Esther 2 Humble Beauty

We are on Esther Chapter 2.  This is the third installment on a bible study series on the book of Esther of the Bible.

Esther 2:15-17, New International Version (NIV)

In last week’s post we learned that, “The girl pleased him (Hegai) and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven maids selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.” ~Esther 2:9.  Now we see Esther looking to Hegai for advice.

I think Hegai was in a unique position in realationship to the king.  No one would have had as much familiarity with what King Xerxes liked or diskliked about women than the man who was in charge of taking care of them.  He would’ve seen a range of personalities and character traits as well as physical attributes.  I think God made Esther specifically for her role as the new wife of Xerxes and I think the caretaker of the women recognized her potential to become queen as soon as he met her.

Esther was given special treatment when she entered the Harem, but even after a year of special treatments she still humbly relied upon Hegai’s counsel.  “She asked for nothing other than what Hegai suggested”.   Hegai had already proven a certain loyalty and support to Esther, she displayed wisdom in trusting him.  She also displayed humility and submission – attractive qualities for a woman in Esther’s circumstances.  Proverbs 3:3-4 talks about how if we carry mercy and truth in our hearts we can find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and the sight of man. Based upon how others responded to Esther, I believe in addition to her beauty she must’ve also shown that she was a woman of mercy and truth.

I did a little research on Esther and she was approximately 14 years old when she was taken into the king’s harem.  With the year-long beauty treatments she would have been about 15 at her first encounter with the king.{1}   Some commentaries explain that the year-long treatments may have been needed for some of the young women taken into captivity because they may have come from poorer backgrounds where diet and hygene would have affected their “scent”.  They also suggest that a year long “purification” ritual would have exposed any young women who would’ve been pregnant and not truly virgins (thus unfit for the position of queen). {2}

Other commentaries mention that Esther’s request for the minimum treatments and decorum before going in to see the king were actually an attempt to not be selected queen (2:15).  {3} Another commentary mentioned that it was miraculous that Esther was found to be attractive, as her physical appearance was actually unflattering. According to this commentary, the Talmud describes Esther as a woman of a greenish complexion, but that she had a “thread of grace,” implying that her source of beauty was more internal than external. {4}

Now whether Esther was beautiful by what you or I would define as beautiful is impossible to know for certain, but what the scripture makes clear is that “the King was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than and of the other virgins.”

The King desired her.  The King approved of her. The King wanted her by his side and he set a royal crown on her head.

You and I are Esther. We have a heavenly King who pursues us. He has selected us before time began to enter his throne room and abide with Him for all eternity.  He has extended His grace to us and we are invited into His presence to wear a crown and be held in honor and high esteem. And it doesn’t matter to him our race, our stature, our physical appearance, or our adornment.  He sees something that no one else sees and He desires our presence by His side.

Do you find the way that other people define beauty to be discouraging?  Know that the King of Kings finds you beautiful.  Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by circumstances beyond your control?  God has a plan for your life.

Esther was part of a divine plan. She may have resisted, but God directed her steps and  the steps of those around her.  She won the favor of everyone who saw her and the Lord delighted in her life.

Psalm 37:23, New Living Translation (NLT)

Accept the Lord’s outstretched hand for deliverane from what the world thinks is acceptable and beautiful. And bask in His love and affirmation and be in His presence by being in His word.  The King has chosen you, and He has chosen me, and we have found His favor and approval through the love and sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ.

The story of Esther is a story of God’s attention to every detail of our lives.  And His love for us in that He delivers us from destruction by the humility and submission of even the youngest and most humble of servants.

If God can and did use Esther He can use you and He can use me.

The King desires you, The King approves of you. The King wants you by His side and His plan is to set a royal crown on your head and have you dwell with Him for all eternity, all you have to do is accept His gift of grace.

Praying Psalm 37:23 over you.  That you feel Him directing your steps and delighting in every detail of your life.

I’d love to hear what these verses or even the book of Esther may have revealed to you.  Please leave a note in the comments.

In His Grip,

Monica

If you’d like to start at the beginning of this study, please go to:

Esther Schedule for Study
Esther study
Esther Chapter 2

Images are from the movie “One Night with the King”.  The movie plays out in elaborate detail the drama of the story of Esther.  It’s fun to watch and a great catalyst for discussing the story of Esther.

{1} http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Esther.aspx
{2} http://bible.cc/esther/2-12.htm
{3} http://www.torah.org/learning/women/class23.html#
{4} http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/367185/jewish/Esther-Hidden-Beauty.htm

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