Sticky Wicket

On her way to winning the heart of the king, Esther had also pleased and won the favor (hesed)* of those in charge of the beauty treatments in the harem as well as the friendship of the girls in the harem—everyone who saw her (2:15).

Yes, Esther was lovely in form and features (2:7); but more importantly, she oozed grace. Names were significant in those days. The queen’s Jewish name, Hadassah, means myrtle: “a tree native to Babylonia, (which) the returning exiles took…with them to Canaan... (as) a symbol of the nation of Israel—transplanted from Babylon to the Promised Land.” Her Persian name, Esther, means star: “The myrtle tree bears a beautiful star-like flower…full of beauty and grace.”**

At first glance Esther seemed secure in the king’s house, despite the reality of the irrevocable order to annihilate the Jews in every province (3:13). Mordecai, her trusted cousin, knew better. That she was a Jew would eventually reach the ears of the king and she too would perish.

I had to laugh when Kelly Minter called Esther’s plight a “sticky wicket”.*** While you all may know that a sticky wicket is a really tricky situation to be in, how many of you use the expression in conversation as I do—or so my daughter says? And how many have a cricket ball on their bookshelf? The park in Canada where we walked our kids and dog had a cricket pitch, and the dog just happened to find that errant ball.   

“Woe is me” would have been the cry of Jews everywhere when faced with the edict approved by king Xerxes. Yet in the midst of this dilemma one voice saw a way out. Maybe Esther could get the ear of the king.

When you find yourself in a “sticky wicket”, where do you turn? With God, all things are possible (Luke 1:37) you know!

Nancy P

*hesed…Strongs 2617

**Constable, Sonic Light online

***Kelly Minter, Esther, Lifeway Press 2024, p.134

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV Translation 1973, 1978, 1984, unless otherwise noted