SOAP for Esther 2 S:: Esther 2:15-23 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality. Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy 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[b] 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. O:: As the search for a new queen got underway, all the virgins received beauty treatments (months of them). After their treatments, each lady hosted the king for an evening and then he selected a queen. Esther won his favor and was chosen! Meanwhile, Mordecai uncovered an assassination conspiracy, told Esther about it, Esther reported it, the king was protected, and the conspirators were executed. (And there was much rejoicing...) A:: As Esthers story unfolds, amazing things happen. The cultural eccentricities, the character development, and the over-all portrait of Esther (orphan turned queen, turned deliverer of her people) make for interesting reading. The application lessons from chapter 2 remind us to be the best versions of ourselves as we pay attention to godly counsel around us and to trust God has positioned us for His glory, whatever the situations and circumstances. P:: Father, as clouds of uncertainty, confusion, and even danger at times encircle us, give us faith and patience as we wait for the dust to settle. Grant us clarity in our decisions and show us Your path. As we walk this journey of life, may we see the characters and circumstances as You have positioned them and may we follow to the end the role You have cast us to play in Your story. Amen.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 14:31:36 +0000
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