Esther: A Regal Ensemble

Esther: A Regal Ensemble

   King Ahasuerus  ruled over 127 provinces, his rule was a huge success so he decided to display his vast wealth by throwing a 7days banquet, where enough food and royal wine will be shared for all who gathered. Every one was to eat and drink without restrictions. Now this wine and dine went on for days and on the 7th day the king was engulfed in the snares of the wine and was completely drunk so he decided to show off his Queen, Vashti to his guests. He gave an order that she be brought to the kings court for the all his princes,noblemen and officials to behold her beauty.
 When Queen Vashti heard of this summon but she refused to go, she was queen and would not have relished the prospects of being paraded in front of a room full of drunken men, this was not a suitable thing for a queen to do. Men and women often dined together in ancient Persia but as the diner progressed and more wine was drunk, the wives usually left and were replaced by concubines.
The king got really mad over her refusal to appear before him and termed it an act of disobedience, he was too drunk to understand that his demand for her was alcohol influenced.
 So the Drunk king decides to consult his fellow drunken wise men and law experts and they make a decision to ban Vashti from the kings court and replace her with a new queen.
    A message is sent to all provinces for a young beautiful virgin queen suitable for a king to be sort for. This was more like a beauty contest or should I say queen contest, with maidens from all provinces participating and being placed under the care of Hagai, the king's eunuch and all beauty treatments given to them. With all their needs tended to during the period of 12 months, after which the king will make a choice.
 Modecai worked in the palace and on hearing this, he  hurried home to tell his cousin Esther about this contest. She was beautiful and her going for the contest wouldn't be such a bad idea, he thought to himself. They were both slaves and their parents had been exiled  from Jerusalem and taken into captivity years ago, Esther's  parents had died and Mordecai was the only family she had left, he had taken her as his own daughter and raised her not to have the slave mentality but to have the fear of God. So when he asked her to go for the contest she agreed, what did she have to loose? Esther thought to herself, if she didn't make the cut to be queen, she would gain being treated like one even if it was just for a year. She packed up and got ready to go fill out the applications in the palace.
   
       The next months were just wonderful for her with all the pampering, bubble baths, oils of myrrh,perfumes and cosmetic treatments she got. Life had never been better, but she never stop praying and acting morally  as she had been brought up. They were lots of intimidatingly beautiful women also trying to be queen but Esther was singled out by Hagai and he liked her more.
 Time came for the women to be presented to the king, Esther stood and watched as each contestant went into the kings court with smiles and confidence and came out with tears and screams "I am suppose to be chosen as Queen" they all cried out, she just shook her head and waited her own turn. The king still hadn't found what he was looking for as hundreds of women went in and out with their hearts broken.
Now it was Esther's turn, she said a little prayer under her breath and walked in before the king. She wore her regal ensemble on the inside beyond the visible queenly robes and the perfect skin all the ointments and cosmetic therapy had done for her, she walked into the kings courts and it seemed like the earth stopped its revolution for a minute. The king was blown away, there was something about this woman, something that went deeper than her physical looks. She wasn't crowned yet but she made him feel like she was born into royalty, he stood to his feet and order they put a crown on her head.
 He walked to her and smiled and asked of her name "Queen Esther!" He exclaimed yes you indeed are my new queen. He was so excited about his new queen, he declared a public holiday and sent out royal gifts.
    A slave girl, born into exile was now uplifted to a place of a queen. No longer will she be identified as a common Jew in slavery but now as the queen of all 127 provinces. During her reign her identity as a Jew was still unknown to the king and many others. She used her position to save her people from Haman's conspiracies. She approached the kings court on this day without being summoned by the king, she disobeyed royal laws like her predecessor Vashti but rather than get banned she got more favour from the king.
 When God works in your favour. He can remove anyone from a place he wants you to be and throw people into confusion that even the wisest men can't explain all for your sake. He works everything out , his methods may not be how we want but he definitely works things out.
 I'm sure Esther had her own goals and aspirations in life and being a queen wasn't even in her wildest imaginations. She was unaware of the regal ensemble God had clothed her with. An ensemble that brought her favour in the sight of kings. You might have your own dreams, a particular kind of future you want, but here is a reminder that like Esther those dreams are probably too small compared to what He has planned out for you. You have a regal ensemble in Christ Jesus that will enthrone you and bring you favour before kings and rulers.  You are royalty, don't let an understanding you have of yourself define who you really are. Wake up! put on your Regal Ensemble and watch kings and princes favour you everywhere you go.

"So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.  Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
Proverbs 3:4‭-‬5 KJV