Esther

1

Look at king Xerxes as a shadow of God. Look at Xerxes’ glory and wonder at God. A party that took a third of a year! Then another party in a garden big enough to house the whole citadel! Plenty of wine and food. Very rich surroundings. Oh the glory that is coming!

Look at the request for the queen. She is brought in because she is beautiful. It is hard to think of this in a holy manner, but I do not think that the request was completely impure. If so then this can be an image of the church. Jesus, the King, delights in us and so wants to show us off to all the people of His kingdom. Why? because we are beautiful and He loves us. How wonderful!

I’m not sure what to make of the rejection and punishment, other than the rather simple warning not to reject Christ.

2: 1-18

The young women were required to under go twelve months of beauty treatment before they appeared before the King. That is a full year. That is a huge amount. The king was rather important. Again we can learn from this that it is no small matter to be queen to the King. Indeed it is no small matter to come before the King. What a privilege we have in Jesus to approach the throne in boldness. But do not forget the magnitude of this privilege.

Also notice that they must under go a lot of beauty treatment. That does not seem dissimilar to what the church must go through now, while we await our summons.

Look at the kings response to Esther: he rejoices, indeed he causes the whole kingdom to rejoice. He declare a holiday and spreads gifts with liberty. Oh how great that day will be when the Church is united with Jesus. Oh LORD, may I love You’re Church and build it up. Thank you that I am a part of it. Oh, how I look forward to that day when we are with You.