Ahasuerus has dealt with his embarrassment and shame by removing Vashti as his queen. Some time passes and he begins to think over what has happened (Esther 2:1). His attendants offer their advice. Incidentally, they are described as “lads” and there seems to be a youthfulness to them they are not wise old advisors. This may remind us of how Rehoboam had listened to his younger peers rather than the wisdom of his father’ Solomon’s advisors and that led to the dividing of the kingdom of Israel.[1] The young men advise Ahasuerus to seek out a new wife. The process they suggest is a massive beauty pageant. Young virgins are to be brought to the capital from all around the kingdom and each will be brought into the king in turn for him to spend the night with them. He will then take his pick from them (Esther 2:1-4).
There’s a Jewish exile named Mordecai and he has adopted his relative, Hadassah, or Esther. She is spotted and brought in as one of the young virgins. Now, let’s be clear about this. The language can be a little euphemistic but essentially she is being prostituted or trafficked for the king’s gratification. She will be taken into a harem and then summoned by the king so he can sleep with her. It is likely that she will be discarded back into the harem again. The story here is shocking and disturbing. Is Mordecai complicit in this? Does he use it to his advantage. Some read it that way though actually the text points to him as constantly checking up, the language of him pacing back and forth near the harem may remind us, perhaps intentionally of Darius’ concern for Daniel after having him thrown into the lion’s den (2:5-11).
After a year of preparation, Esther is called into the king and he is taken with her. In fact, there seems to have been something about Esther, not just outer beauty that was appealing to all who came into contact with her. The king chooses this young Jewish girl (who has kept her ethnicity a secret) to be his new queen (2:15-18).
The story is disturbing. It points to a world that is ugly, where women and girls are objectified, trafficked and used. It speaks of men using power to get what they want. If Ahasuerus is the anti-Yahweh or anti-Christ, then Persia and Babylon represent this world in its opposition to God and his ways. We are right to be angry about what happened to Esther and the other young women. This should spur us on to speak up for justice and against the evil ways that our world behaves. It should challenge us to examine our own hearts. In terms of how we think of, speak about and treat others, do our lives reflect God’s values or this world’s? Are we Christ like or more like Ahasuerus?
At the same time, focus on what is happening with Esther. We might consider that she is enjoying a level of favour and regard from those who belong to this world but this doesn’t mean that her life is easy. There’s fear, she has to be careful about what she discloses. She is trafficked, detained, in effect she is little better than a slave. Yet at the same time, there is the subtle hint that God might be at work, that he is with Esther and that he has his own good and better purposes in this ugly situation.
The new Testament, see especially 1 Peter paints a similar picture for believers. The world around us may at one and the same time be recognising and favouring us because they see something of God at work whilst also causing suffering and persecution. Meanwhile, we can look to God to guide, protect and provide. We may not see it at the time but we can trust God to be working for good.
[1] 1 Kings 12:1-11.
Faithroots 