Queen Esther

“Drama Queen” or “Hero?”

Esther was not your typical “drama queen,” but in a literal sense, Esther was a queen whose life was filled with drama.  Whose isn’t?  I think you would agree that no one gets out of this life without facing a little drama and the fear that goes along with it. 

Was she a hero? Absolutely! This was her destiny. Scripture says that God placed her in position of royalty “for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14) I love the idea that God poured such courage into her that she was able to rise above her own fear, at the risk of her own life, to save the lives of her beloved people. This is an example of the kind of sacrifice that Jesus made for us when he suffered and died on the cross, but then rose above death to give us life.

I love this quote from Holley Gerth, “Here’s the truth about us no matter what we may hear. We are overcomers.  We are more than conquerors.  We are stronger than we know, braver than we feel, and loved more than we can even imagine.”

Do you remember playing “dress up?”   As grown women we have that same longing today that we did as little girls. We ask ourselves every day, “Am I beautiful and brave?”  And the answer is yes, because we have that same power . . .  the power of His love surging through our veins. This makes us beautiful and brave, and believe it or not, we all have a role to play in this drama of life. We are all called to “such a time as this.”  What is your role in this drama?

Queen Esther

Once upon a time. . .

There was a King Xerxes who had a party for 6 months---a real Hulabaloosa.

He was a very rich king who lived in the fortress of Susa.

One day, King Xerxes said to his queen, “Queen Vashti, get in here now!”

You see, he wanted to show her off to his friends like she was some prized cow.

This made her mad, and so she said to the king,

“Leave me alone, I’m not going to do anything.”

And so because she disobeyed the king that day,

Queen Vashti was banished; she was sent away.

It was then that King Xerxes had a beauty contest to find the prettiest girl.

He needed a new queen, and he wanted the best girl in the world.

Now there was a beautiful girl, named Esther, whose parents had died;

She had been adopted and raised by her older cousin, Mordecai.

The king chose Esther as his queen, because she was so glamorous.

He put the royal crown on her head, and she looked just fabulous.

Esther was Jewish, and it was dangerous to be part of that clan,

So she told no one about that, not one woman or one man.

Someone should tell her. . . 

”Esther, don’t worry and don’t be afraid. Don’t get discouraged or dismayed.

The Lord’s love will give you strength and help you too.

He’ll lift you up, and in his hand, he’ll hold you.”

Now the king was tricked by an evil guy by the name of Haman

To be the prime minister, the king’s main man.

Now Haman was selfish and expected everyone who came near him to bow down,

But Mordecai only bowed to God; he wouldn’t bow to that clown.

Mordecai was Jewish, and Haman hated Jews so much.

So, Haman tricked the king into ordering the death of the whole bunch.

Mordecai loved his people and for them had such pity.

That he cried, and wailed and went outside the city.

Esther sent her servant, Hathach to ask Mordecai what was the matter.

Why all the noise, all the wailing and the clatter?

Esther said, “Oh me-oh my, oh why-oh why?

What can we do, cousin Mordecai?”

Mordecai wanted Esther to talk to the king.

To talk him out of doing this terrible thing.

Mordecai said, “Esther, maybe God put you in this position

For a time like this, to get us out of this condition.”

Someone should tell Esther. . .

 “Don’t worry and don’t be afraid.

Don’t get discouraged or dismayed.

The Lord’s love will give you strength and help you too.

He’ll lift you up, and in his hand, he’ll hold you.”

So, in terrible fear Esther went to the King and invited him to dinner one night.

She said something like, “Why don’t you and Haman come over for a little bite?”

Meanwhile, that mean ole’ Haman set up a place where he could hang Mordecai.

Oh me-oh my, oh why-oh why, poor cousin, Mordeciai.

Esther faced her fear and told the king, “You see, dear King, I am Jewish. I’m from that clan.

Please don’t kill my people.  It’s a terrible and evil plan.

I’m telling you the truth; I would not lie.

You think that Haman is so good, but he is a very bad guy.”

The king believed Esther and saw that her strength was from the Lord.

And that day he declared peace with the Jews and put down his sword.

Now even today, at Purim, the Jews celebrate, every man, woman, girl and boy

Of the time when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy.

Now, let me pose a question to you. . .

Do you ever get afraid or tremble with fear?

Do you ever want to hide out of sight and cry a few tears?

Well, at times like this, there is someone you can call.

He can handle it all.

Whenever you pray, he will be there with you.

You can depend on him. He always knows what to do.

His name is Jesus, and this is what he’ll say. . .

“My buddy, don’t worry and don’t be afraid.

Don’t get discouraged or dismayed.

The Lord will give you strength and help you too.

He’ll lift you up and in his hand he’ll hold you.

Safe. . .in his loving arms.

(A Poem from The Little Bitty Bible Buddies Curriculum by Gena Baker)