1. Miss Persia of 485 BC (1-4)

When the king began to miss the deposed queen Vashti, his advisors suggested that an international beauty contest be held. The winner would be made queen of the empire in Vashti's place. The king liked this idea.

2. Esther and Mordecai (5-20)

Mordecai was a Jew who had been taken into exile to Babylon with Jehoiachin, king of Judah. Hadassah (Esther) was his young cousin whom he had raised as his own daughter after her parents died. She was lovely in form and features, and had the inner beauty of a humble and obedient spirit (7,10,15,20). By her humbleness and inner beauty she even won the heart of the servant Hegai. She was selected as one of the finalists, and when she was summoned for an interview with the king, he liked her best of all, and chose her to be his queen. Becoming queen did not make her proud. Still, she obeyed Mordecai, her shepherd.

Application: Lord, grant this nation women of God who have inner beauty that is not marred by praise, power or success.
One Word: A real queen