Esther 2:1-4
Day 8
I am His
After some time had passed, Xerxes decided to replace Vashti with a new queen. He sent a new decree throughout the land for young women to be brought before him in order to see which one pleased him the most. The three requirements for these girls were that they had to be young, unmarried, and pleasing to Xerxes’ eye. While some of the women may have seen this as “winning the lottery,” offering them a life of luxury and power, most would have seen this decree as a form of forced slavery. None of the girls selected would ever return home; if they were not chosen as queen, they would end up in the king’s harem. In the Persian Empire, these women were seen as property belonging to the empire, with no rights of their own.
Application
Our culture is polar opposite of Xerxes’. The adage of today is, “My body, my choice.” We believe that no one can own us, except for ourselves. How does God figure into this equation? Are we truly independent and do we know apart from Him what is best for us? As children of God, we are not slaves that are mistreated or abused. Instead, because we belong to Him we are loved, directed, and redeemed.
Daily Challenge
How do you view yourself and your property? Are you owned by the world, are you the master of your own destiny, or do you belong to the One who knows all of your needs and is working for His glory and your good? Acknowledge that you are a child of God and are in need of His shepherding.
How You Can Pray
Pray that you will have a proper perspective about who you are and that you belong to our gracious and heavenly Father. Pray that you will trust His decisions and let Him lead you, whether through the valley of the shadow death or by quiet waters.
The Exile
Day 9
Esther 2:5-7
While Esther is certainly one of the central figures in this book, Mordecai is just as important. Here, he is introduced as “the exile.” Verse 6 literally says that Mordecai’s ancestors had been exiled from Jerusalem, were exiled with Jehoiachin, and that Nebuchadnezzar exiled them. As Iain Duguid points out, verse 6 makes it clear that Mordecai’s entire existence was defined by exile. One of the threads in the tapestry of Esther is seeing God use a Jewish exile to bring about the salvation of a people scattered throughout the empire. From the beginning of the story, God was at work. And even though he gave Esther to be a slave girl for the King, God was at work. While being an exile defined him, God used him.
Application
It is easy for us to feel like exiles. Whether we are ostracized by family, isolated by friends, neglected by a spouse, or ignored at work, it is easy to think we are outcasts. This is where it is important for us to recognize that we are exiles of this world, but we are at home in God’s Kingdom. It should not be our goal to please the world in order to fit in, but we should seek to please our Father who has already given us more than we can ever imagine.
Daily Challenge
Who do you know in your life that is either an exile (a refugee for example) or acts like one? What can you do this week to show that person the love of God and the welcome they have in His Kingdom? Be the messenger of the Good News of Christ in that person’s life through prayer and action.
How You Can Pray
Pray that you will see the Kingdom of God as your home rather than the social groups that make you feel neglected. Pray that He use you to minster to other neglected people in your life and that you will act as He prompts you to show them love.
Esther 2:7-11
Day 10
Covenant Care
Mordecai brought Esther to join Xerxes’ harem. Was this voluntary or intentional? The Bible does not tell us. What we do know is that Esther went along with the suggestions of the eunuch and quickly rose to favor in the harem. The Hebrew tells us she was not only “good to look at,” but also “fair of form.” As a result, she quickly caught the eye of the king. It is interesting to note in verse 11 that Mordecai went to the gates of the harem every day to check-up on Esther and see how she was doing. Whether Mordecai was right, wrong, or had no choice in giving her up, he took his responsibility seriously in looking out for her. He could have let her to her fate and focused upon getting his life back in order after losing her; instead, he went out of his way to care for her as best as he could in spite of the difficult circumstances.
Application
As the Church, we are in covenant community with other believers. The bonds we share as a people of God ought to move us to care for those in difficult circumstances, even if they are inconvenient to us. How are we, as the body of Christ, caring for one another?
Daily Challenge
Think about those in your community or small group. Who right now could use your support? Is there a widow, a spouse of a deployed soldier, a single mom, someone grieving, or a friend in financial ruins? Find a way to pray for and serve a brother or sister in Christ and act on it today!
How You Can Pray
Pray that you will live out the gospel by serving the body as Christ did by being willing to give up what is convenient for the sake of those in our covenant community. Pray that God gives you passion and the ability to care for the family of God.
Going with the Flow
Day 11
Esther 2:12-16
Should Esther have gone with the flow of the palace life or resisted what was forced upon her? Did Esther have a choice or was she intentionally working her way to the top of the harem to gain favor with the king? One way to look at this situation is to compare Esther with Daniel.
Daniel and his friends were also captives during the exile. They too were told to do things contrary to God’s commands. In spite of the danger of a fiery furnace or lion’s den, they resisted. Esther, however, worked for the favor of the king. Verse 15 shows that she “won favor” in his eyes. Duguid points out, “Esther ended up married to an uncircumcised pagan and virtually cut off from the community of faith, successfully pretending not to be a child of the true and living God.” While Esther’s character shined a few chapters later, at this point she was living for the wrong kingdom.
Application
At this point in the story, we should heartily ignore the slogan “Dare to be an Esther.” Instead, we need to recognize that, like Esther, we regularly live of the world rather than simply in it. It is in these moments we must remember that God is at work in our hearts, prodding us to seek His Kingdom.
Daily Challenge
In what ways are you seeking the kingdom of the world instead of God’s? How are you suppressing God’s truth and hiding who you are in order to impress family, friends, co-workers, or school mates? For each area you identify, write out how you might live in world, but not of it.
How You Can Pray
Pray that God will use you powerfully in this world and protect you from its dangerous influences. Pray that you would seek His Kingdom and proudly identify yourself as His child even when it may make you look bad in front of others.
Esther 2:17-18
The Choosing One
Day 12
When Xerxes finally chose a new queen, his eyes settled on Esther. We don’t know exactly how many women Xerxes had to choose from, but we do know that it was a lot of women from all over the kingdom. All of them were picked for their beauty and were given the finest treatments to make them appear even more attractive before the king. Yet, of all the women Xerxes spent time with, he favored Esther.
How did a young Jewish girl from the same city as Xerxes get chosen over exotic and attractive women from all over the kingdom? Some of them were undoubtedly wealthier or well-connected, but he picked her. Once again, we see the hand of God moving behind the scenes in order to redeem His people and fulfill His promises.
Application
It is hard to see our lives from a proper perspective. To us, cashing a check at the bank, taking kids to the park, or preparing dinner are all fairly mundane tasks. Yet, Scripture clearly teaches that God is at work in all things, even the things we see as trivial or tedious.
Daily Challenge
Jerry Bridges writes that our response to God’s sovereignty should be one of trust. “No one can harm you or jeopardize your future apart from the sovereign will of God.” Instead of giving in to anxiety, depression or bitterness, have confidence that your Savior and God is at work in your life.
How You Can Pray
Pray that you will trust His plan, work, and will for your life regardless of where He takes you. Pray that in the small, trivial moments or the biggest decisions of your life, you will be at ease and confidently seek to please Him instead of those around you.
Forgotten Payment
Day 13
Esther 2:19-23
Mordecai was a government official, though we don’t know if he had already been one or if Esther’s position as queen led to the job. Regardless, because of Mordecai’s position, he uncovered a plot by two of the eunuchs to eliminate the king. He reported the incident to the king through Esther, and the two eunuchs were found guilty and put to death. Esther told Xerxes that Mordecai was the one who uncovered the plot. Rather than rewarding him on the spot, as was tradition, he recorded Mordecai’s name in the annals. While at this point in the story, it seems as though Mordecai’s good deed has been written down and forgotten, God used that moment in a very spectacular way a few chapters later.
Application
Whether you save a project at work from going under, take care of a sick friend, or find and return something that has been missing, we like to be recognized and rewarded for our actions. Do we believe that God is using the things that we do for His purposes, even if we are not acknowledged for any of them?
Daily Challenge
When you feel like you are unappreciated and unrewarded for your hard work, remember that God knows His people. He is using you and the things that you do to further His Kingdom and bring Him glory. Trust this truth and find your reward in His love for you rather than man’s fleeting favor.
How You Can Pray
Pray that you will approach life with an attitude of humility and an understanding of God’s sovereignty. Pray that when you feel like people are not recognizing your accomplishments, that you will find your satisfaction in God and His accomplishments in your life.
Wait, Where is God?
Esther 2 Overview
Day 14
Esther is an interesting book because God is never mentioned by name. There have been no prayers to Him, no sacrifices, and no worship by His people. Nor has He revealed Himself through miraculous special revelation or prophetic dreams. Instead, it seems as though the book of Esther is silent about God. Yet, God is clearly present and His fingerprints are all over the story of Esther. Sometimes, one needs to wait for the final brushstrokes to see the painting come to life. While God is not speaking to Esther or Mordecai by writing on the wall or giving them tablets of stone, He is guiding them clearly in order to save His people from certain destruction.
Application
We are no different from the people of Susa. We often wonder why God doesn’t just topple corrupt governments or save us in the midst of terrible circumstances. Yet, when we look back on our lives, we should be able to clearly see the fingerprints of God across every event, drawing us to Him and using us for His purposes.
Daily Challenge
Take some time to think about where God has brought you on your journey through life. Praise Him for the ways He has directed you to Himself and to other believers in spite of your circumstances, obstacles, and personal actions.
How You Can Pray
Pray Proverbs 16:9 with conviction today and throughout the week. Commit it to memory and say it often. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”
Esther - a Devotional and Prayer Guide
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