This post is Day 8 in a series of studies about “Esther”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

Esther – Day 8

It seems as though the king was not in a very desperate hurry for his new queen. Over a year before he got to meet any of the prodigies! That must have seemed quite a long year for Mordecai who spent much time near to the courtyard of the harem.

Esther 2:10-12

Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.
Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh, and six with perfumes and cosmetics.

The Thought

It seems as though the king was not in a very desperate hurry for his new queen. Over a year before he got to meet any of the prodigies that were in preparation! That must have seemed quite a long year for Mordecai who spent much time near to the courtyard of the harem. He walked there daily, overhearing conversations and maybe asking a few questions. He would no doubt be praying for God’s protection over his closest relative housed somewhere in the heathen palace.

Esther, for her part was being treated like a queen, enjoying the oils, perfumes and cosmetics offered freely, but she would often go into the courtyard and see her faithful tutor hovering there.

She had obviously been chosen by God to fulfil a specific role. That can be said of other characters in the Bible too:-

• Joseph
ill treated by his brothers elevated to being Pharaoh’s right hand man. (Genesis 37-41)
• Samuel
the much desired son given to the priest at a very young age. (1 Samuel 1-3)
• David
the youngest ignored brother who rose to be king of Israel. (1 Samuel 16)

Action

Praise God today for your background, for all you learned along the way, (both good and bad) that prepared you for being the person you are today.

Thank God for all the people who have been part of your journey until today.

Pray that you will fulfill God’s purpose for your life.