What would happen if the president asked his wife to parade herself in front of a crowd of world leaders…who were drunk? What if she refused? And he divorced her? This is essentially what happened with Xerxes and Vashti. In the search for a new queen, a young Jewish girl takes center stage and sets an example for young women everywhere--and truly for all people. She is moral. She is submissvie. She is beautiful in character. This lesson looks at the true beauty of Esther.

2. Esther
What would happen if the president
told his wife to parade herself
in front of drunken world leaders
for them to gawk at her?
✲ She refused
✲ He divorced her

3. Esther
Search for a queen in Persia
put a young Jewish girl at center stage
✲ Moral
✲ Submissive
✲ Beautiful character

4. Esther

5. Esther
Xerxes “remembered” Vashti, Est. 2:1
✲ Concern, affection, compassion – regret
✲ God “remembered,” Gen. 8:1; 19:29; 30:22

6. Esther
Servants have a solution, Est. 2:2-4

7. Esther
Xerxes needed a wife
✲ Companion, Gen. 1:18
✲ Not a concubine

8. Esther
Esther obtained the favor of
Hegai, Est. 2:8-11
✲ “Obtained” – translated
◇ Up, Gen. 7:17
◇ Bear, Gen. 13:6
◇ Lift “up,” Gen. 21:18
◇ Take, Gen. 27:3
◇ Set, Gen. 31:17
✲ Active labor to gain favor

9. Esther
Esther obtained the favor of
Hegai, Est. 2:8-11
✲ Not based on sensuality
✲ Based on personality
◇ Character
◇ Attitude

10. Esther
Esther gained the favor of Xerxes,
Est. 2:12-18
✲ All the young women
◇ Prepared with treatments for 1 year
◇ Were “beautiful young virgins,” 2:2
◇ Gave up the rest of their lives

11. Esther
Esther gained the favor of Xerxes,
Est. 2:12-18
✲ Esther took only what Hegai advised
◇ Did not pick what she wanted
◇ Listened to advice, Prov. 1:8, 9; 3:1, 2

12. Esther
Esther gained the favor of Xerxes,
Est. 2:12-18
✲ Esther “won” out over all others
◇ Obtained grace & favor, 2:17
◇ Feast of Esther

13. Esther
The Bible tells us about true beauty
✲ Deceitful charm & passing beauty,
Woman who fears the Lord to be praised,
Prov. 31:30

14. Esther
The Bible tells us about true beauty
✲ Gracious = honor, Prov. 11:16
✲ Lack discretion = gold ring in pig’s nose,
Prov. 11:22
✲ Virtuous wife = crown of husband, Prov. 12:4

15. Esther
The Bible tells us about true beauty
✲ Inner beauty is what matters, 1 Pt. 3:1-6
◇ Humble/submissive
◇ Chaste conduct
◇ Outward deemphasized
◇ Inward: gentle, quiet spirit
◇ Inward incorrupt. vs. outward corrupt.

16. Esther
Our daughters need to be taught
✲ Mothers…
◇ 5 conversations [The Body Project]
Resolved, not to talk about myself or
f e e l i n g s . To t h i n k b e f o r e s p e a k i n g . To
w o r k s e r i o u s l y. To b e s e l f r e s t r a i n e d i n
conversation and actions. Not to let my
t h o u g h t s w a n d e r. To b e d i g n i f i e d . I n t e r e s t
myself more in others.
- Journal entry 1882

17. Esther
Our daughters need to be taught
✲ Mothers…
◇ 5 conversations [The Body Project]
◇ Hope of successful conversation
only if mothers believe it

18. Esther
Our daughters need to be taught
✲ Fathers: reinforce principles of true beauty
◇ Treat her with dignity
◇ Instill modesty
◇ Teach her to value herself: mind, body, soul
◇ Show respect for wife/women

19. Esther
Note to young men – look for true beauty
✲ The wise man warns against following lust
◇ Flatter, Prov. 2:16, 17
◇ Lips of honey, Prov. 5:3, 4
◇ Allure with eyelids, Prov. 6:24-26
◇ Attire, Prov. 7:10, 21-23

20. Esther
Search for a queen in Persia
put a young Jewish girl at center stage
✲ Moral
✲ Submissive
✲ Beautiful character