THE CHURCH IN NEW YORK CITY
CHILDREN’S MEETING LESSON
DATE: August 23, 2015
SUBJECT: PROPHETS AND KINGS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Esther Chosen Queen
SCRIPTURE: Esther chapters 1 and 2
AIM: To see that a person’s inner beauty and good character is far more precious than outward beauty.
MEMORY VERSES: 1 Samuel 16:7b (…for man looks on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looks on the
heart.); 1 Timothy 6:6 (But godliness with contentment is great gain); 1 Peter 5:5 (In like manner, younger men, be
subject to elders; and all of you gird yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but
gives grace to the humble.); 1 Peter 5:6 (Therefore be humbled under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you
in due time).
SUGGESTED SONGS: 9213 BSS David Song 13 (For the Lord Sees Not as Man Sees); 2829 (Honor and Respect
for Authority); 4 (Be Careful What You Do); 7 (I am a Very Special Child); 10 (Inside Me); 139 (Have Thine Own
Way Lord); 144 (I Love Him, He Loves Me); 153 (Obey His Call)
BACKGROUND: (For serving ones) Esther lived in the Persian Empire during the reign of Ahasuerus—known as
Cyrus, son of Xerxes. Ahasuerus was called Artaxerxes by the Greeks. As the story opens, King Ahasuerus is at his
winter palace in Susa the capital (also called Shushan). It was one of three cities that served as his headquarters
during the year. (The palace, also called “Shushan the palace,” had been constructed by Darius the Great.)
CONTENT: Today we are going to talk about a young woman named Esther. Her original Hebrew name was
Hadassah, but her Persian name was Esther. She was beautiful in appearance, but more importantly, she was
beautiful on the inside. She loved God and His people, she was obedient and honored her elders, and later, she
became an instrumental part in saving God’s people from being killed.
Esther was an orphan, meaning that her father and mother died when she was young. Esther was raised by Mordecai,
who was an older relative, Esther’s cousin. Mordecai was as a father to Esther.
Esther lived during the time of King Ahasuerus, who ruled over the vast Persian Empire, from India all the way to
Ethiopia (a map may be useful to show the children how vast the empire was). During the third year of his reign,
Ahasuerus had a very special celebration. He held a banquet for all his princes and servants; the army of Persia and
Media, the nobles and princes of the 127 provinces were present. For 180 days, the king showed his glorious wealth
and the splendor of his majesty. After those days, the king held a banquet for even more people. The feast was for all
the people found in Susa the capital, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. They drank
royal wine without constraint. And the feast lasted for 7 days! So the total celebration time was 187 days.
Vashti the queen also held a banquet for the women in the royal house that belonged to King Ahasuerus. On the
seventh and the final day of the banquet, when King Ahaseurus “was merry with wine” he sent eunuchs (people who
served the king) to bring Queen Vashti to the king’s presence. He wanted to show her beauty to the peoples and the
princes because she was beautiful to look at. But the queen refused to come! This made king Ahaseurus very angry!
The king asked his wise men, who knew law and justice, what should be done to Queen Vashti because she
disobeyed the command of the king? One of the wise men advised the king that this act of disobedience by Queen
Vashti would be known abroad and cause other wives throughout the provinces to despise their own husbands. So
they urged the king to issue a royal order to be written among the laws, banning Vashti from the king’s presence,
and giving her position to someone better. Once the king made a decree, it could not be changed or rescinded. The
king liked this idea. So the king did as one of the wise men suggested. He sent letters to all the king’s provinces, in
their own languages, that every man should be master in his own house.
116095978
Page 1 of 2
Later, when the king’s anger had subsided, he remembered what had been ordered against Vashti. The king’s
attendants who served him suggested that young virgins (those not yet married), beautiful in appearance, be gathered
together to Susa the capital. The women would be brought into the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, and Hegai
would be in charge of the women. The young woman who pleased the king would become queen in place of Vashti.
The king liked this idea.
So the young women from various places were brought to Susa. One of these beautiful, young women was Esther.
She was also taken to the king’s house into the custody of Hegai. Esther pleased Hegai and listened to what he said.
Hegai was good to her and gave her the best things. He transferred her to the best place in the house of the women.
He gave her cosmetics and 7 choice young maids to help her.
But there was a secret that Esther had to keep. Morcedai, who raised Esther, told Esther that she should not tell
anyone that she was a Jew, one of God’s people. Esther obeyed and did not tell anyone. Every day Mordecai would
walk by the court of the women’s house to see how she was doing. She was obedient and submissive to the one who
had raised her. Not only was she recognized as beautiful but she “obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her,”
and was content with what she had been appointed by Hegai, the keeper of the women (2:15). There is no evidence
that Esther was full of pride because of her physical beauty; rather, she was humble. She was not only outwardly
beautiful, but she had a more valuable and lasting inward beauty. This inward beauty is precious in the Lord’s eyes.
After a year, each young woman was given whatever she desired to take with her and was sent in to the king. She
was sent in the evening and would return in the morning in the custody of the king’s chief eunuch. She would not
see the king again unless he had delighted in her and she was summoned again by name. Esther’s turn to see the
king finally arrived. Esther only requested what Hegai the eunuch advised. She was taken to King Ahasuerus into his
royal house. And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained favor and kindness with
him more than all the other virgins. So he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.
King Ahasuerus also held a great banquet which was called Esther’s banquet, in honor of the new queen, and he
made it a holiday for the provinces.
Later, Mordecai, who had an official position at the king’s court, was sitting at the king’s gate. He overheard two of
the king’s eunuchs who became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus (probably with the intention of
assassinating him). Mordecai promptly informed Esther the queen and she in turn warned King Ahasuerus, telling
him that it was Mordecai who found out. After investigating the matter and finding it to be true, the king had the
conspirators seized and hanged. This service by Mordecai was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence
of the king.
SUGGESTED APPLICATIONS TO CHOOSE FROM:
 The Lord cares about inward beauty rather than outward appearance. Esther was beautiful outwardly, but
it was her inward beauty that was attractive. As a child Esther was obedient, respectful, and humble. She was not
proud of being so beautiful. In combination, her outward beauty and her inward beauty made her so desirable
and delightful that she was immediately chosen queen. No matter what we have accomplished, or if we one day
become powerful or successful, we should not be proud, but we should be careful to be humble.
 We should honor and obey those put in charge of us. Esther was a respectful and obedient person. She
honored and obeyed Mordecai, who was as a father to her. The Bible tells us that “Esther did what Mordecai
told her, as she had when he was bringing her up.” (Esther 2:21). While she was in the care of Hegai the king’s
eunuch, she also listened to him. When it was her time to go before the king, she requested only what Hegai had
advised. (Esther 2:15) Esther was blessed as a result of obeying. We also should honor and obey our parents and
those placed in authority over us. By honoring those put in charge of us, we honor God.
Adapted from the Church in New York City Children’s meeting lesson 3/3/89; 08/04/96; 08/15/2004
116095978
Page 2 of 2