20 Ways Myrrh Effected Queen Ester
If you have read my other books the Holy Spirit has provided us with a detailed picture of the importance Myrrh essential oil had on His people. Take a few minutes and in the space provided list everything you know about myrrh essential oil.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Today, we are going to concentrate on the role Myrrh played in Queen Ester’s life. About five hundred years before Christ Queen Esther was born. She used Myrrh as a part of her beauty treatments. I don’t believe that this was her choice, because in her land King Xerxes required all women that came before him to undergo beauty treatments.
Esther is one of my favorite books of the Bible, because it is historical by nature. Queen Esther came into power 700 years after the rule of the Babylonians. This book really demonstrate God sovereignty and love for all of his children. The book of Esther describes a time in which God uses a Jewish woman to change History. Many people have presented the Book of Esther has a love story between a man and a women, but it is just the opposite! Her ancestors were taken captive from Jerusalem into a foreign, pagan culture. Xerxes, King of Persia, wanted to replace the current Queen Vashti since she defied him. He appointed commissioners of the region to send soldiers out to retrieve all the virgins in his land. So, all the virgins in Persia were brought to the castle for the purpose of the King choosing who he was attracted too. This was 470 BC’s dating game and the world believes Hollywood has it “gonna on.” Haggi is in charge of preparing and protecting the women.
Morticci told Ester to not reveal her religion unless directed to and is that not how we have to be in order to keep our jobs sometimes?
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Do you think all the virgins and their families were happy about being presented to the king? Was it a visit to the bed chamber or an on stage event? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Remember, that a virgin, in this time period and in the Middle East is mandatory. Many women are killed for not following this law. The Jewish men would have seen this as tossing their daughters to the wolves. Each family would have also took a hit finally, because women were often bought by a man for marriage. All arranged marriages and contracts would have also been lost. The Jewish community would have been in an uproar! Their purity standards would have been wasting in ruins. I hardly think this would have been a nice parade of women on a stage or a glorious ball from Hollywood. This would have degraded women and deemed them valueless with one trip to the bedchamber.
Esther was raised by a God fearing and loving man who taught her all the ways of a Jewish woman. Mordecai was a scribe and as part of his job description he was a gifted translator in at least three languages and he would have also been great at math and measurements. He taught Esther how to be clever at speaking which got her noticed by the eunuchs and king. She knew when to speak and when not to speak. She was able to create loop wholes within the law to push God’s agenda. Esther found favor with everyone she met, including Hegai, the man in charge of the preparing the women to meet the king. Although she was permitted to take any jewelry and accessories from the King’s palace, she followed what was suggested by Hegai (Esther 2:8-15).
Esther put greed and vanity aside and trusted Hegai, who KNEW the king, and had her best interest in mind. As the story goes, Queen Esther called upon the Jewish people to fast and pray for 3 days. Even though it was against the law for the Queen or anyone to come before the king she initiated contact with the king, Esther declared, “I will go to the King….and if I perish, I perish.” On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes. Even though she had not eaten for 3 days, the power of fasting prayer gave her supernatural courage and strength. She found favor when she approached the King. The decree to annihilate the Jews was reversed. Haman, the man who instigated the plot, ended up being hung in the gallows fate.
How can Esther’s life apply to our lives today? Does she bring beauty from the inside out? How can myrrh play a role in this?
1. Relying on the power of prayer. Esther prayed and fasted. Myrrh was used in the anointing oil for the high priests who prayed for the nation of Israel (Exodus 30:30). Myrrh, the gift that was given to Jesus, the ultimate High Priest, can also be used to deepen our devotional time by inhaling the essential oil before/during our prayer time or burning it.
2. Esther used myrrh for 6 months as a part of her beauty treatments. Myrrh not only brings nutrients for the skin, but has an emotional, balancing effect. As proven by science, inhalation and topical application of myrrh impacts the emotional part of the brain and may help one feel more calm and confident. God, The Author of Creation designed myrrh to promote beauty from the inside out. Although myrrh can promote healthier emotions, it’s not a “magic solution”. Having a daily relationship with Jesus, the King of Kings is what truly transforms lives from ashes to beauty (Isaiah 61). Regardless of how we currently view ourselves, the truth is that Jesus treasures us as “His daughters – His royal beauty”.
3. Esther is a great Christian example, because she rose above her sufferings and made a difference for everyone around her. Isn’t this the goal for Christian women? I believe so! According to Proverbs 31 (outside of being a mother) Esther set a high standard for all women. Esther was an orphan who was raised by her cousin Mordecai. According to Talmud Esther’s mother died in childbirth. No one really knows how her father died, but most historians believe he died building the first temple of the Jews. Esther parents, grandparents, and ancestors were still living when Nehemiah, Mordecai, and Daniel, rose to positions of power under the Babylonian kings. King Cyrus gave his famous proclamation in (2 Chronicles 36:22-23) which gave permission to the Jews to resettle Judea (Israel). However, this did not last long, because their enemies convinced the king to reverse his proclamation. Therefore, in Ezra 4, the Babylonian kings ended their resettlement agreement. All of this lined up the events that lead to Esther. She became orphaned and was adopted by her cousin Mordecai. Later, when Queen Vashti refused to appear before Ahasuerus (Esther 1), Memuchan, the Kings’ Persian royal adviser, advised King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) to remove Vashti from being Queen of Persia. King Ahasuerus was angered and was ready to accept his advice. In Esther 2, royal eunuchs advised Ahasuerus to look for a new queen.
What is a eunuch? ______________________________________________________________
The purpose of castration in ancient times was to induce impotence and remove sexuality for the male. It was a common practice in ancient times for rulers to castrate some of their servants and/or advisers. It was especially common to castrate men who tended the royal harem (the king’s women). Queen Esther’s eunuchs are mentioned in Esther 4:4.
In Matthew 19:12, Jesus declares eunuchs in the context of marriage. He says, “There are eunuchs who were born in that fashion, or there there are people made a eunuch by others—and there are those who elect to live like eunuchs in order to focus on the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this life should accept it.” Jesus categorizes a eunuch in the following ways: a natural eunuch (“born that way”), a forced eunuch (“made eunuchs by others”), and a voluntary eunuch (“those who choose”). For example, a natural eunuchs are those who are born with a physical defect. This physical defect disqualified them from marrying, because it comprised their desires for marriage and sex. In another instance, forced eunuchs who from birth were castrated by kings. The main reason the king castrated a male was to make them of no value to society. Primary the king wanted them to serve in his castle without treat to his women. Often kings took orphan boys to castrate and they became dwellers of the castle. Voluntary eunuchs are those who, in order to better serve the Lord choose to forego marriage. A voluntary eunuch believes God calls them to remain single (and therefore celibate). Paul speaks of those who serve the Lord in their unmarried state in 1 Corinthians 7:7—9. On the other hand, just as there is the good and the bad with every topic some gay rights activists point out that Jesus was referring to homosexuals, because He declared eunuchs who were “born that way.” However, the Bible has never used the words homosexual and eunuch in the same conversation. In conclusion, eunuchs are never referred to in Scripture as being in sin, while homosexuality is always condemned in scripture.
What were the beauty treatments? Could they have been hurtful? Did all women like to be pampered in this way? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
So, when Haggi seen Ester and he brought her to the front of the line. She was given a special meal plan and seven other women to help keep her beautiful. No doubt, some in charge of aroma, make-up, hair, jewelry, and tailored clothing. All of the women went through 12 months of beauty treatments. This was not 352 daily trips to a spa. The Persians used oils, flowers, herbs, poo, bug guts, different foods and other painful methods in their beauty treatments. So, in 470BC what would those include?
1. The Mole! small khaal (literally, mole, making beauty spots) on her face to applying kohl and blush.
2. Crocodile dung mixed with donkey’s milk was used as a face mask.
3. She also famously bathed in milk with rose petals for hours at end.
4. Cheeks were blushed using a mixture of clay and crushed beetles
5. Enhance the glow of the skin and get smoother skin: 1/2 cup of sand or salt, 3 drops of myrrh essential oil, and teaspoon of grape seed oil. Mix, message, scrub, or brush on the skin.
6. Great oral hygiene: slows down swelling and refreshes breath. Baking soda, coconut oil, and essential oils of myrrh, lime, and peppermint. Then, brush your teeth and rinse.
7. Grow thicker longer hair: add essential oils of myrrh, Ylang-Ylang, rosemary, and cypress to your favorite shampoo. Rosemary and Cypress increase blood flow. Ylang Ylang thickens hair and helps generate feelings of passion. Finally, myrrh will add moisture and reduce dandruff.
8. To decrease anxiety Easter would include (Epson) salt, myrrh, rose oil, and milk.
9. Dry cracked heels: myrrh helps to heal scraps and bruises. Therefore, rubbing your heels and elbows will relieve dry cracked heels. It’s hard to sleep with the cloth dressing so remove it before going to bed.
10. Dark patches on the skin: arm pits, knees, and elbows. Ingredients needed: blended rice one table spoon, baking soda 1 tablespoon, coconut oil 2 tablespoon, ground tomato 1 tablespoon. Combine the ingredients, rub on the skin, and massage. halfway through rub with a soft miswak toothbrush and repeat. Wipe off with a towel by patting dry. Rub on the coconut oil and leave on skin.
11. Scars: 1 teaspoon of any carrier oil +3 drops of myrrh.
12. Cabbage leaves: place on breast to recover soreness from breastfeeding and place on ankles tie with fabric. (Reduces soreness)
13. Hair removal: ingredients 1/4 cup of water, 1/4 cup of lemon juice, whisk together, add 1 cup of sugar, and bring to boil (about five minutes). After boiling pour into a mason jar. Leave the lid. Ready in about 20 mint. Using a butter knife rub against your hair (add a strip of cloth) pull off and add pressure. After removing all the hair add aloe Vera plant juice to skin.
Esther 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for …
Theologians have often questioned why it’s included in the Holy Bible. The statement: It’s in there because that’s the way God wanted it, usually does not stop anti Christians (Christ) from trying to disapprove His Word. Those who have not chose God claim that this book is totally circumstantial and does record the name of God anywhere. A possible reason for their beliefs, because this world is ran by darkness. In the beginning Lucifer was cast to Earth with his demons, therefore, they set up an invisible kingdom with one ruler we call Satan and the names of his demons have never been recorded. We have nickname Lucifer as Satan, because he does not a right to be associated with Heavenly things. The only away to be set apart from Satan is to be accept Jesus’s sacrifice.
We only know good and have a brightness, because of His spirit. My friend, as I grow older and more knowledgeable in Christ that I realize how God works. Like in the story of Esther our God works through our circumstances to achieve His goals. Most of you know that I have published my testimony in written form and in visual form on YouTube, but I pray my life is a prime example of how Christ works through those who love him.
