Highly Favoured
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
It has been four year since Vashti was removed.
Josephus says that when his anger was over he was exceedingly grieved that the matter was carried so far, and would have been reconciled to Vashti but that, by the constitution of the government, the judgment was irrevocable—that therefore, to make him forget her, they contrived how to entertain him first with a great variety of concubines, and then to fix him to the most agreeable of them all for a wife instead of Vashti.
According to Persian law Ahasuerus could chose from just six or seven noble families, but like most who reach positions of prominence the law doesn’t apply to him.
This was a crazy time and fearful thing for a family to have a child chosen by the palace. They didn’t dare refuse the honor of having their daughter chosen, but they also knew they would never see her again.
Imagine being chosen and arriving at the harem to be placed at the mercy of Hege the kings chamberlain or chief eunuch. Usually an ugly repulsive individual upon whom you were dependent and whose favor you had to win.
A full year out of the field and sun lightening your skin with perfume and oil. As fair skin was perceived as beauty.
Does He Love Still Love You?
Does He Love Still Love You?
Does God still love us even when we have been less than faithful?
Ahasuerus had tried to conquer Greece and failed miserably, some say he wanted to conquer all of Europe.
Western civilization would be very different if Ahasuerus had succeeded.
A single woman who was tired of looking for Mr. Right. She had tried for so long to find a nice guy who would shower her with attention and act like a gentleman, but nothing had worked. She finally placed an ad in the classifieds that simply read, “Husband wanted.”
The next day she got a dozen calls from women, all saying the same thing: “You can have mine!”
Funny things kid say about love.
When asked how love happens, a third-grader named Hannah said, “No one’s sure how it happens, but I think it has something to do with how you smell.”
When asked what it means to fall in love, nine-year-old Nate said, “Falling in love is like an avalanche—and you better run for your life!”
Asked how to make a marriage work, Ian said, “You need to tell your wife she looks pretty even when she looks like a truck.”
Another boy added, “You gotta find somebody who likes the same stuff. If you like sports, she should like ’em, too; and she should keep the chips and dip coming.”
How do you decide which person you should actually marry? According to one little girl, “Well … you see … no person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it way before and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.”
It is interesting that some things are universally seen as romantic… flowers, candy, chivalry, perfume, etc...
Every element of a fairytale is present in the history of Esther. A beautiful maiden, a lonely king, a kingdom wide pageant, and a beautiful castle.
But the reality is this is really a love story about God and his chosen, but prodigal people.
Is This Really Love?
Is This Really Love?
After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them: And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
Historically kings had many concubines or lesser wives and then they had their actual wives who would wear the crown at the whim of the king.
At the time Amenstris had given Ahasuerus a son, but had either died or fallen out of his good grace and Vashti had replaced her. But now Vashti has been removed and it seems the king regrets his choice.
It seems he was less than happy with his counselors for convincing him to banish Vashti and the last thing they wanted was her back in a position of power. That would not work out well for them.
This beauty contest was a shocking announcement to the Persian people who new that the king could only chose from 6-7 families for a queen.
The reason the counselors didn’t defend the law in this case is because they were very likely a part of the 6 or 7 families and it would have looked like they were positioning.
So this is a seems like a real Cinderella story, but behind the scene God is working through all of this political positioning to accomplish what was his will all along.
And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them: And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
This was the chance of a lifetime, literally any one could become queen. This was the talk of the nation and the chance of a lifetime. No doubt there were thousands in line on audition day waiting for there Happily Ever After.
But don’t get so caught up in the pageantry that you don’t see the reality, this is nothing more than immoral men trying justify their wicked decisions and satisfy their physical desires. This is anything, but love.
Most of these women would never make it past their one night stand. As one commentator described it to be in the kings harem was “luxurious desolation.”
“Luxurious desolation” is the reality of those who choose a life of sin.
We see how ludicrous and destitute of morality and logic man become when divine revelation/The Bible is not exalted. Man is willing to break even his own laws in pursuit of his wicked desires.
Can You Love God Secretly?
Can You Love God Secretly?
Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
Modecai was part of King Saul’s family even though it appears he had chosen or at least his parents had chosen a rather Persian way of life… his name was a transliteration of a Babylonian god Marduk.
But it appears he one of those who were sent “for their good.”
Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.
Lightfoot says this is the same Modecai from Ezra… that he went to Jerusalem with the first helped begin the settlement of the Jews , but when the building of the Temple stopped he went back to the Persian court to try to help his people there.
Hundred of years prior to this Mordecai’s forefather Shimei had thrown dirt and rocks King David because he blamed King David for the death of Saul. It was his opinion that Absolom was God’s judgment on David for killing Saul.
It appears that he was so Persianized that very few knew about his Jewish ancestry.
How does his keeping his heritage make you feel?
The truth is we all walk through many different kingdoms(work, school, gym, neighborhood, etc…) everyday, but who in those kingdoms really know we are disciples of Christ.
Many say, “I’m not very good at talking about Christ, so I just live it.”
There is an ancient Hebrew word for that it is pronounced “cop out”
I am all for living right, but if people don’t know why you are living right then what good (beyond the simple act) does it do?
No one ever gets saved because you simply live right… Why? Because they are crediting you for your ability to living right. We have to open our mouths and tell them why we are living right. We are living right because we have a Father in heaven who we are trying to glorify.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
You can be an undercover Christian, but you can’t be an undercover witness.
Does Love Require You To Compete?
Does Love Require You To Compete?
And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
Esther/Isthtar finally arrives on scene with elegance and grace.
Esther is a perfect example of the fact that even when we are forsaken the Lord takes up for us.
When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take me up.
Esther is, also, a great example of the fact that God raise the poor and places them among princes.
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, And lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, To set them among princes, And to make them inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And he hath set the world upon them.
Maybe Mordecai saw a chance to climb the political ladder maybe not, but when the contest is announced he takes her to the palace.
So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
It certainly seems Esther didn’t stand a chance.
She was an orphan
There was no benefit to marrying her.
She was up against the best of the best
There were more than 1000 girls competing Esther was not the only beauty
She was a Jew
She was from a defeated nation whatever slim chance she had would be ended if that was known.
Her wisdom and virtue were her greatest attributes, but it didn’t hurt that she was beautiful.
Even a diamond has to be placed in the right setting.
Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
All truths are not to be spoken at all times, though an untruth is not to be spoken at any time.-Matthew Henry
Mordecai recommends Esther enter the contest, but, also, that she not tell anyone she is a Jew. This means she probably ate unclean foods and broke other levitical laws. This does not mean the ends justifies the means, but it leads us to believe that Mordecai attitude was that you have to fend for yourself, just in case God isn’t watching out.
But God was watching out
First, God gives her favor with the chief eunuch.
And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
Then, He gives her favor with everyone who sees her.
Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
This is kind of a big deal if you have ever been around 2 women who are competing for the same man’s affection… so multiply that envy/jealousy by 1000 or more literally. Yet Esther finds favor that isGod at work.
Once again God may be invisible, but He is still invincible
Esther is treated with favor, but Mordecai is out pacing the halls. Seems to show a lack of faith and an abundance of anxiety.
And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
Possibly wondering what he has done, how could he have suggested this etc....
What he doesn’t know is God is at work and all is going according to plan.
Mordecai only thought he was taking care of Esther her whole life, but God had truly been watching over her.
Esther was not the queen yet, but she certainly was being treated like one.
Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
12 months of getting ready, for this one date with king. Kind of puts waiting for your wife to get ready in perspective doesn’t it.
The oil of myrrh was used to soften and lighten the skin. Since most of the women had worked outdoors, their skin was darkened by the sun and calloused from their labors.
Historians tell us that the kings harem swam in perfumed water. The Persians believed that beauty had bearing on spirituality. The priests in Persia were the ones who developed and protected the cometic formulas and practices. They saw the physical as a gateway to the spiritual. They actually believed that smell was connected with divine acceptance. Make-up and bracelets were a way of warding off evil spirits. Now it makes our women look like evil spirits.
At the same time that they are going through this beauty regiment they are being acquainted with the Royal customs and etiquette.
This was a crash course in how to look act and sound like a queen.
At this point in the story she seems to be an individual who is safely hiding her godly character.
Esther was competing for an earthly position, but God’s love can’t be won by competition it can only be accepted by faith.
How High Can God Lift You?
How High Can God Lift You?
We try to pretty this up as much as possible, but this is a messy story. Esther along with thousands of other young women (many probably openly Jewish), are going to lose their virginity to a pagan Gentile who fancies himself a god, and only one of them will wear the crown when the dust settles.
Jewish Rabbi’s tried to church it up by adding a prayer from Esther to God, “You know everything; and you know I hate the pomp of the wicked, and the bed of the uncircumcised and any foreigner.”
This is nothing more than trying to help God not besmirch the character of Esther.
Some have tried to use the word “taken” to say that it was against her will, but Modecai also, took her as his daughter.
Esther walked in-in her best outfit, drenched in perfume and ready to meet the King and she followed every secret she had been given by the chief eunuch who wanted to see her win the crown.
So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
And she won. Esther was now Queen. Was it worth it? Was it worth her purity, her morality?
Each of us could answer that question.
Was it worth it to lose your virginity because your boyfriend or girlfriend said “I love you?”
Was it worth it to get that promotion by keeping your Christianity hidden?
How many of us are living like Persians because we don’t want to stand out?
Esther gained a title and little else.
And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Lest we think this a love story the truth is Esther didn’t satisfy his voracious immorality.
And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.
Esther would be named Queen, but make no mistake it cost her everything to become queen. Including her deepest secret that she was one of God’s chosen people. A secret she would carry for 5 years.
Don’t get me wrong it was better than the fate of other women in this contest, but let’s not turn this into a love story.
Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house. In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
The king is in the business of adding names not remembering them.
God knows that so He puts Esther in a position where she won’t be forgotten.
What does this tell us? It tells us God works on the behalf of the faithful and often uses the unfaithful to accomplish His will.
God’s grace is sufficient no matter your position or circumstance.
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
This is not a license to sin, but rather a refuge from sin.
Even when we are disobedient and unfaithful, God plan still advances.
Esther was more than beautiful… she was, also, favored by God.
Esther wasn’t just covered in Persian perfume she also reeked of the grace of God.
Even though Esther broke the law to enter this contest, and even though she kept her faith hidden, God’s grace still shone on her and caused the Ahasuerus to pick her.
God put Esther on the throne not Mordecai or Ahasuerus. God didn’t put her there because she was more beautiful or more worthy… no God put her there because he had a plan to deliver His people.
Without God Esther wouldn’t have had beauty, or been a Jew or even been in Persia. This was God at work the whole time and why?
Because he had made a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a long time ago that they would eternally be His people… even in captivity.
So some little piddly king of this world isn’t going to stand in the way of His plan.
He has made those of us who believe some promises, too. And no government regional or worldwide can stand in His way. Whatever happens it will fit perfectly into His plan.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What does all this teach us?
If you want to live a satisfied life... Trust God (even when your scared to death)
If you want to see God at work… Join Him become a co-laborer with Him in His search of more disciples
If you want to make a difference in your little world… Stop focusing on the person in the mirror and start letting others know you belong to God.
Lastly… You don’t test providence, You trust it.