June 27
2014
Preparations for the King
The wind is blowing strong – great day for laundry – and as I have been sitting and doing my devotions the sun has slowly begun to move from behind the clouds to light up the lush green of the trees. Happy Friday Morning.
Back to Esther for a bit today. Onto Chapter 2 – we read:
So it was, when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women.
Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women.
Esther 2:8-9
Esther obtained favour right from the beginning. Why? Because God had a plan for her life.
As Daughters of the King of Kings, we have favour with those around us. A spirit of grace and wisdom drips off us from waiting in the Presence of the Lord. The world sees the glory of God on us – the anointing and the purpose of the Father – even thought they don’t understand it. It pleases them and brings favour our way – the blessings of God – that God’s will would be brought forth in our lives and the lives of those around us.
Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women.
Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace
Esther 2:12-13
The woman went through 12 months of purification before coming before the King. Six months of oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying woman (sweet odours and other things).
We all go through times of preparation. God is working in each of us – purifying and preparing us for His work – His call.
The oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit at work in us
The Myrrh symbolic of bitterness, sorrow and death. There are sorrows we must go through and many things of self that we have to die to before we are truly surrendered to Christ.
The sweet odours and other things are symbolic of those things that God allows us to go through as individuals. It looks different for each one of us. May our prayer be “Lord, let not one pain, one sorrow, one tear be wasted, that all be used for your glory.”
At the end of the time of preparation each woman was permitted to bring whatever she desired with her to her encounter with the King. We bring our individual lives before the King. Who we are, our life experiences, our hurts, our gifts, our surrender. It is never the same as what others bring before God. It is special to you, as an unique Child of the King – take it and lay it at the feet of the King of Kings and surrender the real you. Not the you you want to be, that others think you are, that you pretend to be – but the real you.
The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Esther 2:17
Loved by the King, obtaining favour and grace. It is not a sappy fairytale – it is the reality that we can all know in having a real, true, intimate relationship with the Lord.
Then the king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of a king.
When virgins were gathered together a second time, Mordecai sat within the king’s gate.
Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.
God is gracious to bring people alongside to walk with you to accomplish His work. Mordecai sat within the King’s gate and watched and listened and directed Esther accordingly. And she trusted and received his direction gladly.
Moving quickly onto Mordecai, we see that as he sat in the King’s gate and watched and listened he uncovered a plot to have the King assassinated. His diligence in being attentive spared the King’s life. But Mordecai was not immediately rewarded – but is was noted.
So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.
And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.
Esther 2:22-23
God sets things up. What you do now for the Kingdom is being recorded but may not be revealed until a later time – in order to accomplish the Lord’s plan. Do no seek recognition but trust that the Lord sees and will use it for His glory.
Mordecai was also in a time of preparation.
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:21
Continue to be faithful in the day to day things. The Lord has a mighty plan.
