daily reading 32.1 (Esther 2:12–18)

5-days-a-week through Daniel and other late OT books in 2023

Our opening prayer for this week:

Alleluia! sing to Jesus! His the scepter, His the throne.
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone.
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood.
“Jesus out of every nation has redeemed us by His blood.”

Alleluia! bread of angels, Here on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia! here the sinful flee to You from day to day:
Intercessor, Friend of sinners, Earth’s Redeemer, hear our plea,
Where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.

Alleluia! not as orphans are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us, faith believes, nor questions how;
Though the cloud from sight received Him when the forty days were o’er
Shall our hearts forget His promise, “I am with you evermore”? Amen.

 

Esther 2:12–18

• During the year before each young woman's turn to go to King Ahasuerus, the harem regulation required her to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.
• 13 When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take with her from the harem to the palace. 14 She would go in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second harem under the supervision of the king's eunuch Shaashgaz, keeper of the concubines. She never went to the king again, unless he desired her and summoned her by name.
• 15 Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai who had adopted her as his own daughter. When her turn came to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king's eunuch, keeper of the women, suggested. Esther gained favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her.
• 16 She was taken to King Ahasuerus in the palace in the tenth month, the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women. She won more favor and approval from him than did any of the other virgins. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.
• 18 The king held a great banquet for all his officials and staff. It was Esther's banquet. He freed his provinces from tax payments and gave gifts worthy of the king's bounty.

Helpful notes on Esther 2:12–18

For yourself pray:

• That God directs your week for your good and his glory

For others pray:

• That God puts good rulers over your country

A psalm to listen to and ponder, as time allows:

• Psalm 97 (YouTube, duet)