Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and
his servants, even Esther's
feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the
state of the king. 19 And
when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in
the king's gate. 20 Esther
had not yet shewed her kindred
nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of
Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. Esther 2:18-20
Time for another party! It
appears that Ahasuerus (Xerxes) loved to give parties (feasts). There
was a reason to celebrate. The king had picked a new queen. The feast was
appropriately called “Esther’s feast.” He was so excited about his choice that
the party extended to the provinces.
The king gave “a release” to the people. Depending on
what commentary you read the release was either from paying taxes, or from
work, such as a special holiday. Esther was given “gifts”, we are not told what
type of gift but according to history of the Persian kings, it could be
anything from lovely clothes to an entire city.
Meanwhile, Mordecai sat at the king’s gate. This was not
your ordinary sitting but it was a position he held. J. Vernon McGee says, “This
means that he is a judge, for the courthouse of the ancient world was the gate
of the city.” We are not told how Mordecai came to receive this position but it
shows that God is in control. God had
placed him in this new position. Mordecai is now sitting at the gate where he
is able to hear and see what is going on in the kingdom.
Through her selection, the celebrations as well as the appointment
of her cousin, Esther was harboring a secret. She kept the secret hidden in her
heart because Mordecai, her adopted father, had asked her to. Her secret was
even hidden from her Persian husband. No one but Esther and Mordecai knew that
she was Jewish, and a captive from Jerusalem.
Behind the scene God was guiding each word said, each
step taken by Esther and Mordecai. God will guide our words and our steps if we
let Him. At the start of each day, we need to ask God for guidance and
direction to lead us in the way we should go.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:
for thou art the God of my
salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Psalm 25:5
Teach me thy way, O
LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Psalm 27:11
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew
6:13
Donna
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