Glory be to the triune God

2026/28

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

 In the beginning of the second chapter of the book of Esther we see King Ahasuerus thinking about his ex-wife Vashti. After the hangover of the wine he realized what he had done was wrong but it was too late to undo and go back in time.  The second chapter of the book of Esther introduces Mordecai and Esther. After queen Vashti was deposed from her position the king gave an order to look out for qualified virgins to fill the position of his queen. Mordecai was one among the Royal Court members of King Ahasuerus. Mordecai was a father figure to Esther after her parents had passed away and Esther was like a daughter to Mordecai. When the king ordered to find a queen for him, Mordecai urged Esther to get ready for the selection campaign. Finally, Esther was also taken into the custody of Hegaai- the King's Eunuch who was in charge of selecting a queen for the King. It is written in the book that Esther was fair- looking and beautiful. Mordecai was behind the bright future of Esther which is a matter of fact. Being a righteous and magnanimous person Mordecai did two things

1. He looked after Esther who was an orphan as his own daughter. Not all men would do this.

2. He encouraged Esther to participate in the selection process to become the queen not for his personal vested interest but because of her fairness and beauty besides her other good qualities. This means that Mordecai felt that she had the qualities to become the queen. This was not a back door appointment.

 We should possess the large heartedness to admire and appreciate the goodness of others, not only that but we should guide others properly according to their skills. We can suppress others' good qualities and skills for a while because of our jealousy but eventually it will come out to light tearing the darkness and by then we will be ashamed bending our heads. Believe that the same God who raised the others is capable of raising us also. Again, extend a portion of your love to those who are abandoned just as Mordecai did. Maybe none will observe it, none will appreciate it but GOD WILL SEE YOUR DEED OF KINDNESS.

Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless.  If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. (Exodus 22:22, 23)

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,

    is God in his holy dwelling. (Psalms 68:5)

(To be continued )