DCLM Sincere Milk 30 April 2023 — Bible Kidz – Esther
DCLM Sincere Milk 30 April 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Bible Kidz – Esther
Topic: Bible Kidz – Esther.
Text — Esther 2:5-18
6Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
7And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
8So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
9And 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.
10Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
11And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
12Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
13Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house.
14In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
15Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
16So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour 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.
18Then 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.
Key Verse: “And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.” Esther 2:7
Message
Esther lived in ancient Persia about 100 years after the Babylonians destroyed the land of Judah and took the people 1 as slaves. Her Hebrew name was Hadassah which means “Myrtle.” When Esther’s parents died, she was cared for and raised by her older cousin named Mordecai. He was a God-fearing man who trained Esther in a godly way. One day, the king of the Persian Empire, Xerxes threw a lavish party. On the final day of the festivities, he called for his queen, Vashti, eager to show off her beauty to his guests. But the queen refused to appear before Xerxes.
Filled with anger, he removed queen Vashti. To find his new queen, Xerxes hosted a royal beauty contest and Esther was chosen for the throne. Her cousin Mordecai became an official in the Persian government at Susa.
When the Jews (Esther’s tribe) were in danger of being wiped out, she prayed and fasted with her maids. Her request was granted, the people of God were promoted. Esther was not only beautiful but a shining light to generation after her as can be seen in the letters that spelt her name.
E – Embodiment of grace and inner beauty.
S – Submissiveness to godly training.
T – Trustworthy.
H – Humble, holy, and honorable.
E – Exemplary courage and faith in God.
R – Royal and responsible.
God desires to build and raise children that will stand and defend His righteous standard in this corrupt generation. Yield yourself to Christ, be obedient to godly counsel, and be an agent of light in your community.
Further Reading: Esther 4:12-17
Prayer for today: Oh Lord, I am ready to stand for You, use me.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
