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Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus … that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants.

Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded … seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command.

And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.

Then the king’s servants who attended him said: “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king … Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.”

And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

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 when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her. 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.

—From Esther 1–2 (NKJV)

Meditation

The story of Queen Esther’s cleverness and courage has inspired countless works of art, music, film, and even Hamentaschen Cookies, iconic treats made during the celebration of the Jewish holiday in Esther’s honor, Purim. Esther’s story is an amazing testimony to God’s providence.

Are we surprised to learn that the name of God—in any form—is not mentioned in the book of Esther even once?

Her story is moved in grand sweeps by the invisible hand of God, yet never is He mentioned by name. 

We might wonder what distress kept the king restlessly awake the night before evil Haman intended to ask for Uncle Mordecai’s execution. The king requested his most soothing bedtime story, the book of the deeds of his reign, which was the record of all he had done. When the reader came to the part where someone saved the king from an assassination attempt, the king asked who that was, and if that person had been honored. It was the very man Mordecai that Haman was hours away from executing.

Did the reader come across the record of Mordecai by happenstance? By coincidence?

Mordecai himself said to Esther, when the lives of her people rested on her shoulders, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Est. 4:14).

The purpose of God is so often invisible, silent. So often we fail to recognize the hand of God at work in our lives, and yet at work it is, whether we grasp it as God’s Hand or not.

Let us consider how Esther’s story goes beyond a tale of God’s providence. There’s much more in those few chapters—another story that it foreshadows with rich symbol and shifting allegory. 

Many have tried to read Esther as a one-to-one correspondence to our Christian experience, but good allegory is seldom so tidy. 

Is Christ’s work of grace prefigured in King Ahasuerus’s scepter, the raising of which is the only thing able to spare Esther’s life if she enters his presence unbidden? Or is Esther herself a type of Christ in her willingness to risk her life for her people? Or, as some theologians argue, King Ahasuerus is the prefigurement of Jesus. In this interpretation, the king represents Jesus, the initial queen Vashti who is found unworthy represents us in our sinful rebellion, and Esther is the perfected Bride of Christ. Still other scholars see a parallel between Mordecai’s honor when he’s raised up on the king’s horse, dressed in the king’s robes and carried through the city, and Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. 

Few interpretations agree on each and every detail, so we’re left to wonder at the onion-like layers of Esther’s story. It is easily one of the deepest, richest, and most beautiful stories of the Old Testament. 

Let us remember again that in all its beauty and depth, not once is God mentioned by name. 

Yet His work permeates every line.

As we reflect during Advent, we can consider how God quietly preserved his redemptive line, and we can see still another possible parallel—Esther’s humility, her innocence and obedience are so like another woman’s, a woman through whom came the salvation of all. Mary, the earthly mother of God.

Inspiration

Music

Reflect as you enjoy Carol of the Bells that the people celebrated after the plot of Hamen was exposed.

Watch the dramatized Light of the World, a contemporary carol.

Visit our Joy of Advent YouTube playlist for featured videos, our Ultimate Christmas playlist for all our favorite carols, or our sing-along carols to enjoy karaoke style.

Reflection

Yesterday we reflected on God’s presence. Today consider beginning a Faithfulness Journal. Use any notebook or journal and record those coincidences or hidden providences that feel more divine than accidental. The narrowly missed automobile accident, discovery of a mistake just in time to rescue a project from disaster, the angry text that somehow, miraculously, bounced back undelivered. Track these events for a week, a month, a year, and see if, even without the obvious response of God to specific prayers, you can discern God’s hand in your everyday life.

Prayer

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

My soul magnifies the Lord
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid;
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His name;
And His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear Him.
He has shown might with His arm,
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His mercy
Even as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

Family Celebration 

In your child’s favorite Children’s Bible, read the story of Queen Esther.

Say: Have you ever been afraid? Queen Esther must have been terrified to approach the king without being invited. But she saved her people with courage and intelligence. She didn’t fight any battles, rather she obeyed and patiently used the gifts God had given her to accomplish His will for her life and for her people. A king’s scepter reminds us today of Esther’s courage—because if the king hadn’t welcomed her with his scepter, she would have been executed. How can you discover God’s purpose for your life?

Especially for Toddlers & PreK

Resources

• Learn more about the Jewish holiday of Purim.

• Enjoy a printable selection of coloring pages featuring Esther.

• Would you like to make Jesse Tree ornaments to accompany your readings? Find tutorials and ideas from simple to advanced at our Jesse Tree Ornaments Pinterest board.

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