Esther
Most everyone is familiar with the account of a young, orphaned, Jewish girl who became a Queen. She went from obscurity to notoriety. What are we to learn from that? Were the events of her life just an interesting drama or, is there more to the story? The purpose of this article is to suggest that there's more to the story, a lot more.
The Book of Esther begins with a seven-day banquet sponsored by King Ahasuerus. On the last day of the banquet the King commanded Queen Vashti to come. His heart was merry and he wanted to show off his beautiful Queen to his guests. The Queen refused to come. (Esther 1:12)
What might this mean to us? For a moment, let's note another time when someone's presence was requested. Jesus offered a parable about a king who sent invitations to a wedding for his son and the guests refused to come. The king in the parable then invited other guests. As in the case with Queen Vashti, since she refused to come, she was then replaced. Many women were then “called” and Esther was then “chosen”.
Esther was a young Jewish woman who became a participant in a beauty pageant of sorts. She went through a preparation process that took a year. (Esther 2:12) Then, she separated herself from all the other contestants by accepting the advice of Hegai, the king's chamberlain who was assigned to supervise her. Most likely, human nature came into play in a big way with the other contestants and produced woman who relied on outward adorning, rather than, their character. The Apostle Paul admonished women in his day to not be concerned with the outward appearance but to put on “good works”. (I Tim 2:9-10) True Christians, spiritual Jews, are advised to put on the Armor of God. ( Eph 6:10-18 ) If they rely on their own clothing they will not be dressed properly. Proper spiritual dress separates a true Christian from all others. In the case of Esther, proper attire set her apart from all of the other contestants and she was chosen.
Esther was also advised by her uncle Mordecai to not reveal that she was a Jew. (Esther 2:10) Maybe that can be a message to us to not be puffed up or to be bragging about whom we think we are? Don't be bragging about being “rich and increased with goods”? Don't exalt self.
While Esther was going through the preparation process she was given seven maids and the best place to live. (Esther 2:9) Are there not seven eras of the Church that help the Bride prepare herself before Christ's Second Coming? And, are not the majority of the seven Churches located in the best places on earth to develop character and perform good works? Yes, we are surrounded by a hostile world but we have the freedom to grow where we are planted.
When Esther became queen, the king gave gifts to the people. (Esther 2:18) In similar manner, when the Marriage of the Lamb occurs, the blessings start at the top and flow down to everyone. “Rivers of Living Water” flow around the world to heal the nations. (Rev 22) Esther became a blessing to others when she became queen and so will the church become a blessing to others as the Bride of Christ.
The Book of Esther is also filled with intrigue, suspense, acts of loyalty and even bizarre humor. Intrigue with a plot to harm King Ahasuerus and loyalty with Esther informing her husband. Suspense with a decree to kill all the Jews. Bizarre humor when Mordecai is publicly rewarded by wicked Haman who was building gallows on which to hang Mordicai. (Esther 5:14 & 6:1-11)
The plot to wipe out the physical Jews at that time seems to parallel future events to wipe out the spiritual Jews. On the 13th day of the First Month (the day before Passover) a decree was signed that required all Jews in the empire to die on the 13th day of the Twelfth Month. (Esther 3:12-15) Esther and her maids (could her seven maids represent the Seven Churches?) and other Jews, fasted and prayed for three days-night and day.
Could there be a future “decree” that has a “delivery date”? Could there be a future time where the Church fasts and prays for three days to God for a way of escape before a future decree is implemented?
Consider Zep 2:1-3 “Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O nation not desired, before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you. Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be you shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.”
Haman had said to King Ahasuerus, “There exists a people, dispersed and scattered among the nations, in all the provinces of your kingdom. And yet their values are entirely different from everyone else's.” (Esther 3:8) Dispersed, scattered and values that are totally different from the people around them--sounds like a modern description of groups of Christians, doesn't it?
Jesus said: "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18-19)
The Bible refers to Haman as the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite. (Esther 3:1) Most commentaries suggest that an Agagite was a descendant of Amalekite King Agag who King Saul, was to kill in battle but didn't. The Amalekites are also Edomites who are ancient enemies of Israel. Haman's desire to exterminate the Jews seems to be related to his heritage of hate. The refusal of Mordecai to bow to Haman might have been rooted deeply in the fact that no self-respecting Benjamite would ever bow to a descendant of an Amalekite King.
The account continues with Queen Esther going to her husband, King Ahasuerus with a humble request to come to dinner. She also invited Haman, the Agagite, to the dinner, as well. Then, she postponed her request to the following day. Maybe that was a bit of wisdom on her part to not be in a hurry with a very important request. Let the suspense build in the minds of her guests. (Esther 5:1-8)
Esther's husband, the king, couldn't sleep that night so he had someone read the book of records to him. (Esther 6:1-3) The king learned from the record that Mordecai had not been rewarded for his efforts in saving his life. As the king is talking the matter over with his advisors, in comes Haman to make a request that Mordecai be hanged. The king then asked Haman for advice on how to honor someone. Haman assumed it was himself to be honored. His advice to the king revealed his true desires-to have the king's apparel, crown and glory. Haman then had to do what he imagined for himself, to Mordecai, a person he hated. After that Haman was exposed by Esther at the second dinner, cast out of the palace and hanged. Haman's ten sons were also hanged at the request of Esther. (Esther 9:13)
How similar to what is prophesied for Satan, the Beast, and to the Ten Kings who give their power to the Beast! We know there is coming a time when Satan is cast out of God's presence. Could those future events be similar to the events of an ancient enemy's demise? Could Satan have things in place to kill Christians, the spiritual Jews, and then with split-second timing from God, Satan's plan is turned around?
The physical Jews were given permission to defend themselves at the time of Esther and at the return of Christ to the Mount of Olives, Christ comes with ten thousands of His saints, the spiritual Jews, to help fight His enemies. Studying the Book of Esther along side end-time prophecies might be a good idea. How many more parallels can you find with your personal Bible study?
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