Symbols in the Bible Symbolization: The King Calls For Queen Vashti part 1

Original Entry Date 1/26/2016: In the Book of Esther chapter 2 we read about King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) thinking of the former Queen, Vashti.
It was as though He longed for her at that moment even though the scripture does not specifically say so:

After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. ²Then the king’s servants who attended him said: “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king; ³and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the citadel, into the women’s quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them. ⁴Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.”
This thing pleased the king, and he did so.
Esther 2:1-4 NKJV
Tweet

It’s not made fully clear if Esther chose to join this competition or if she was snatched up due to her beauty,

⁸So it was, when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women. ⁹Now 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.
Esther 2:8-9 NKJV
Tweet

Now we begin to see some of the hidden treasures that God has tucked away in His Word. Esther found favor with the custodian, Hegai, so much that she was given seven maidservants
(see this post about the sevenfold Holy Spirit https://baptizemyheartlord.com/2021/03/16/symbolization-the-sabbath-the-sevenfold-holy-spirit-and-the-light-of-the-world/)
and the best spot in the house! Not to mention the extra beauty preparations given to her.
She is favored in the very same way God provides favor to be bestowed on to us. We now can see the character of Esther as being a symbol of the Bride of Christ.

blue yellow and red abstract painting — Photo by Fiona Art on Pexels.com

¹²Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women.
Esther 2:12 NKJV
Tweet

So here we see a painted picture of the beautification process of the Holy Spirit as He resides within us. Just as Esther is made beautiful, in time, after entering the King’s Palace, so are those who enter into the Living God.
Can you think back… to your life before finding Jesus? What was it like? When we commit ourselves to the Lord, He comes in and cleans the inner depths of our beings. He renews our hearts, and we are made beautiful. This process can even seep over to our physical appearance as the Holy Spirit gives us that Glow.
I am going to end this first part with an interesting snippet from a book I love “Connections” by Glen Carpenter. In the last portion of scripture we read above, it is described that his beautification process s a 12 month process. The number 12 is a symbol of Divine Government or Divine Order. Read from this book and scan that QR code to get a copy! You won’t be disappointed!
I will see you in part 2 of “The King Calls for Queen Vashti”: