She had been raised by her cousin, Mordecai, who we also meet in this chapter. He loves Esther like his own daughter and is filled with much advice for her.
Esther is exceptionally beautiful and she catches the eye of the king more than any other woman. We also know that God is ensuring that she is chosen to be queen because there is something important that Esther will need to do for her people. While God is not explicitly mentioned in the book of Esther, it is certainly a book that demonstrates the sovereignty of God.
What does it mean that God is sovereign? It means that God is all-powerful and authoritative. He is ruler of the universe and is in all and over all. No matter the situation, God is present and God is at work. But unlike Xerxes, who uses his power selfishly, God uses his power in a moral, righteous way. He seeks what is best for his creation.
While we don’t have time to talk about it today, please read through all of chapter two. There is an interesting subplot at the end of the text, in which Mordecai saves the king’s life. This is a small but important piece to remember and tuck away for later in the book.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for always being present in our lives. Even when things seen dark and desperate, we trust that you are there, always at work, guiding us, leading us, and working through us. May we bring you glory. Amen.