When we decide to follow Christ, we must remember that we no longer belong to ourselves; instead, we belong to God. As daughters of God, we should represent Him faithfully. Throughout the Bible, God has given us women who exemplify His characteristic traits, as highlighted in Proverbs 31. One of these women is Esther. Queen Esther showcases the attributes of Proverbs 31 through her faith, family, formation, and function.
Faith
There will come a time when you must defend your faith. You will need to reveal who you truly worship. Situations will arise that challenge your belief in God. As John 4:22-23 (NKJV) states, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”
Esther did not disclose her true identity because her uncle Mordecai advised against it. However, when Haman, the principal minister of King Ahasuerus, issued a decree to have the Jews killed, destroyed, and annihilated (Esther 3:13), Esther revealed that she was a Jew. She sought to save her people, knowing they were in peril because of Haman.
Esther 8:5-6 (NKJV) 5 and said, “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?”
By revealing her identity to her husband, King Ahasuerus, she demonstrated her selflessness. She stood up for her people by acknowledging who she was; her faith was evident through this act. During that time, Jews were regarded as God’s people, which led to the conclusion that she was a Semite. Despite knowing that no one could approach the king unless summoned, she sacrificed her status. She revealed both her faith and her identity. By sacrificing her status, she exemplified the traits described in Proverbs 31:26: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.” She opened her mouth with wisdom by exposing Haman’s plan, and on her tongue was the law of kindness, as her actions reversed the decree against her family and her people. She said in Esther 8:5 (NKJV) “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.
Family
Esther came from a Jewish background that traced its lineage to Shem’s family tree, one of Noah’s sons. Ultimately, she married King Ahasuerus, who ruled from India to Ethiopia (see Esther 1:1). He was well-known, which aligns with what Proverbs 31:23 states: “Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.”
Queen Esther’s husband is recognized and sits among the elders of the land. In the third year of his reign, he held a feast for all his princes and servants; the power of Persia and Media, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces, gathered before him (Esther 1:3). The fact that Queen Esther was willing to advocate for her people indicates that she will also stand by her husband. This demonstrates her commitment to bringing him good rather than evil. It reflects her heart, which is focused on doing good and not harm. This quality is underscored in Proverbs 31:12: “She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” Her husband was eager to give her whatever her heart desired because he delighted in her. (Then the king said unto her, “What wilt thou, queen Esther? And what is thy request? It shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.” — Esther 5:3)
Formation
Queen Esther went from being an orphan to becoming a queen. Since King Ahasuerus’s wife was not fulfilling her duties (“But queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command by his chamberlains: therefore, the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him – Esther 1:12”), the king searched for virgins and was pleased with Esther when he saw her, so he selected her.
Esther 2:9 (NKJV) 9 Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women.
The strength it takes to stand before the king, especially when you come from nothing, and to be elevated all at once, shows the characteristic traits that Proverbs 31:25 describes: “Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” Even though she is an orphan, her beauty and boldness are her strengths, and the fact that she will be elevated to queen status shows that she will rejoice in times to come. Her boldness has elevated her in life.
Function
Esther 4:14 (NKJV) 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
When she became queen and needed to save her people, she embraced her role. She had her husband reverse what Haman had written, which allowed her to rescue her people. According to Proverbs 31:20, a good woman extends her hand to the poor; yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. Her kin were in trouble, so she reached out to assist them. She engaged fully in her responsibilities. By dedicating herself to her duties, she also secured victory for her kin.
Esther 8:11 (NKJV) 11 By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives—to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions,
In Summary
Proverbs 31 is a prime example of what a virtuous woman should exemplify; she is the kind of woman every woman should aspire to be. Queen Esther serves as an excellent illustration of this ideal. We can also acquire these traits through our faith, family, formation, and function.
Contributor: Min. Adama George
