THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 2:1-7
“Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.” (Esther 2:2)
This is how a king acts, right?
What they want they take, when and how they want it, no argument.
They take the best and most beautiful for themselves (see 1 Samuel 8:10-20).
Humans were created to live and love and lead like God, as His image-bearers.
But when God leads as King of creation, we see something different.
God as King seeks out the poor, the weak, the discarded, the oppressed.
God does not take for Himself, but He gives of Himself for His creation.
God does not lead with oppressively, but quietly, humbly, with love for the people.
Xerxes rules with an iron fist, but God rules with a gentle hand.
Xerxes demands and takes, God invites and gives.
After centuries of challenging His people to live, love and lead like Him, He finally decides to show them.
God comes as Jesus, the kind of king we were meant to be.
He seeks out the weak, the the poor, the discarded, the oppressed, and He invites them to join Him.
“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.” (Matthew 22:8-10)
He also intends to make them beautiful, but with God’s beauty treatments.
He respects us as people, not as objects; He does not lock us up, but sets us free.
He willingly suffers and dies, so that we may be restored and blessed with life.
This is how a king acts!
“Let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2:4)
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, You are the kind of Ruler we need. You desire to make us beautiful on the inside, not just for Yourself, but for our own sake.
Observations/Application
The king followed the advice of his advisors for he also remembered what he had decreed about his wife. And the way – the concubines were selected – seems to be the customs during those days. The king’s word was law and he used his word to please himself. Yet his choice went contrary to the word of the Lord which in Deuteronomy states that a king should not have too many wives for it will lead his heart astray.
Xerxes was there for himself and his own glory and not a protector of the people. He served his own appetite and his ‘brain trust’ served the kings wishes to keep their positions.
How far the God-given task of the leaders of the people had fallen. They did what was right in their own eyes like in the days of judges.
And today – our leaders – whom do they serve?
Lead on, O King eternal,
Till sin’s fierce war shall cease,
And holiness shall whisper
The sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords loud clashing,
Nor roll of stirring drums;
With deeds of love and mercy
The heavenly kingdom comes