After King Xerxes’ gets rid of queen Vashti, he decides to have his whole kingdom searched for beautiful young women to come and make their bid for the throne. The girls were to be groomed and pampered for several months, then each one, in turn, were to spend some time with the king. From that experience he would decide which one would become his new queen. Sort of like the game show, “Who Wants to Marry A Millionaire?” This was called “Who Wants to Marry A King?”
The cast of characters includes: a king, a queen that loses her throne, an orphan girl who becomes a queen and saves the day, a man of God and of course a villain.
So, all the land is scoured for beautiful young female candidates to become queen: enter Esther, the Jewish orphan.
When she was just a little girl, Esther became an orphan when her father and mother died. Mordecai, her cousin, raised Esther from childhood, as if she were his own daughter. Esther now a young woman, is selected as one who will be introduced to Xerxes, King of Persia.
Everyone who looked upon Esther was captivated by her beauty. And wouldn’t you know it, when Esther is brought before the king, he finds her more beautiful and desirable than all the other women.
Now there was one man who was one of the king’s closest friends. His name is Haman. He’s a guy with an ego that was bigger than all outdoors. Haman convinces Xerxes to make a decree that whenever Haman is around everyone in his presence should bow down to him. Talk about egocentric! But Mordecai, is a Jew and he will only bow to God. Mordecai flatly refuses to bow down to Haman. And as you might imagine this gets Haman’s goat.
Rather than just blowing it off, Haman stews about it. So Haman devises a plan to exterminate not just Mordecai but all the Jews in Persia because Mordecai won’t bow to him. The scriptures say, “Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.”
Haman tells Xerxes that there are a group of people who do not honor the king’s command–specifically the one about bowing to Haman. He says, “If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them . . .” Xerxes tells Haman to do as he pleases with the Jews. So a decree goes out with the king’s seal to “destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews–young and old, women and little children.”
Mordecai encourages Esther to go to the king to beg for mercy and plead for her people. Later on Esther answered with this message: 11 “All the king’s officials and even the people in the provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter."* But Mordecai insisted: "If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” *
Esther chose to answer the call, to fulfill her destiny! She requested all the Jewish people of Susa to fast and pray for three days. Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter. 3 And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!”
Esther invited King Xerxes and Haman to a banquet to expose Haman's evil plans. After a few days, Esther asked the king to overrule the edict initiated by Haman to destroy all the Jews. The king happily agrees and a new royal edict is issued that all the Jews in every province throughout all Persia are to be protected and have the right to defend themselves from any and all attackers.
Isn't it amazing? An entire nation was saved through the intervention of one orphan girl who chose to say: Here I am Lord, use me! Send me Lord!
Nowadays, the fear of the Persecuted Church in Smyrna foreshadowed the persecution of Christians today. In Nigeria, hundreds of schoolgirls were herded into buses by the hands of Boko Haram terrorists. In Iraq, thousands of families were huddled into churches by the dread of ISIS assassins. The first group is sold; the second group is hunted.
Queens of the most high God: Like Esther, refuse your comforts, close your screens and open your hearts: 'Weep with those who weep' (Romans 12:15), because Christians are persecuted and imprisoned in over 50 nations right now. End times are upon them, and they are upon us, too.
But here's how to help: 1) Pray for the prisoners; 2) Pay for the prisoners. Jesus paid their final price, but your donations to key ministries can help them, too.*** 3) Play for the prisoners. Bring attention to this tragedy and its Cure, use social media or any other platform you have.
Like Queen Esther, you have a purpose and a call! Become a positive example. You host God's Holy Spirit. Your rising is predicted. Wherever you study, live or work, remember: Kings will see you. Perhaps you will move them to deny the destruction of God's people. Esther rose. Now, it's your turn to overcome evil with good.
'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, 'Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me' (Matthew 25:39-40). *
I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:9-10 (NKJV)*
Know is the time to rise up and shine! The King of Kings and Lord of Lords is waiting for you to speak up, to pray and ask for the deliverance of your people, the people of God! The power of death and life is in your tongue! When we pray, the goodwill of the King can be established on this fallen world. If you go to the King in prayer, He will immediately held out the golden scepter that is in his hand towards you! He will answer you with this words: “What do you wish, my Queen? What is your request? It shall be given to you!
...GLORY!
* HOLY BIBLE
*** Catholic Relief Services in Iraq: http://emergencies.crs.org/iraq-crs-caritas-reach-displaced-families/
*** Unicef helping in Iraq: http://www.unicef.org/iraq/
*** Open Doors World Watch List: http://www.worldwatchlist.us
*** Persecution: International Christian Concern: http://www.persecution.org
*** Voice of the Martyrs U.S.A.: https://www.mnnonline.org/mission_groups/voice-of-the-martyrs-usa/
Excerpts from:
- HOLY BIBLE: Book of Esther, chapter: 4
- "Esther: An Orphan Who Saved A Nation" by Reg Watson: http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/esther-an-orphan-who-saved-a-nation-reg-watson-sermon-on-gods-omniscience-49271.asp?Page=1
- "The call to Overcome" by Carey Lewis: http://amtcdevotions.org/