Title: Esther Becomes Queen
Contents
Special Early Morning Prayer Meeting 2nd August 29th (Tuesday) New Church
Esther becomes Empress
Esther 2:1-23
Challenges in Esther's life (1-11)
Almost four years have passed since Vashti was deposed. Historically, the 7th year of King Ahasuerus, when Esther ascended to the throne, was a period of material, mental, and physical damage as he was defeated in the battle with Greece, who was confident in his perfection and strength after making perfect preparations for war.
As he looked back on his act of hasty towards his wife, the king's love for Vashti was rekindled. The wise men who had counseled the king were careful not to let Vashti fall into favor again. Because the day she becomes queen again, their lives will be at stake. Perhaps he was referring to national law (Jewish historian Josephus).
Knowing that King Ahasuerus had a strong desire, the doctors urged the king to gather the most beautiful virgins from all over the country to Susanseong. And he appointed an official to take care of the selection of concubines.
The fact that Mordecai's family was chosen as a candidate for a queen means that it was a very respected family. Mordecai seems to have lived his best life there in his own way. The Jewish diaspora lived with a fierce determination to create a new culture that transcends foreign cultures and religions. They maintained their Judaism by:
① Synagogue movement
② Talmud education
③ Diaspora Autonomous System
④ Prepare a tax system for the Jewish community as well as pay the country’s government tax
⑤ Flexibility of legal application
Jews never marry Gentiles. And once you become a candidate for queen, you will never be able to return to your home. This was done not by Esther's will nor Mordecai's will, but by a will that could not be touched by national law, and Mordecai had no choice but to hand over his beloved cousin Esther to an official named Hegai. However, she sent Esther out of bounds, but she did not leave it to fate. Esther was entrusted to the working God. When Mordecai asked Esther not to reveal her ethnicity, it seems that Mordecai was expecting a great work from God.
On the other hand, Hegai, who has cool judgment and keen observation, began to like Esther. So I started to give grace. God was working in secret.
God takes care of you (12-23)
The suffocating fateful day has arrived. Esther didn't ask for anything other than what Hegae, who was taking care of the court lady, decided. But the king immediately chose her and wanted to make her queen. She was exuding an extraordinary dignity. God gave Esther the courage and faith to go through the situation positively without being weighed down by the circumstances through the Holy Spirit. All she could do was depend on Jehovah. A banquet was held for Esther, and the king declared holidays wherever he ruled, exempted from taxes, and even gave gifts to the people.
Meanwhile, Mordecai enjoyed the honor and authority of being seated at the gates of the palace. The gate was the seat of judgment, where important public affairs were performed. During his official duties, Mordecai discovered a plot to assassinate the king and reported it to the king. This event was recorded in the Chronicles of Chronicles, which will play an important role in the future.
Aren't we so accustomed to limiting God? In fact, we don't even think about the challenge. When something happens, we try to solve it in common sense and do not bring it before God. Wouldn't God be pleased to ask for great things before God beyond common sense? Satan asks us, “How can you expect such a thing?” saying, it puts us down.
Because God planned what He would do through Esther, He wanted Esther to go up to the queen as a model. Esther and Mordecai relied on God closely. I prayed carefully and prepared thoroughly.
■ Today's Prayer
- Help us to think more positively beyond common-sense beliefs and become a faith that expects God
- Let us not despair and be embarrassed by the challenges that come our way, but let us have the habit of relying on the God of overcoming acts and using them as opportunities.
- May we prepare true workers with a sense of mission for our country and people.