Esther 2: 15 “Now when the turn came for Esther … 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”.
“Hegai liked Esther and took a SPECIAL INTEREST in her. Right off he started her beauty treatments, ordered special food, assigned her seven personal maids from the palace, and put her and her maids in the best rooms in the harem”. Est 2:9-10
Though, they all have equal privilege to appear before the King, but who will be qualify to be the King’s Bride? When you find favor with the Holy Spirit, you will find favor with the King.
Among all the waiting virgins, only Esther found favor. Why was she exceptional? Because of her moral upbringing, humility and godly character. She was not lustful and materialistic like the rest of the virgins. Here is the deal to test-drive their characters: Est 2:13 “Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women's quarters to the king's palace”.
The other young women went into the Harem with a lustful and ill-mannered heart, placing great demand on Hegai to give them whatever they desire. They were without restrain and the fruit of self-control was lacking in them, but when it was Esther’s turn “she requested nothing”. Hegai watched them and only Esther found favor with him. He saw the Queen in Esther and gave her special treatment. With his influence, and through the eyes of the King as he behold the chastity of Esther, verse 17 said, “And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she OBTAINED FAVOR and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
How did she obtained the King’s favor to marry her? She has a meek and quiet spirit. Other ladies have wanton eyes, but Esther requested nothing. She has been an orphan and was trained by her uncle how to be submissive. These and other qualities in Esther captivated the heart of the King.
All spices, cloths and jewelries were available and at their disposal from the women’s quarter to the palace, but Esther requested nothing except to follow the advice of Hegai. They were free to demand for anything which they desire, even at the palace as far as it will make them appear more beautiful before the King. Unfortunately and unknown to the rest of the ladies that what count most is not the artificial beauty, but the inner beauty of the heart. May be, the reason why good suitors are running away from you is because you look too expensive and place great demand on men to solve all your needs.
Imagining yourself at the palace of the King and you are opportune to take whatever your heart desire, how many of you ladies can cast restrain and request nothing like Esther, but follow the leading of the Holy Spirit? No wander, the King had to admire Esther. She was irresistible and finally, she became his Queen. He knows that when he marry any of those ladies, they might end up being like Vashti. Their hearts was focusing on what they will get and not on how they will satisfy the King. He has learn a lot from Vashti and its only a foolish King that will not take his time to make a good choice.
“Hegai liked Esther and took a SPECIAL INTEREST in her. Right off he started her beauty treatments, ordered special food, assigned her seven personal maids from the palace, and put her and her maids in the best rooms in the harem”. Est 2:9-10
Though, they all have equal privilege to appear before the King, but who will be qualify to be the King’s Bride? When you find favor with the Holy Spirit, you will find favor with the King.
Among all the waiting virgins, only Esther found favor. Why was she exceptional? Because of her moral upbringing, humility and godly character. She was not lustful and materialistic like the rest of the virgins. Here is the deal to test-drive their characters: Est 2:13 “Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women's quarters to the king's palace”.
The other young women went into the Harem with a lustful and ill-mannered heart, placing great demand on Hegai to give them whatever they desire. They were without restrain and the fruit of self-control was lacking in them, but when it was Esther’s turn “she requested nothing”. Hegai watched them and only Esther found favor with him. He saw the Queen in Esther and gave her special treatment. With his influence, and through the eyes of the King as he behold the chastity of Esther, verse 17 said, “And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she OBTAINED FAVOR and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
How did she obtained the King’s favor to marry her? She has a meek and quiet spirit. Other ladies have wanton eyes, but Esther requested nothing. She has been an orphan and was trained by her uncle how to be submissive. These and other qualities in Esther captivated the heart of the King.
All spices, cloths and jewelries were available and at their disposal from the women’s quarter to the palace, but Esther requested nothing except to follow the advice of Hegai. They were free to demand for anything which they desire, even at the palace as far as it will make them appear more beautiful before the King. Unfortunately and unknown to the rest of the ladies that what count most is not the artificial beauty, but the inner beauty of the heart. May be, the reason why good suitors are running away from you is because you look too expensive and place great demand on men to solve all your needs.
Imagining yourself at the palace of the King and you are opportune to take whatever your heart desire, how many of you ladies can cast restrain and request nothing like Esther, but follow the leading of the Holy Spirit? No wander, the King had to admire Esther. She was irresistible and finally, she became his Queen. He knows that when he marry any of those ladies, they might end up being like Vashti. Their hearts was focusing on what they will get and not on how they will satisfy the King. He has learn a lot from Vashti and its only a foolish King that will not take his time to make a good choice.
Every lady in the Harem has her turn to parade before the presence of the King for scrutiny. All of them had the same privilege to be in the Harem and received the same purification by the Holy Spirit in the person of Hegai, but only one of them will be favored. Not because of her beauty or background, but because of her character.
They were all under the custody of Hegai to be well train for marriage. The tenacity of the moment was high and every heart was beaten “who will be the next bride?” It was the greatest honour to marry the king at your prime age. Once you missed the opportunity of marrying the King, you have to wait until another King arose and nobody knows how long it will take before you get another honourable man.
Are you a virgin in Christ? Are you in the spiritual Harem (church) today? Are you under the custody of the Hegai (Holy Spirit) or outside? Do you obey the instructions of the Holy Spirit? Paul said, those that are single pleases the Lord…. They are under the custody of the Holy Spirit who is preparing them for marriage and who will continue to guide them in marriage as they yield themselves to Him. Are you pleasing the Lord as a single?
The word “custody” means, “A state of being confined (usually for a short time)”. You are not expected to stay long in the Harem without getting married to the King, but until you are favored you will still be in confinement.
The Bible said that Hegai was the custodian of the women. The interesting part is the meaning of his name Hegai, which is a Persian name for Eunuch meaning – meditation, word, groaning, and separation. As an Eunuch, Hegai gave all the virgins instructions on how to find favor in the eyes of the King, but who among them will past the test by following only his advise.
There was one among them who separated herself from ungodly influence and that is Esther. She is not a wayward girl listening to other ladies advises in the Harem. Definitely, the other virgins might be jealous of Esther and give her extra instructions which will make the King to distaste her instead and desire one of them. But Esther shunned them and follow only the Holy Spirit’s (Hegai) counseling. Hegai taught her on how to meditate on his word (God’s Word), how to separate herself from the alluring of immoral men outside the Harem and from bad friends in the Harem. She also learned how to groan and travail in prayer in order to find favor with the King.
I love the last part, it said “And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her”. Among all the virgins in the Harem of the King, only Esther found favor. Have you ever wander why others are flying their wedding cards and yet with all your beauty, education and wealth, you could not get a suitor?
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