Esther 2:16-18 And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal palace in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign, 17 the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther’s feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.
 
THE Scriptures say, “Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.” “and she won grace and favor in (the king’s) sight more than all the virgins.” From the king and throughout his kingdom, Esther was meeting approval for her beauty.
     Here is God’s sovereign plan at work. He, the Creator, had created Esther in the beauty of a myrtle tree. He had placed her in a time to be taken into Ahasuerus’ harem. She had submitted to this circumstance.
     Then God had caused her to be favored in Persia. God’s favor seemed to overflow onto this simple girl as he had granted to her physical beauty, a loving cousin Mordecai to replace her dead parents, and a seemingly good caretaker Hegai in the king’s harem. In the favor of the King of the Kingdom of God, Esther received the favor of the King of Persia. She becomes queen from India to Africa. There is even a feast in her honor – and taxes are stopped for a day!
     This is a big deal. Esther, submissive to the king, is famous and favored. You could say Esther takes on star status. Who could have foreseen such an ordinary to extraordinary change in her life?
     In God’s sovereign plan, he is enlarging Esther’s influence. He is preparing her for his work. Here is God’s favor not only upon Esther so long ago, but this is evidence of God’s favor upon you. Esther and Mordecai are his agents of salvation in Persia. These two cousins will need a great amount of the king’s favor in the days to come. His opinion of them will make all the difference in the protection and safety of Persia’s Jews.
    
Prayer: Lord God, so many times we look at the carnal world as our source of purpose and hope. Help us to see how and where you direct us to be purposeful for you. Help us to have sufficient hope that you will strengthen us in your love to go into that purpose. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Esther 2:15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
 
WE have looked at submission as it relates to Jesus’ submission to the cross, our submission to Jesus’ church and submission in human relationships. Now we’ll consider submission as it relates to living under a government authority. This is Esther’s challenge. Should Esther have submitted to the ungodly king and his officials?
    The most direct answer comes in Romans 13:1-6 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities, resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad conduct. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.” 
    To understand this passage, I quote from the Life Application Bible commentary: “Rulers are in their position only because God has placed them there, and they are ultimately responsible to God. God is sovereign, and the church may grow even in a hostile environment under an atheistic leader. (Underline mine.) Note, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” (Proverbs 21:1). All earthly governments are temporary. Only Christ’s reign will be eternal. To rebel against them is to rebel against their God-given authority. In practice, the responsibilities and opportunities of the politically powerful and the politically powerless will differ. For believers in a hostile environment, cooperation may be the most realistic approach. Believers who have the opportunity to affect change must challenge, speak out, offer solutions, and confront the power structure.”
    In short, yes we are to submit to government’s authority. And we are to work peaceably to affect change.
    There are many stories throughout the church where Christian men and women have submitted to anti-Christian forces that have ruled them. We know of stories in our news today from across the United States and from around the world. Although it can seem that God’s ways are being buried in evil opposition, God will work his purposes in and through his faithful people.
    Esther was in an ungodly circumstance against her will. She could have resisted the evil outright. But she could easily have been killed or ostracized from the king. Instead, she seemed to see her circumstance under God’s authority, and she remained submissive to King Ahasuerus. As a result, God would redeem Esther from the evil as he used her to redeem God’s people from annihilation.
    That is exactly what happened to Jesus. Jesus submitted to the governing authorities in Jerusalem. The governing authorities in the church and Roman government and Jewish government killed him. The Father used Jesus’ submission to redeem the world.
    “Should Esther submit?” In a place where she had no choice, it was right for her to submit and to wait for God to redeem her. She did. And God used her. God to Genesis and see how Joseph did that. David did that as he submitted to Saul’s persecution. The Apostles and early evangelists submitted to their government’s persecution. God used them all to redeem people to himself.
    As you are wondering, perhaps, “Should I submit to this hard circumstance that I’m experiencing right now?” I encourage you to remember this basic truth: Often the current snapshot in life can seem to be the whole picture. Be aware that God has a future picture you can’t see. In all circumstances we must submit to God’s will revealed through his Word. Doing so, he will use us to redeem circumstances and people. He will use us to his glory. Life has no greater purpose.
 
Prayer. Father God, give to me true training in your Word. Help me to know when to speak and when to be silent, when to oppose and when to submit to the authorities you have established to govern my country, my state and my local government. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Esther 2:15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 
 
IF you’ve missed the past five days’ lessons, this Scripture regarding Esther’s submissive behavior under Mordecai and Hegai has directed me to some lessons on submission. I’m motivated by wondering, “Should Esther submit? Even if she is a victim of circumstances, should she submit to Hegai?” After all, he is under the king’s direction to make Esther as sexually desirable as possible. Is Esther a victim, a willing participant, or a victor in this circumstance?”
     To answer such questions, we’ve looked at the biblical view of submission. We have considered the church’s submission to its leaders. We’ve remembered Jesus’ submission to the cross. Today we are in the second day of a two-day lesson on submission to one another. I am focusing particularly on the marriage relationship. If you’re not married, this teaching is still very relevant for you as you are commanded to be in loving relationships with others as a disciple of Jesus. We must all understand God’s created order to submit to the laws of relationships he has formed.         
     We go on. Men, listen again to Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Hear, men, how you are to love your wives as Christ submitted his life to the Father for the church. Here is what I’ve told every new groom and every man I’ve counseled in his marriage: “You are to be the kind of Jesus-like husband who is willing to die for your wife.” Do you get that? Husbands, you must see your wife and children as evidence of God’s glory and treasure he has offered to you through Jesus’ submission to the cross.
     This doesn’t only mean to die physically. You will have to “die” to your old friends who keep you away from home. You might have to “die” to overwork because your children need you at home. You will have to “die” to cultural pleasures so you have time to secure spiritual treasures. You will have to “die” to anything that separates you from your wife.
     Every aspect of your life must be grounded in Jesus’ salvation. Follow Jesus’ submissive life. Find Jesus’ truth. Submit your life to his teachings. Submit your wants, your desires, your preferences, your habits and your attitude to the cross of Christ. Love your wife, your children and even “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44) as Christ loved you with his eternal, sacrificial love. Proper authority in Jesus’ example begins with a servant’s heart. Remember, a good shepherd leads.
      Wives, in turn, you then are to submit to the authority of such a godly man. In God’s order for the world, you are not to be the head of the household. I know, most women don’t submit to that teaching because you’ve been taught otherwise in our self-based culture.
     But we all must realize that the way of God is not about one sex in control over another. Proper authority is not controlling. Be aware that Scripture is clear on many ways God honors the female. Remember, you ladies are made in his image. God honors his image in all humans. His command of submission is not to bind you to slavery, but to offer you a secure place in his love.
     The Bible’s submission teaching is about God’s established order in which mankind can live well and in peace within the foundation of marriage. God has created an order of authority in himself, in the family and in his church. The Son and the Spirit submit to the Father. The husband is to submit to Jesus. The wife is to submit to her husband’s godly authority. Children are to submit to their parents (There’s another topic.) The household is to submit fully to God. Otherwise, chaos rules. (Just look around you and see.)
     Paul summarizes his teaching with this: Ephesians 5:33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. 
     Loving, respecting one another is the essence of a Christ-based relationship.
     Tomorrow we consider submission as it relates to the government authority under which we live.
 
Prayer: Help us, Spirit, to truly know “If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” (Romans 14:8) Teach us to live in submission to your love. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Esther 2:15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
 
TO submit is to obey in the sense you are lying down before another in subject to another’s will. We looked in the previous two lessons on first, Jesus’ submission to the cross; then second, we looked at the Bible’s words on submitting to Jesus’ church. In Jesus’ life and death, we can see how he obeyed the Father’s will to even literally lie down in death before the Father.
     Jesus’ submission is truly the place where our understanding of submission to one another begins. You can only know the depths of submission to one another when we understand Chest’s profound sacrificial submission for your eternal soul. Here are three relationship submission teachings from Ephesians:
     Ephesians 5:21 “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Your submission to others is centered on our worship of Jesus.
     Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” Perhaps the most rejected Scripture in our culture, this teaching notes the order of the Christian family. More on this below (and more in a few weeks as I write on Ephesians.). Again, submission begins with our relationship to Jesus.
     Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
     I hope you see in these Scriptures why I said, “Jesus’ submission is the point where the reality of submission to one another begins.” Men and husbands, note this: You are to be as Jesus.
     Yes, a common quote of dominant men over women is, “wives submit to your husbands”. And in turn a common objection to Christianity is “wives submit to your husbands.” Great distortions of God’s Word are based on misunderstanding this teaching. Let’s learn about and submit to its meaning.
     Paul’s inspired teaching from the Holy Spirit is not about men dominating women. In fact, it is a way Paul is teaching, urging and admonishing men to submit their lives to Christ so that their wives are able to submit to them. This order is to fulfill the God-ordained family structure.
     Know this key point, men: You first must be worthy of your wife’s Christ-like submission. Called to lead your wife and children, you must strive with your heart, mind and soul to follow Jesus. Give up the things that separate you from Jesus. Focus on the things that draw you to him. Your wife can only truly submit to you if you first submit to the Lord as the Lord Jesus submitted to the cause of the church.
     Some see this as a teaching that defines separation and gender order for dominance. But it is just the opposite. The Bible’s submission teachings define a unified and coherent marriage, purposeful to model Jesus to children and to the church. Submission begins with obedience to our submissive Lord. He did so. Men, you must, also. Wives, so should you.
     We’ll continue tomorrow with more on the man’s role of leadership.
 
Prayer: Help me, Holy Spirit, to trust the power of your teachings. In Jesus’ name, amen. 
 

Esther 2:15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
 
WE continue on to our fourth lesson on submission: Submit to Jesus’ church. “Submission” means to obey, to lie before another in subject to another’s will. What does the Bible teach about obeying, about lying down before the church’s authority? 
    Here is a passage on submitting to the church: Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
    I’m going to use the phrase “Jesus’ Church” to refer to the true church under the Bible’s authority. There are too many cults, too many Bible-opposing entities and organizations that call themselves “church”. Also, every individual who confesses Jesus as Savior can be called “church”. But I’m referring to the Jesus’ church as a body of believers gathered in the Bible’s true authority. I want to be clear on who is to submit to Jesus.
    We know from the epistles – teaching letters – of the New Testament, from the history of Jesus’ church and from our own experiences in Jesus’ church that this Scripture from Hebrews is seldom fulfilled in Jesus’ church. We always have some reason to not submit to the church’s leaders, don’t we?
    We may not like the focus of the financial campaign, the length of the service, the time of the service, the form of the bulletin, the missional focus of the budget, the music (there is always the music) and the list goes on. But in Jesus’ church there are only three things that must happen. They are 1) the preaching of the Word 2) baptizing 3) the Lord’s Supper. In short, Jesus’ church is to minister the Word and the Sacraments.
    If your church is doing so, then submit to the church’s leaders. The Hebrews passage and many others affirms leaders are to be true to Christ. And as they are, you are to submit to their leadership, putting aside your preferences and your self-interests. That doesn’t mean you don’t offer ideas or solutions. But you are to do so in an orderly way and in open conversation with leaders. That kind of activity is submission to their authority.
    If your church has ungodly leaders, there are also ways to respond to that circumstances. Such a process begins with your submission to God’s Word regarding disagreements as in Matthew 18:15-16. Each church structure has a means of bringing grievances before the leaders. Be a person of peace and submit to such processes.
     No church leader should have to function under constant criticism. If you want to destroy your church’s leaders, be willing to give “constructive criticism”. Judge all they do. Gossip about them at the local restaurant. Send them anonymous notes with your own views of matters. Reject their leading by keeping away from church activities. These non-biblical attitudes will keep good leaders from serving. You’ll prevent Jesus’ church from being true to God.
    As Jesus submitted to the Father, you must submit to Jesus’ church.
 
Prayer: Teach me, Lord, to submit to your true church. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Esther 2:15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
 
WE continue to ask, “Should Esther have submitted?” as she lived in evil circumstances of a king’s harem. Let’s now look to our example of submission, even unto evil, in the Lord Jesus Christ.
     As in all things, if we claim to be Jesus’ disciple, we must view submission through Jesus’ words and actions. As we transfer, then, our question of Esther’s submission to our own lives to ask, “Should I submit or not, even in evil circumstances?” we must answer in view of Jesus’ incomparable submission to the cross. One place to see this is defined is Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
     Jesus urged his disciples to this same kind of submissive living with these very difficult teachings: Mark 8:34 “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” And in John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.” Jesus is telling his disciples then and now that anyone who claims to be his disciple must be willing to submit to God’s purposes and promises for their lives even in the presence of their enemies, even to the death.
     Yes, there is no greater submission recorded in history than Jesus’ life. He submitted to come from Heaven to enter into the evil on earth. He submitted to minister within the conflicts of those who opposed him. He submitted to the Father’s will and to Rome’s law to take up his cross and to die for those he loved.
     Recall Jesus’ submissive prayer just hours before the cross: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42) Then remember his obedient call from the cross, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46) Without Jesus’ submission to the authority of the Father to lie down in obedience even to his death, you could not experience Jesus’ atoning payment for your eternal soul.
     How’s your view of submission forming now? You can see in Jesus’ life that there are times we must submit, as Esther did, to be present amid evil schemes. This is one way the Spirit uses Jesus’ disciples to be God’s instrument for his eternal purposes.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that you loved me so much you submitted your life to a cross and to the grave, so I would have life in you. Teach me, Holy Spirit, to live in true submission to Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Esther 2:15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
 
THIS verse reminds us that two men had authority over Escher prior to her appearance, her test if you will, before King Ahasuerus in his bedroom. The inference in the text and the evidence of Esther’s life tells us that she submitted to these men and to her circumstance. As we’ve mentioned that Esther can easily be seen as a victim of evil maneuvering by the king and his advisors, this has stirred in me some questions regarding submission. How about you? Have you thought about Esther’s submissive response?
    Such thoughts have led me to a search of Scripture about the role of submission in our relationship to God, to Jesus’ church, to each other, and to our government. How do we respond when circumstances God has formed around us are against his laws and teachings? Does he want us to rebel against our authority? Is he testing us to see if we will respond in faith, trusting in his secure love, significant purpose and sufficient hope?  
    Yes, it’s easy to understand how we must submit to God. He is our perfect Lord, who has created us, died for us and redeemed us. But what do we do when we find ourselves under the influence of imperfection – of sin?
    Our first response to Esther in this ungodly harem awaiting the king’s pleasure is to easily and righteously say, “She is a victim of a man’s sins. She needs to stand up for herself and for God’s law at all costs!” That’s what Daniel did, and he glorified God when he did not submit to King Nebuchadnezzar, and he did submit only to God.
    And, certainly, if you were to do a series of on-the-street interviews in our culture today, the answer would be, “Esther’s submission makes her a victim. She needs to be her own person. Esther must do what’s right for herself.”
    Yes, it’s true that “submission” is one of those words that forms negative images in our minds. We can equate submission with being a slave, yielding to all a master commands us to do, even against our will. We can see submission as only something weak people do because they have no backbone.
    If submission is so harmful, though, why does the Bible then speak of submission as necessary in our earthly relationships? A brief look at the Bible shows us some very essential submissive relationships for God’s purposes. Further, the Apostle Paul teaches us in Ephesians 5:21 submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. We’ll consider submissive relationships further tomorrow and the next several days.
    In the meantime, let’s keep this in mind: What we can’t see amid our circumstances is the future. We must always remember that there are times when God calls us into difficult places. He will use us in those places to be an instrument of his grace into his ordained there. Thus, as we ask, “Should Esther submit?” we can know there is something larger than the lives of Esther, Mordecai, Hegai and King Ahasuerus. The Lord God Almighty is present in Persia. He is moving events as he has decreed. We must submit to that understanding.
 
Prayer: Our Father in Heaven, holy be your name. Teach us to know what submission means. In Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
 

Esther 2:11 And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.
 
I like this Scripture because of the way it demonstrates Mordecai’s commitment to his cousin.
    Every day – not every other day, not periodically – but every day Mordecai walked into the area where Esther lived to inquire of her. Perhaps Mordecai was so attentive to Esther because of the realities of harem life. Certainly as a court official he knew what happened to all women in a harem. Likely he was concerned for her state of mind and her general emotions. Perhaps he was giving Esther a secure love.
    Reading through Esther one can imagine that Esther would know of Mordecai’s faithful inquiries. Messages were relayed from outside to inside and in to out. People, perhaps Esther’s guardian Hegai, would have told her of Mordecai’s presence. She would feel secure knowing her faithful cousin was close by and concerned for her well-being.
    Parents, do you desire your children trust your love for them? Of course you do. Then one way you can help them know this is to faithfully inquire of them each day. Find out what pleases them. Learn what is on their minds. Take time to simply listen. Do so with a heart to care for them, to love them, to encourage them and to validate them.
    In his attentiveness to Esther, Mordecai demonstrated Jesus’ Good Shepherd intentions toward us. We must be this way with all of our relationships. Attentive love as the Lord has given to you will help form hearts attentive to the Lord.
 
Prayer: Lord, help me to lovingly pay attention to those I love. Help me to check in with them to see how they are doing. Help me to love them in the ways you love me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
 

Esther 2:10 Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known.
 
WHAT do you think about this? Is it right to keep quiet about your heritage? Is it a lie to be quiet about the truth?
    Here is another moral dilemma in Esther. Persian’s rulers had been kind to the Jews. They had allowed the Jews to return to their homeland. They had also allowed the Jews to live and work among the various ethnicities of Persia. It is difficult to decipher Mordecai’s reason to be quiet about his Jewish lineage. Perhaps there is an underlying bigotry against the Jews in Persia we do not see. Racial tensions may be just under the surface, and the Jews could be walking in a fragile peace.
    This is very different than the book of Daniel. There we see Daniel faithfully elevate his Jewish heritage amid a conquering culture. In contrast to Mordecai and Esther, Daniel made it very clear to Babylon’s leaders that he would live only under God’s laws. He was even thrown into a lion’s den for his faithful prayer life. Daniel’s story urges us to boldly and faithfully live into the sufficient hope of God’s promises.
    Some commentators say Esther’s author is highlighting the ways Mordecai and Esther do not live into God’s law. This could be done to help us learn that God will use even those of us who do not live purely and faithfully under his commands. God is sovereign to use whom he will in the way he will.
    Again, we can only conjecture on Mordecai’s silence and Esther’s participation in that silence. But unlike Daniel and others, including the courageous Joshua, the mighty warrior Gideon, the righteous judge Samuel, the king David and others, Esther and Mordecai kept their belief in God a secret until a precise time of revelation.     In God’s sovereign plan, their silence was ultimately transformed into a vibrant, booming voice for our Lord resonating through the ages. Perhaps they were afraid. Perhaps they were confused about what to do. Perhaps they were wise to keep quiet until the right time. Maybe they trusted God to do what he would do when he would do it.
    Be reminded: God transforms. God creates. God silences. God loosens tongues. As he desires, our Lord will surely use even our weaknesses to exhibit his strength (Remember Peter?).
 
Prayer: Dear Lord, as I am too often silent about my faith in you, loosen my tongue to speak when I need to speak. In Jesus’ name, amen.
 

Esther 2:8-9 So when the king’s order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king’s palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women. 9 And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king’s palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem.
 
THREE phrases in this passage speak of the evil into which Esther enters. First, we note Esther was “taken”. She didn’t volunteer. She didn’t have a goal to go to Susa, an enormous, well-fortified palace and estate. She was taken.
    The second evil is to note that she was put in the “best place in the harem”. Think about this. In their book, Extreme Grandparenting, Tim and Darcy Kimmel talk of ways a grandparent can offer these three essential human needs to their grandchildren. They are: 1) a secure love 2) a significant purpose 3) a sufficient hope. And let’s go further. Not only do grandchildren need these, every human being needs them. You and I need these, don’t we?
    Isn’t that one way to define Scripture’s purpose? God’s Word proclaims to us that, indeed, we do have a secure love, a significant purpose and a sufficient hope. Consider John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  Is there any way to know a more secure love than to know that God sent Jesus to die for us? Is there any purpose more significant in our lives than to believe in him? Can there be hope more sufficient than to know we will not perish “but have eternal life?”
    We can see then the depths of Esther’s imprisoning dilemma when we understand this: Esther would have no secure love, no significant purpose and no sufficient hope in the king’s harem. There, she was stripped of her personhood to become, instead, a royal pawn. She will be moved about the “royal chessboard” of physical pleasure at the whim of a weak-minded, sensual-driven king.
    How did this happen to Esther, the simple, beautiful peasant girl? Go back to a few days ago to remember how the king had become angry at Queen Vashti. Then four years after King Ahasuerus deposed the queen, his advisors had directed him to this evil intention. One sin at a moment’s whim can erase the opportunity for secure love, significant purpose and sufficient hope in another’s life.
    Think about this debilitating power of your words and actions. What will happen to those around you if you focus first on you? Think then about the affirming power of your words and actions. What will happen to those around you if you focus first on them?
    Oh yes, Esther suddenly found herself in a penthouse of luxury, but it would be at the cost of her purity.
    I recently watched a television program in which college women were interviewed regarding their sexual habits. They experienced great remorse over their belief in the college culture of sexual promiscuity as the fun and favored way to be. In such sin they quickly learned there was no secure love. None of that activity led to a significant purpose. The casual whims of desires did not lead to sufficient hope.
    Here’s the third phrase to see here. Did you notice Esther was in Hegai’s “custody”? “Custody” can mean protection and safekeeping. It can also mean ownership of a master over a slave.
    Esther is in a great moral dilemma. Has God placed Esther among sin, so she can demonstrate his holiness?
 
Prayer: Father in Heaven, my I embrace the wonder of your secure love, your significant purpose and your sufficient hope for my life. I love you above all. In Jesus’ name, amen.