Spoken With Love: Week 2 Day 1

Proverbs 21:1

In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water

    that he channels toward all who please him.

Around 500 BC the King of Persia was throwing a party.  Persia was an area stretching from the upper Nile region all the way through India. Xerxes, known for his heavy drinking and quick temper, had been partying for 180 days; that is not a misprint. At this party, Xerxes decided he wanted to show off his pretty wife Vashti. The queen, however, refused, and I don’t blame her! In a rage, Vashti was exiled and King Xerxes was single. Then, a few months later, Xerxes began to miss his wife and his advisors suggested that he hold a beauty pageant to find a new queen. This seemed like a great idea to the bachelor king and, it was at this time in the story, that we met Esther. 

Esther was an orphan, exiled from her homeland. She did not have a lot going for her in the world’s eyes. Yet, God in His sovereignty, chose to make her noticeable to the king’s officials, and she was plucked from obscurity and entered into this bizarre contest. Long story short, Esther won! She was made queen, but remained loyal and obedient to her guardian, Uncle Mordecai. While the palace was busy with pageants and coronations, God was working out His plan. 

Esther 2:19-23

19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.

21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

Mordecai was at just the right place at just the right time to hear about a scheme against the king. He reported it and saved the day. Nothing much else happens, at least not right now, but we are beginning to see the overall message of the Book of Esther: People are planning and doing, but God is in control.

How does that make you feel? Meditate on this idea of God’s sovereignty throughout the day and we will return to this fascinating story tomorrow!