"Let them seek attractive young virgins for the king. Let the king appoint chief officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, and let them gather every attractive young virgin to the harem in the citadel of Susa under the care of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let him give them their beauty treatment. And let the young woman who is pleasing in the king's eyes become queen in place of Vashti." Esther 2:2-4
Adam fell and was expelled from the Garden. From that time on, God's redemptive purpose was acted out by His choosing, His sovereign election, of a person and choosing to cut a covenant with them. To bind Himself to them. To Seth. To Noah. To Abraham. To Isaac. To Jacob. To Joseph. To Judah. To Perez. To Moses. To David. To those whom the king finds lovely in his sight. They are His by right. King Ahasuerus could take any woman he pleased because he was king. Even more so, God can take any man or woman he pleases because He is God. He takes them, treats them like royalty, though subjects, he beautifies them, glorifies them, sanctifies them, yet each one was found wanting. None was worthy to be queen. No not one. No matter whom God has chosen and blessed over the millennia, they have all fallen short of the glory of God. None is worthy to redeem us. None can save us. None could ever give up their bodies for us to save us from our slavery to death.
"There was a Jew in the citadel of Susa..." Est 2:5
"...who are Israelites, to whom belong the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the temple service, and the promises, to whom belong the patriarchs, and from whom is the Christ, according to human descent, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen." Romans 9:4,5
"And it happened, at the proclaiming of the edict of the king and his law, when many young women were being gathered to the citadel of Susa under Hegai's care, Esther was taken to the king's palace under the care of Hegai who was in charge of the women. The young woman pleased him and she won favor in his presence, and he quickly provided for her beauty treatment and her portion of food, with seven chosen maids to give to her from the king's palace, and he advanced her and her maids to the best part of the harem."
"And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with people." Luke 2:52
Side note, can we think of the king's eunuchs as representative of the angels? The way we are cared for and watched over by these invisible ministers of our God? Those who do His bidding directly.
"When the turn came near..." Est 2:15
"But when the fullness of time came..." Gal 4:4
"Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, to his palace...And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won his favor and loyalty more than all the virgins..." Est 2:16,17
"Sixty queens there are, eighty concubines,
and maidens beyond number.
My dove, she is the one;
my perfect, she is the only one;
she is the favorite of her mother who bore her.
Maidens see her and consider her fortunate;
queens and concubines praise her:
"Who is this that looks down like the dawn,
beautiful as the moon,
bright as the sun,
overwhelming as an army with banners?" Song of Songs 6:8-10
"And behold, there was a voice from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Matt 3:17
"...so he put a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. And the king gave a great banquet, Esther's banquet, for all his officials and servants. And he granted tax amnesty to the provinces and he gave gifts with royal liberality." Est 2:17,18
Two things happen when Christ comes, our debts are forgiven! The debt we owe the King. The debt of allegiance that we never gave. The debt of holiness we could never pay. The king's ransom was paid by Christ himself, the second, better and truer Adam, the acceptable sacrifice. And the King gives gifts! "Now to each one of us was give this grace, according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, "Ascending on high he led captivity captive; he gave gifts to men." Pentecost! The Spirit that dwelt and rested on Christ is given now to all who call on and are called by His worthy Name.
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