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Esther: The Queen Who Saved Her People
Esther: The Queen Who Saved Her People
The book of Esther, a captivating narrative within the Old Testament, unfolds against the opulent backdrop of the Persian Empire under King Ahasuerus. It is a story unique for its absence of any direct mention of God, yet His providential hand is undeniably woven through every twist and turn, orchestrating events to protect His covenant people. At its heart is a young Jewish woman named Hadassah, known by her Persian name, Esther, whose courage and strategic wisdom would ultimately save her people from annihilation. Her life stands as a powerful testament to God's sovereignty, even when He seems silent, and to the profound impact one person's obedience and bravery can have on the course of history.
The Persian Backdrop and a Sinister Plot
The narrative opens in the third year of King Ahasuerus's reign, who ruled over 127 provinces, from India even unto Ethiopia. His kingdom was vast, and his power absolute. A grand feast lasting 180 days showcased his immense wealth and the glory of his kingdom, culminating in a seven-day feast for all the people in the palace garden. It was during this time that Queen Vashti, refusing the king's summons to appear before his guests, was deposed. This act of disobedience led to a decree sent throughout the kingdom, establishing a new precedent for wifely submission and paving the way for Esther's improbable rise.
Following Vashti's dethronement, a search commenced for a new queen. Among the young virgins gathered from across the empire was Esther, an orphan raised by her cousin, Mordecai, a Jew who served in the king's gate. Mordecai had strictly commanded Esther not to reveal her Jewish heritage, a detail that would prove crucial later. Esther found favour in the eyes of Hegai, the king's chamberlain, and after a year of purification rituals, she was brought before the king. Ahasuerus loved Esther above all the other virgins, and she was crowned queen, though her lineage remained a secret.
Meanwhile, a wicked man named Haman, an Agagite, rose to prominence in the king's court, exalted above all the princes. The king commanded that all his servants should bow and reverence Haman. However, Mordecai steadfastly refused, explaining that he was a Jew and would not bow to a man. Haman, filled with indignation and pride, scorned the idea of punishing Mordecai alone. Learning of Mordecai's Jewish identity, Haman conceived a genocidal plot to destroy all Jews throughout the kingdom. He cast lots (Pur) to determine the day of their destruction, settling on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar. Haman then deceitfully convinced the king to issue a decree authorizing the extermination of the Jews, promising a vast sum of silver for the king's treasury. The decree was sealed with the king's ring and dispatched to all provinces, causing great consternation and mourning among the Jews.
A Call to Courage: "For Such a Time as This"
Upon hearing of the king's decree, Mordecai tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and cried with a loud and bitter cry in the midst of the city. When Esther's maids and chamberlains told her of Mordecai's distress, she was exceedingly grieved. She sent raiment to him, but he refused it. Mordecai then sent word to Esther, explaining the full extent of Haman's plot and urging her to intercede with the king on behalf of her people. Esther's initial response revealed her fear and the perilous nature of such an act:
All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
Mordecai's reply to Esther was perhaps the most pivotal moment in the entire narrative, a timeless challenge to act boldly in faith:
Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
These words resonated deeply with Esther. Her fear was replaced by a resolute courage. She instructed Mordecai to gather all the Jews in Shushan and fast for her for three days and three nights, promising to do the same with her maidens. Her famous declaration, "and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish," (Esther 4:16) encapsulates her sacrificial determination. This moment highlights the profound spiritual aspect of the crisis, emphasizing prayer and fasting as essential precursors to divine intervention and human action.
Strategic Wisdom and Haman's Downfall
Esther did not rush into the king's presence. Instead, she approached her dangerous task with strategic wisdom. On the third day, she put on her royal apparel and stood in the inner court. The king, seeing her, extended the golden sceptre, signifying his favour and saving her life. He then asked her what her request was, promising to grant it, even to the half of his kingdom.
Rather than immediately revealing Haman's plot, Esther invited the king and Haman to a private banquet. At this banquet, the king again pressed her for her petition, but Esther only requested their presence at a second banquet the following day. This delay served several purposes: it heightened the king's curiosity, allowed Haman's pride to swell to dangerous levels, and provided time for divine orchestration.
Haman, elated by his exclusive invitations, boasted of his riches and favour, yet his joy was marred by Mordecai's continued refusal to bow. At his wife Zeresh's suggestion, Haman built a gallows fifty cubits high, intending to hang Mordecai upon it.
That very night, God intervened. The king could not sleep and commanded the chronicles of the kingdom to be read to him. Providentially, the passage read concerned Mordecai's past act of uncovering a plot against the king's life, for which he had never been rewarded. The king inquired what honour had been done to Mordecai. Discovering nothing, he asked who was in the court. Haman, who had just arrived to request Mordecai's execution, was called in. The king asked Haman what should be done for a man the king delighted to honour. Haman, in his arrogance, assumed the king meant him, and described a grand procession. The king then commanded Haman to do all these things for Mordecai the Jew. Haman's humiliation was complete as he led Mordecai through the city.
At the second banquet, with Haman utterly disgraced, Esther finally revealed her petition. With heart-wrenching urgency, she pleaded for her life and the lives of her people, exposing Haman as the wicked adversary:
Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.
The king, in a fit of rage, left the banquet. Upon his return, he found Haman fallen on Esther's couch, pleading for his life. Interpreting this as an assault, the king immediately ordered Haman to be hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Thus, God's justice was swiftly executed, and the tables were turned.
The Reversal of Fortune and Glorious Deliverance
Despite Haman's death, the decree sealed with the king's ring could not be revoked, according to Persian law. However, Esther and Mordecai, now elevated to power, devised a brilliant solution. A new decree was issued, empowering the Jews in every province to gather, stand for their lives, and destroy all who would assault them, including their women and children, on the very day appointed for their destruction. This new decree was written in the king's name, sealed with his ring, and sent by posts on horseback throughout the kingdom.
On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the Jews throughout the provinces defended themselves valiantly. The fear of the Jews had fallen upon all people, and many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. In Shushan the palace, the Jews slew five hundred men, including Haman's ten sons, who were also hanged. In total, 75,000 of their enemies were slain throughout the kingdom. The Jews, however, did not lay hands on the spoil, demonstrating that their actions were for deliverance, not plunder.
Mordecai established the feast of Purim, named after the "Pur" or lot that Haman cast, to be observed annually on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar, as a perpetual memorial of their deliverance. It was to be a day of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. Esther also ratified this decree, and the book concludes with Mordecai's rise to power, second only to King Ahasuerus, seeking the wealth of his people and speaking peace to all his seed.
God's Unseen Hand in the Narrative
One of the most striking features of the book of Esther is the complete absence of any direct reference to God, prayer, or divine intervention. Yet, His presence is profoundly felt through the unfolding of seemingly random events that collectively demonstrate His meticulous providence. Every "coincidence" serves as a testament to God's unseen hand guiding the narrative:
- Vashti's Removal: Her defiance created the vacancy that Esther providentially filled.
- Esther's Beauty and Favour: She was chosen above all others, finding favour with Hegai and the king.
- Mordecai at the Gate: His position allowed him to overhear the plot against the king, leading to his entry into the royal chronicles.
- The King's Sleepless Night: A seemingly trivial detail that directly led to Mordecai's honour and Haman's exposure.
- The Timing of Haman's Arrival: He arrived at the palace at the precise moment the king was considering how to honour Mordecai.
- Haman's Pride and the Gallows: His arrogance led him to build the very instrument of his own demise.
These are not mere coincidences; they are divine appointments. The book of Esther powerfully illustrates that God is always working behind the scenes, even in the most secular environments, to fulfill His purposes and protect His people, often using unlikely individuals and circumstances. It reinforces the truth that God is sovereign over all, able to turn the schemes of the wicked against them and bring about deliverance for those who trust in Him.
Timeless Lessons from Queen Esther
The story of Esther offers profound lessons for believers across generations:
Conclusion
Esther, the orphaned Jewish girl who became queen of Persia, stands as an enduring symbol of courage, faith, and divine providence. Her story is a powerful reminder that God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways to accomplish His will. She was indeed "the queen who saved her people," not by military might or political maneuvering alone, but by her willingness to step into a dangerous calling, empowered by God's unseen hand. The book of Esther, though silent on God's name, loudly proclaims His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people and His ultimate control over all circumstances, reminding us that even in the darkest hours, His purposes cannot be thwarted.
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