During the year before each young woman’s turn to go to King Ahasuerus, the harem regulation required her to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months. Esther 2:12 HCSB
We are studying the book of Esther in our Sunday School class this week and as I was reading through the first chapter, I wanted to dig a little deeper and see what these beauty treatments were all about. I read two articles. One was by Leilani Glassmyer from Idisciple.org and the other was by Jack Kelley on gracethrufaith.com.
It doesn’t go into great detail about what went into these beauty treatments, but we do know that myrrh was used. Myrrh essential oil has several uses. It can be used as an antiseptic, an antifungal treatment and as a deodorant. So, these first 6 months were used for purification. It sounds as though this was done to be sure that these young women were free from disease.
The last six months were for beautification. This is where perfumes and cosmetics came into play.
As Jack Kelley pointed out in his article, they were cleansed and purified from the inside for the first six months and then they were beautified on the outside.
In the book of Esther, the king removed his queen from her royal position and was seeking to replace her. It tells us in Esther 2:8 that many young women were gathered into the king’s harem under the care of his eunuch, Hegai. Before spending their one night with the king, they had to go through these 12 months of beauty treatment.
They had to be purified from the inside which preceded outside beautification. Now most of us women know that a day at the spa leaves us feeling beautiful from the inside out.
We also know that beauty only goes skin deep. These women were going to get one shot at impressing their earthly king, the man who just might also become their husband.
Before any of this would happen, however, they would spend an entire year being purified then beautified. These women had to surrender to the king. The former queen was removed because she did not do as the king had asked while he was intoxicated after drinking at a party that had lasted several days.
Shouldn’t we go through the same before surrendering to our king? Shouldn’t we be willing to do the same before committing to marriage to our spouse? Shouldn’t we be willing to undergo the process of purification or inward change?
In 1 Peter 3:3-4 Peter was speaking to wives when he said, “Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes. Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes.
Peter speaks of submission and how wives should submit to their husbands. He also instructs husbands in verse 7 when he says, “Live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Ephesians 5:22-25 also tells wives to submit to their husbands as the church submits to Christ and instructs husbands to love their wives as Christ loved His church. Husbands are reminded that Christ gave His life for His church.
Beauty on the outside doesn’t come from the way we dress or the way we wear our hair it comes from what is on the inside. It begins with what is in our hearts. Purification must come before beautification. It starts on the inside and shows on the outside.
My prayer for you today is that you experience the beauty brought about by purification and you experience the peace and joy that comes from total submission to your Lord and Savior, your King of Kings.
I also pray that your spousal relationship mirrors that of Christ and His church.
Have a great day!