In the King’s Court

Honoring Esther During Women’s History Month

Happy Sabbath, friends!

Continuing our Women’s History Month series, today we turn our focus to the story of Esther.

The book of Esther begins with a decree that every man should be ruler over his own household, and that all women must respect their husbands. Unfortunately for Queen Vashti, she was unable to uphold this decree, resulting in her removal as queen. This led to the search for a new queen for King Xerxes — a search that ultimately brought Esther into the palace.

Esther 2:2–4 (NIV)
“Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.”

Positioned For A Purpose

The first thing we should note is that Esther did not choose to become queen — she was brought into the palace, and the Lord paved a way for her without her even realizing it.

She was placed among many young women gathered from across the empire, simply to be considered as the next queen — and yet, she was chosen.

Esther 2:8–17 (NIV)
“When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem. 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. And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name. When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.”

Sometimes the Lord places us in positions or situations we never expected — not by accident, but by His purpose.

In the moment, it may not be clear why we are where we are. But as we continue through Esther’s story, we begin to see that God had a plan unfolding all along.

A Crisis For God’s People

As we move into Chapter 3, we are introduced to Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite. He was highly honored by King Xerxes, yet Mordecai refused to bow to him.

Esther 3:2–5 (NIV)
“All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor. Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew. When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.”

Because of Haman’s anger, his frustration grew into hatred toward the Jewish people — Esther’s people.

What is so striking is that at this point in the story, Esther has no idea that her people are in danger. Even more heartbreaking, King Xerxes had been manipulated into agreeing to the decree without knowing Esther’s background.

Esther 3:6, 8–11 (NIV)
“Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.” So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.””

Courage To Step Forward

Eventually, Esther learns of the decree.

Think of a time in your life when you were faced with something so overwhelming that you did not know what to do or how to respond. That is likely how Esther felt when she was informed of what was happening.

In Chapter 4, Mordecai asks Esther to step in and help.

Esther is faced with a choice:

She could remain silent and protect herself — or she could step forward in courage and obedience.

She chose courage — and in doing so, she walked in obedience.

Esther 4:9–14 (NIV)
“Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?””

Mordecai believed that Esther had been placed in the King’s Court for a divine purpose.
And there she was — already in the King’s Court — simply needing to step forward in faith and courage.

God often calls us to act in moments that require both courage and trust.

Trusting God’s Timing

Approaching the king without being summoned could result in death, yet Esther was already in a position where she could step forward — she simply needed to act in faith.

And she did.

Esther 4:15–16 (NIV)
“Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.””

What is so noteworthy is that Esther did not act on impulse. She could have immediately gone to the king and revealed everything Haman was doing, but instead, she chose patience and trusted in the Lord’s timing.

She invited the king and Haman to banquets, waiting for the right moment.

At the same time, in Chapter 6, we see something powerful unfold.

Esther 6:1–3 (NIV)
“That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.”

The king could not sleep and felt led to read the book of the chronicles. In that moment, he discovered Mordecai’s loyalty and chose to honor him.

It is a beautiful reminder that the Lord is always working behind the scenes — even when we cannot see it.

God’s Deliverance

After the king honors Mordecai, we enter Chapter 7 — where Esther finally reveals Haman’s plot against her people.

Esther 7:1–10 (NIV)
“So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.” Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.” King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?” Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?” As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” The king said, “Impale him on it!” So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.”

Because of the Lord’s hand and Esther’s courage, the plan against the Jewish people is stopped.

Praise the Lord!

When God calls us to act in obedience, He can use that obedience to bring deliverance and protection to many.

A Life Used By God

Esther was an ordinary young woman who was chosen from among many to become queen.

She may have seemed ordinary, but in the Lord’s eyes, she was chosen for something extraordinary.

You may feel ordinary. You may feel unseen or unsure of your purpose. But the Lord sees something greater within you.

Wherever you are in this season of life, God may have placed you there — just as He placed Esther in the King’s Court — for a reason you cannot yet see.

The Lord calls us to trust in Him, knowing that His plan is greater than anything we could imagine.

Need proof? Look at Esther’s life. She likely never imagined becoming queen — let alone being used to save her people.

The Lord has a plan. You may not see the outcome now, but you can trust that it is good.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

John 13:7 (NIV)
“Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.””

Amen.