THE ‘GIANT’ IN YOU “A STUDY BASED ON THE LIFE OF QUEEN ESTHER”

Summary of Esther
Date and place: the records of the events of Esther were no doubt kept in the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia (2:21-23; 6:1-3; 10:2): and the compilation of the facts in book form was perhaps done in Shushan the palace, or Susa, the ancient capital of Persia (Neh. 1:1; Esther 1:1-2), about 516-506 B.C.
Author: Ezra, the scribe
Proof of authorship: Jewish tradition ascribes the book of Ezra. Augustine also ascribes it to him. The Talmud ascribes it to the Great Synagogue which, with Ezra, its founder and president, completed the Jewish Canon of Scripture. There is no other likely author living after these events who could have written the book, so Ezra seems acceptable
Theme: the great deliverance of the Jews from extermination during the time of the Babylonian captivity
Purpose: to show by whom and how the great deliverance of the Jews in all lands came about; to record the institution of the feast of Purim: and to reveal historical background of the liberator of the Jews from captivity – Cyrus, the son of Esther and Darius the Mede
Statistics: 17th book of the bible; 10 chapters; 167 verse, 5, 637 words; 11 commands; 21 questions; no prophecy; no promises; and no distinct message from God.

INTRODUCTION
There is a Giant in every living soul either just or wicked. Except for it literal meaning; whereby it is impossible to possess in you a physical being mightier than your state of physical being.
Queen Esther is a bible character that possessed such quality being a female. Giantess means a female giant. The natural qualities of a giant are ever present in both male and female giants. It is often known of a giant to be powerful, large, and very strong and have a phobia laid impression on inferior beings. This we can see in the common story of David and Goliath. Goliath was the giant and David was less than inferior to him in stature. How is Esther now a giant?As it was never mentioned in the bible rather she is commonly known to be a beauty parget! By now we should know how David was able to overcome Goliath, not by his physical stature but by FAITH with the Spirit of the LORD “because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1John4:4b). To be a Queen requires a lot but not all queens are giants-giantess. So why should Queen Esther be one anyway, she could be a giant to a maiden because she’s the queen…? Her physical beauty was definitely a giant that made a king compromise his policy yet that wouldn’t have taken her that far in the history books of the bible! What made Queen Esther a giant-giantess? Let me introduce to you the savior of the Jews-the great deliverance of the Jews from extermination during the time of the Babylonian captivity. Am sure you have a lot of questions to ask, this study will answer but a few. The bible will be our major reference point in which that can help you find answers to all your questions.
How did she deliver the Jews?Was it simple because she’s the Queen?How did she even become a Queen if she was a servant? Must you be a Queen before you showcase the giant in you?
How can you maintain the giant? How can you identify it?
From the beginning;
Hadassah (myrtle), she was an orphan, her father, that is, Mordecai’s uncle (his father’s brother) as well as his aunt having died. Mordecai brought his cousin Esther up as his own daughter (Esther 2:7). She evidently lived outside the palace with him and he carried on his duties in the palace. (Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible DARB).

CHAPTER ONE: HER JOURNEY INTO THE PALACE;

Esther’s journey into the palace started during a great feast organized by Astyages also known as Darius the Mede, titled Ahasuerus. Other kings were also called Ahasuerus but he was particularly recognized due to his reign over 127 provinces and was especially renowned. This and more made it possible to recognize how powerful he was, during his time the Jews were his slaves and other tribes, according to history.
The feast was so great (180 days) that the law was compromised treacherously. “And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel :”( Esther 1:8a) because king Ahasuerus did not compel his guest to drink but rather every man as he willet. The seventh day marked the end of the 180th day feasting which made such a day special. The heart of the king was merry and made request as he was not in the right state of mind. He ordered Vashti the Queen to be brought forward (by household servants instead of nobles) before drunken men to parade her beauty in an unruly manner. This was an unusual request from an Oriental king to make his queen expose herself; it was an insult to her, being a queen and a blemish on the king himself, for the nakedness of the queen to be seen by just anybody. Still she is completely obliged to the total will of the king; either the request was favorable or not, she had to obey but Vashti refused. And this made the king angry in which in the process passed a decree against Vashti that she will never see the king again (Esther1:19). Furthermore, a decree was sent to all the provinces to ensure all the men both great and small had control over their wives reason being that; Queen Vashti was the head of other women in the kingdom and her disobedience will spread to other women making them disrespectful to their husbands at home.
After the whole show, it displeased the king of his wrath and remembered Vashti’s deeds and his decree against her which cannot be altered.
Then was the search on for a new queen and six processes were to be adhered to (Esther 2:2-4);
 Young virgins
 All provinces in the kingdom must appoint officers
 All the officers must gather the young virgins to Shushan the palace.
 They must be placed in the house for women in the custody of Hege (the king’s chamberlain, keeper of women).
 Let their things for purification be given them.
 Let the maiden which pleases the king become queen instead of Vashti.
This was the channel God in his divine arrangement used to bring Esther before the great king Ahasuerus, not just to be brought forward but to be selected as the new queen. It became the parade of the most beautiful maiden from all the provinces-beauty pargets. Esther was subject to the earnest instructions of Mordecai and obeyed him as she as always done at childhood like a daughter to him. This was a show of respect by Esther and Mordecai cared for her like his own daughter (Esther 2:10-11) “Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should shew it. – And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her”.Hege was in charge of the women from the provinces. All the maidens were to report at Hege’s quarterto present their things for purification before they were finally presented before king Ahasuerus. Beautiful Esther pleased Hege that “he speedily gave her-her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maiden, 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 (Esther 2:9b). Thus the process was put into action that every maiden should go before the king in turns but none pleased him except this maiden that was fair to look on, Esther. “(16) So Esther was taken unto the king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.” (17) And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor 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.” (Esther 2: 16-17).

BY ADEDEJI A. OSHIGBESAN

adedeji_israel@yahoo.com