30 Days Queen Esther Daily Devotional
Day 1
Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah) Often Used Wedding Imagery
The term “Friend of the Groom” would have been as common place to an ancient Jewish mind as the term “Best Man” is to our modern western mind. Yeshua Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah) often wove wedding imagery, understood by the people of the day, into his teachings. In the 30 Days Queen Esther Daily Devotional we will look at that wedding imagery through the lives of a fictional couple, Ahasuerus and Esther and apply the scriptures to our own relationship with Yeshua as The Bride of Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah).
Ancient Jewish wedding tradition required that the father of the groom choose the bride. Often the groom had an idea of who he wanted to marry and often the bride and groom had a liking for each other, however, unlike modern western culture, the negotiation for marriage was between the fathers.
The father of the groom would send a representative, called the “Friend of the Groom”, often a family member, to the father of the bride for the initial negotiations. The “Friend of the Groom” would learn from the bride’s father, the price required and even make some offers representing the groom and his father. Today the story begins, becoming the Bride of Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah).
Choosing His Bride
Ahasuerus and Esther, young teenagers, lived in the same village near Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). Growing up Ahasuerus had always had an eye for Esther . He loved her enthusiasm, her way with words and her kind spirit. Her beauty overwhelmed him and as a young boy he knew one day she would be his wife.
Esther, a few years younger than Ahasuerus couldn’t help but like this cute boy who also displayed an inner strength of character. He loved to have fun, and she would often see him defy the norm and find himself in trouble, again. However, he also had a very kind and sensitive heart towards those who were hurting and it was obvious he loved deeply. Even as children there seemed to be a kindred spirit between them. Secretly Esther thought, maybe someday I will be his wife.
Ahasuerus was turning 15 and it was time for his father to choose a bride. Ahasuerus told his father that Esther was “The One” for him. Lately Esther, age 13, noticed her parents watching Ahasuerus. She would hear their whispers and small disagreements or approvals. Her heart stirred; would they choose Ahasuerus for her?
One day a man came to their door, Esther recognized him right away, he was from Ahasuerus’s family. Esther’s sister answered the door and the man asked for Esther’s father, the two men went behind closed doors for an important discussion. Esther couldn’t help herself. She took her broom by the door, pretending to sweep and listened. She heard the man’s voice, “today I am here as “The Friend of the Groom”, my brother would like to arrange the marriage of his son Ahasuerus and your daughter Esther.
Esther stopped breathing, this man was there on behalf of Ahasuerus’s father.
His request for Ahasuerus and Esther to be betrothed and marry in the future was the first step of a contractual negotiation for marriage. Esther’s father agreed and the “Friend of the Groom” returned a few days later with Ahasuerus and his father and the three began to negotiate “the price of the bride”. Ahasuerus would pay a significant price to take Esther as his Bride. The marriage contract would soon be initiated.
We Are Deeply Loved and Chosen By Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah)
Do you sometimes feel rejected, unwanted, a “charity case”, the “worm that I am”, barely deserving the mercy of Hashem (G-d)? The truth is We Were Chosen, yes you and I, to be in Covenant with Yeshua (Messiah), His Bride. We are deeply loved, accepted and desired by our bridegroom. Regardless of your experience with earthly men, the King of the Universe chooses you!
“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. “Yochanan (John) 15:16
“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love.” Ephesians 1:4
3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3
The Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit) is The Friend of The Groom, Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah)
Scripture tells us the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit) is the one who draws us to Yeshua, convicts us of our sin, comforts us, intercedes for us. The Holy Spirit seeks us out and continues to draw us to accept the love of Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah).
6 “to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:6
“But the Comforter, which is the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit), whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.” Yochanan (John) 14:26
“43 Yeshua (Messiah) answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” Yochanan (John) 6:43-44
Yochanan (John) the Baptist saw himself as The Friend of The Groom, Yeshua (Messiah)
He “prepared the way of The Lord” drawing people to follow Yeshua (Messiah).
28“You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.,” Yochanan (John) 3:28-30
Choosing Honor as my “Filter”
Understanding the depth of this passage, “you were bought with a price” has created a new filter for my thoughts, motives, reactions, words and heart in a much deeper way. A filter is used to remove impurities. Yeshua, my Bridegroom loves me deeply, he chose me, he paid an exorbitant price for me.
It is out of love and gratitude, not duty that I choose a new filter, Honor Hashem (G-d).
How does this impact you? If Honor Hashem (G-d) is your filter, what changes?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Tomorrow we will look at The Price of the Bride.
Please share Queen Esther Diet Plan with your mishpacha (family) and friends to see the shekinah of HASHEM coming into your life and the lives of those chosen by Hashem (G-d) to be part of His Kingdom! Speak to you soon, lehitraot! Blessings in Moshiach Yeshua!
