Esther ("JEWESS
STAR")
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Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for
me,...and if i perish, i perish"
(Esthe.4:16).
The book of Esther is to show how the Jewish people were
protected and preserved by the gracious hand of God from the threat of
annihilation.Although God disciplines His covenant people.He never abandons
them.The God of Israel is sovereign controller of History, and providential
care can be seen throughout the book of Esther.
The Book of Esther is the last historical book of the Old Testament.
It has no connection with other Bible books, but it is a history complete in
itself. It is written for the Jew in dispersion. It is very noticeable that
God's name is omitted in the book, even when the shortest Psalm mentions the
name of God. But this book is the stoiy of God's providential care for His
people, how He watches over them and will not allow His people to perish, though
they are scattered throughout the earth. They are His peculiar treasure. "Behold
He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" (Ps. 121:4).
Esther was
derived from the persian word for "Star"( stara).Esther's Hebrew name was "Hadassah "(Myrtle) Means "Shiny Evergreen". The book of
Esther is the second book in the Bible named after a woman. Even today, Jews
read this book at the feast of Purim. When her parents died she was taken care
of by her cousin, Mordecai. He had a deep affection for her, as his daughter.
They lived in the Persian royal city where Mordecai was a palace official.
Esther obeyed her cousin and trusted him as her father. She lived in a time of
crisis for the Jewish people, but God used her to deliver them from their
crisis.
King Ahasuerus, ruled over a hundred and twenty seven
provinces stretching from India to Cush (Ethiopia) the year 404-358 B.C. Queen Vashti
was a noble woman. The king after feasting and drinking commanded seven eunuchs
to bring Queen Vashti before him to show her beauty to the princes. She had the
courage to refuse an unjust command of the king and he became very angry. He had
issued an order that her royal position be given to another.
Queen Vashti was removed from her throne for her
disobedience. After that a search was made throughout the empire for beautiful
young virgins for the king so that the virgin who pleases the king be made queen
instead of Vashti. Esther was lovely in form and features. She was also taken to
the king's palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. Esther
won his heart and favour. Esther did not reveal her identity and family,
A girl had to complete twelve months beauty treatments to be called by the King
Ahasuerus. When the turn came for Esther to be presented to the king, she did
what Hegai, the king's eunuch suggested. Esther won the favour of everyone who
saw her. She was called in the tenth month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of
his reign. The king was attracted to Esther more than any other women. So he set
a royal crown on her head and made her queen. The king gave a great banquet for
Esther. He proclaimed a holiday and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
"The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of the water. He
turneth it wither soever He will" (Prov. 21:1). The natural beauty is
favourable. A captive and an orphan was born to be a queen. God's ways are
mysterious. Esther, as a Jewess, a member of the hated captive people, would no
doubt, have been ineligible for the royal
honour.
Esther became the
queen of the palace. As before her cousin Mordecai, was sitting at the king's
gate. One day two of the king's guards became angry and conspired to assassinate
the king. Mordecai found out this plot and informed the queen, who in turn
reported to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. This report was found true and
two officials were hanged on the gallows. . God gave an opportunity to Mordecai
to do good for the king.
Mordecai, never bowed
down to honour any man, because he was a Jew. Haman, the chief of the palace was
honored by all the royal officials at the king's gate. Whenever Haman passes by,
all knelt down, but Mordecai, would not pay any honour. Therefore Haman was
enraged and decided to destroy all the Jews in the empire. He took permission
from the king and set a day to kill the Jews. He promised the king to put ten
thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury for the men who carry out
this order. He even prepared a gallows to hang Mordecai. But Queen Esther was
unaware of this matter.
Esther received a message from Mordecai placing upon her this great
responsibility. 'Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a
time as this" (Es. 4:4). He challenged her with his words and his grief was hers
too. Though she was the queen she was under the law, but she accepted her
own divine destiny. She ordered all the Jews in Shushan to fast on behalf of
her. She and her maids joined with them in the fast for three days.
Esther went before the king to plead for her people. "I
will go into the king, which is not according to the Law, and if I perish, I
perish" (Es. 4:16). She had great courage, faith and devotion and cooperated
with her foster father.What a lesson whenever oppportunities arise to serve God
and his people,we should not let it slip.
Queen
Esther put her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's
palace,across from the kings house,while king sat on his royal throne facing the
entrance of the house.when king saw Esther standing in the court in her most
royal apparel he was pleased and extended his Golden scepter.She won his heart
and the king was ready to honor her request.Esther invites king and Haman to the
banquet she prepared .And we all know that esther takes this great
opportunity to arrange the banquet to king and Haman and when king
asked her what favour could be done to her She falls at the feet of king
with tears she tells that she and her people are sold ,to be destroyed,to
be slain and to perish.by the wicked minister Haman .when king heard her
cry he orders that Haman to be hung.
The king gave permission to
mordecai to revert his Degree that the jews has the right to assemble and
protect themselves. As a historical character Esther was the supreme
heroine who delivered her nation from destruction.
She lives on in the hearts of her
people.To this day Purim festival is celebrated on the 14th and 15th of
march.Esther exhibited many qualities.Her obedience,faith,and self sacrifice are
outstanding,up to the end she honored her foster father.One woman accepted the
challenge to fit into God's plan.She had won the heart of all she met and
influenced them to do good.
Unselfish labour for others always blesses us more
than anyone else.All of us have some duties to perform.if we fail ,we will be
held responsible for our neglect.'Therfore to him who knows to do good and does
not do it, to him it is sin"(James4:17)
