This chapter continues with a more detailed description of the purification process which the girls and young women had to go through to prepare for their night with the king. Following this night the respective girl was moved to the house of the concubines. When it was Esther's turn she requested nothing extra to enhance herself other than what was appointed by Hegai the King's chamberlain, and she obtained favour from all who saw her.
The King likewise loved Esther and favoured her above all the other girls. He made her Queen, placed the royal crown on her head, had a great feast and proclaimed a holiday.
Throughout this period, as advised by Mordecai, Esther continued to keep her ancestry a secret.
We now read of Mordecai sitting in the King's gate, which my study Bible suggests Esther could have had a hand in by instigating his appointment as a judge or magistrate. Mordecai overheard two of the king's chamberlains plotting to kill Ahasuerus and told Esther who told the king. After an enquiry was made the men were hung and it was recorded in the King's book of chronicles.Today I particularly noticed the second part of verse 14, 'she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name'.
How sad this was - the poor young girls, taken from their homes, subjected to a year of preparation for one night with the king, and then sent to the house of the concubines -presumably for the rest of their lives, with uncertain further contact with the king. What a sentence! No prospect of marriage, of being tenderly loved and cherished by their husband. If they didn't please the king they might be forgotten or ignored by him for the rest of their life.
Of course, it might have been quite different from how I imagine - being the king's concubine might have carried with it a position of importance, power and respect, especially if they produced him a male heir. No doubt they would have enjoyed some of the wealth and favours of the king's position. But perhaps there would have also been rivalry and disagreements amongst the concubines as they all vied for the king's attention.
Does this verse make you think about the King of King's, Jesus, and how we too, like these girls waiting their turn to go into the king will each be called before Jesus at the Day of Judgement? Does it make you tremble as you wonder, 'Will King Jesus delight in me? Will he request my presence for ever, by name? '
Esther and her peers were given much to prepare themselves for their night with the king - after their 12 months of purification they could choose whatever they wanted from the harem to go with them into the king (presumably this was items such as jewellery and clothing). It was recorded that Esther wanted nothing more than what she was advised.
What about us? Can we prepare ourselves to meet King Jesus? If I read my Bible, go to church, say prayers, try to be kind and nice to people, make sure I'm honest, hold my tongue when people annoy me, work hard and diligently, and uphold the morals of the 10 commandments, surely that will please him? I'll be okay then won't I? I've heard he is a God of love...
But what is this we read in Isaiah 64:6, that 'all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags'? And what about this in Matthew 7: 21, 'not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven'? What if my name isn't found written in the book of life and I am thrown into a place of banishment and fire (Revelation 20:15)?
Praise God! There is hope, there is a way to find favour in the eyes of this king, King Jesus, but I cannot buy it or make it or work it out myself! I don't need to! It is all prepared and provided by the King himself! He himself is the way! He says, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me' (John 14:6). And in Isaiah 55:1 & 3, he speaks through his prophet saying, 'Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price...hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you'.
And then in Ezekiel 16:14 he tells us that he makes us beautiful, '...thy beauty:...it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the LORD GOD'. So beautiful, that when he looks at his people, he says, 'the king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold'. (Psalm 45:13), 'Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee' (Song of Solomon 4:7).
He promises his people that he knows their name and will call for them to be with him - they won't be banished to a house of concubines, never sure if they will ever see the king's face again. No! He says, 'Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine' (Isaiah 43:1). And in John 10:3,4 he confirms this again in the parable of the Good Shepherd, 'he calleth his own sheep by name...and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice'.
Are you concerned how it will be when you are called before King Jesus's throne? Are you trusting in the beauty of your life to make you presentable? Are you anxious to know that your name is written in the book of life?
Go to him in prayer and confess all your thoughts, anxieties, concerns and wrongdoings. Ask him to give you a truly repentant heart for all your sins. Ask him to give you the faith needed to trust in his life and sacrificial death that you might find favour in God's sight for Jesus's sake. Ask him to confirm to you that he is calling you by name and that you have heard and know his voice. And thank and praise him for making a way of salvation.
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