Lessons from Esther: The Keeper of the Women

9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. Esther 2:9-10

As we learned from the last lesson, all the women were brought back to the king’s house. They were in the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. Hegai was the one who took care of the women by getting them everything needed for the meeting with the king.

This portion of scripture tells us that Esther pleased him. He saw something in Esther and treated her with kindness. Hegai was so “taken “by Esther’s beauty as well as her calm demeanor that he gave her seven maids to take care of all the details.

Esther and her maids were given one of the best rooms. Keli & Delitzsch Commentary says, “he changed her and her maids into the best of the house of the women, i.e., he took them out of the ordinary rooms and placed them in the best apartments, probably in the state-rooms, where those who were accustomed to be brought to the king used to dwell.”

Throughout all the preparation and all the kindnesses shown to her, Esther kept her promise to Mordecai. She told no one of her Jewish ancestry.

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. Proverbs 13:3 

… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; Ecclesiastes 3:7 

I can see “God’s hand” throughout this portion of scripture. God’s care and protection are everywhere. Hegai took her “under his care”. He gave her preferential treatment. Esther was in the center of God’s will and He was taking care of her.

When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 

Sometimes we think that if everything is not going “our way” then we must be doing something wrong. We need to trust God with every detail of our life. It doesn’t matter if it is small or large, God cares about everything. God was with Esther even in the middle of a foreign palace.

God cares about you and whatever you may be going through. Trust him with all your worries and problems.

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

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. I Peter 5:7

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Showing Kindness

1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:1-4

When you do for others it will increase. The main reason we do for others is not so we will see the increase here on earth but we are laying up treasures in heaven. We need to help and give wherever we see the need. We need to have discernment in our giving and do everything with prayer.

Do good while there is time to do it – don’t procrastinate. When you know there is something God wants you to do – DO IT.  If you wait for the “right time” to do something it will never come. We need to do it when the need arises.

I have done many things for others with the Lord’s leading but there have also been many times I felt the Lord nudging me and I just ignored it. Only to find out later that it was a direct leading from the Lord.

The Lord wants us to show kindness to all around us. Is it easy, absolutely not, but it is doable if we are willing to do things God’s way.

As you put on your clothes in the morning, pray and ask the Lord to “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” Colossians 3:12

Maybe you say, I never see people in need, they are just not where I go. This may be very true but can you help “needy” people in your neighborhood or family? Can you ask God to bring someone in your path that may need a kind word and a cup of coffee?

Solomon says in verse 4 if the farmer just waits around watching the wind he’ll never plant. So will it be for us if we just wait for an opportunity to do something it will never happen. We need to get out there and “plant” kindness to all those around us.

In Matthew 25:34-40 Jesus said these words: 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from a trip – Camera

My youngest grandson is four years old. This year we gave him a digital camera for his birthday. Oh please don’t be alarmed, it was a child’s camera that I purchased on clearance after Christmas. Don’t you just love the clearance aisle? 

He was so excited when he realized it was a “real” camera. He started to “shoot” everything he saw, toys, pictures on the wall, the dog, the table, can’t you just picture him with it in his hand aiming at everything in his sight.

Wherever he went the camera was sure to follow, in a backpack on his back. One night after supper we all went for a walk at the local park. Throughout the walk my grandson would stop and take a picture of something, a bunny, a tree, his brother, whatever was in his path. He would also stop others on the path to tell them he had a camera.

We stopped at the playground to let him and his brother play. After the playground break we headed back to the car. My daughter and youngest grandson walked a good distance in front of us. As I chatted with my older grandson I noticed we were closing the gap between us and the four year old with the camera. As we got closer we could see him talking with a woman who was walking a dog. By the time we caught up the woman and her dog was sitting so my grandson could take a picture. This woman took a few minutes of her walk to make a young boy happy. Her kindness gave all of us a little boost in our step.

It doesn’t hurt to be kind. It rarely takes much time but the joy you bring to someone else because of the kindness is priceless.

Is there someone you can be kind to? Ask God to put opportunities in your path today. Help put a smile on someone’s face.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  Colossians 3:12

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

Deliberately seek opportunities for kindness, sympathy, and patience. ~ Evelyn Underhill

Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind. ~ Henry James

Have a blessed day,
Donna