The book of Esther is rich in depth and meaning when you read it from a prophetic perspective. There are many keys to draw strength and wisdom from and to learn strategies on how to sustain yourself and overcome challenging times. I believe one of these powerful keys in the story of Esther is the key of consecration and how that can shift us from victim to victor.
“Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women-“ – Esther 2:12
Before Esther could go into the King’s presence, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments. The first six months of treatment were with the oil of myrrh. Twelve months of beauty treatments? It sounds amazing! Right? Well, let’s look a bit further at what these treatments actually entailed.
Biblical Meaning and Use of Myrrh
Myrrh is a very bitter oil. It was known in biblical times as the oil of consecration.
- It was used to anoint the tabernacle, high priests, and kings.
- It was the substance mixed in the wine they offered Jesus on the cross. (Mark 15:23)
- It was one of the gifts presented to Jesus at his birth, foreshadowing what would become a bitter wrestle with death that unlocked resurrection life.
Myrrh speaks of total consecration to God. The bitter before the sweet. Consecration (which means set apart) can be a very lonely place, but it is that place of purification that prepares us for the Lord and what He is calling us to.
Myrrh, while bitter tasting, has a sweet fragrance. God will often use the bitter things we experience, if fully given to Him, to cause a sweet aroma to come from our lives. Just as flowers, when crushed, release their purest and strongest fragrance, so too our lives, when crushed, can become a strong, beautiful fragrance attracting others to God.
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.” – 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
Going from Victim to Victor
Are you experiencing painful circumstances in your life where it could be easy to become bitter? Do you feel isolated or like no one really understands what you are going through? Maybe you even feel unsafe to open up to anyone? God is not done with your story. His heart is to walk with you, to bring freedom and healing as you transform from being a victim to a victor.
I encourage you to press in for Heaven’s perspective. I believe you are in a divine setup. The very place the enemy has sought to sow bitterness and pain in your heart can become your greatest place of consecration before the Lord.
Only God’s inexplicable love can heal and restore your shattered heart. Your pain is not too great for Him. Will you allow Him to bring healing and turn what was meant to be a bitter crushing into a sweet fragrance for His glory?
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Esther Company
Featured Image by Mareefe from Pixabay
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