Nov 26, 2022
Lessons From The Book of Esther
I started Bible study yesterday because I want to get closer to God. I also intend to grow spiritually, and that means setting aside time for God every single day.
Thankfully, I bought a Bible study journal and a devotional Bible to aid with Bible studies. The one book of the Bible that has always fascinated me is the Book of Esther. Like, how did this one woman get a special section in the Bible all to herself? Why is her story so fascinating to many Christians?
I asked all these questions considering the first two chapters. In the first chapter, we are told that the King threw a lavish banquet. He then asks for Queen Vashti to come and showcase her jewels, only for the Queen to disobey her husband and refuse to show up.
Angered by her actions, the King strips her of her royal titles and banishes her from the royal court. After that, he requests for virgin maidens to come forward so that he can select his Queen from one of them.
One of these young women was Esther, a young orphan and Jew who was Mordecai’s adopted daughter. Of all the women there, Esther was the one the King favored to be his next Queen. I paused at this point. Why was this woman so highly favored? Was it God or was there something else?
I went to YouTube to see if I could find any videos on this subject. I came across a sermon by Apostle Joshua Selman and understood the story a lot more and how we can apply it to our everyday lives.
His sermon shed some light on this woman’s character and that forced me to take a better look at myself. Esther’s story all boils down to one word; honor.
This woman is the epitome of honor. Vashti’s introduction in the first chapter is important because it represents the opposite of honor and that is dishonor.
Vashti dishonored her husband by disobeying him. The advisers even said that they should deal with a woman like Vashti, as she would be a bad example to other women. That Vashti never apologized to her husband says a lot about her nature.
Why do I mention this? The reason so many of us are hard-stuck where we are is because of some dishonor we have done to some people. In my case, it was that incident with my family last year. Like the Bible says, “Honour thy Father and thy Mother so that ye shall live long.”
One of the first things I did on the morning of my introduction and the civil wedding ceremony was to kneel before my mother and beg her for her forgiveness and blessings. I also asked her to pray for me and I prayed for her and everyone, asking God for forgiveness.
Mother was right. I am truly the prodigal daughter. I was like Vashti initially as they kicked me out of my mother’s home, which was the palace. Yet I somehow returned to that same house months later.
God can be very merciful when he wants to be. Sure, he will punish you for your sins, but he will use that punishment to bless and humble you.
Anytime we insult others behind their backs or even say something like, “What is special about them? I can always do better”, we are inviting dishonor into our lives.
If you, for example, make fun of a celebrity, you will not only remain where you are currently, but also people will mock you as well. That is not only the Law of Karma there. That plays a role in the Law of Attraction too. Whatever you think or say to either yourself or anybody or anything, you end up attracting it into your life.
That tongue of yours is so powerful that it can make or break you. Thank goodness. I even sent it to my husband. Never look down on or dismiss others. Husbands, respect your wives and listen to them. Do not dictate their lives for them. Let them be.
Wives, respect your husbands and treat them with love and care. Check in on each other from time to time. Mind what you say in the heat of an argument because it could kill a person’s spirit. Parents, listen to and respect your children. Do not put them down.
Isn’t it weird that you see some pastors or imams or people blessing others and yet their homes are falling apart? The spirit of honor has left them and the only way to get that back is to make amends with those whom they have dishonored.
I have dishonored many people in the past, besides my mother and I have been praying to God to give me the strength to forgive myself and also all those that have dishonored me and to give those I have dishonored a forgiving spirit.
One of those that I have dishonored in the past (ironically, he also dishonored me in the past, but I have since forgiven him) is coming to my wedding as a guest. In some ways, that is closure.
Another important thing about honor is that when used well, it can save you from destruction. Esther used that to great effect by inviting Hamman, her enemy, and the very man that wants to kill all her people, the Jews, to a special banquet that she was hosting for the King.
All this was a plot to expose Hamman to destroy his evil plot. Boy, did she succeed because not only did Mordecai get saved from his fate and get honored by the King, they executed Hamman with the very weapon he created to kill Mordecai and the Jews. Moral of the story: Never underestimate a woman, especially those that come across as soft and modest. That very woman can bring you down to your knees.
Now, you know her story is that powerful. She did not need an army or physical weapon. All she did was use diplomacy, honor, and soft female power to conquer the enemy and save the children of Israel.
Now that I realize this, I am working hard to be a better person. It is difficult, but I am glad that the Word of God has opened my eyes to face reality for once.
