Queen Esther, Myrrh, and Your Royal Beauty

Did you know that Myrrh was used as part of the beauty treatments by Queen Esther approximately 500 years before Jesus was born? Esther is a great role model for rising above hardships, and emanating beauty from the inside out.

Esther was an orphan who was raised by her cousin Mordecai.  Her ancestors were taken captive from Jerusalem into a foreign, pagan culture. Xerxes, King of Persia, wanted to replace the current Queen Vashti since she defied him. He appointed commissioners of the region to select the most beautiful single woman of the region to be in the running as the next Queen. Esther was one of these woman.

Before a girl’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. Esther 2:12 NIV 

Esther found favor with everyone she met, including Hegai, the man in charge of the preparing the women to meet the king. Although she was permitted to take any jewelry and accessories from the King’s palace, she followed what was suggested by Hegai (Esther 2:8-15).

Esther put greed and vanity aside and trusted Hegai, who KNEW the king, and had her best interest in mind. As the story goes,

“The King was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2:17).

Queen Esther’s inner strength may have been one of the characteristics that reflected her beauty. When King Xerxes’ highest official convinced the king to proclaim a decree to destroy the Jewish people, Queen Esther called upon the Jewish people to fast and pray for 3 days. Even though it was against the law for the Queen to initiate contact with the king, Esther declared, “I will go to the King….and if I perish, I perish.” Queen Esther led by example and fasted as well (her Jewish heritage was not known to the King).

On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes. Even though she had not eaten for 3 days, the power of fasting prayer gave her supernatural courage and strength. She found favor when she approached the King. The decree to annihilate the Jews was reversed. Haman, the man who instigated the plot, ended up at the gallows fate.

How can Esther’s life apply to our lives today to bring beauty from the inside out, and how can myrrh play a role in this?

1. Relying on the power of prayer. Esther prayed and fasted. Myrrh was used in the anointing oil for the high priests who prayed for the nation of Israel (Exodus 30:30). Myrrh, the gift that was given to Jesus, the ultimate High Priest, can also be used to deepen our devotional time by inhaling the essential oil before/during our prayer time or burning it.

2. Bringing beauty from the inside out. Esther used myrrh for 6 months as a part of her beauty treatments. Myrrh not only brings nutrients for the skin, but has an emotional, balancing effect.1* As proven by science, inhalation and topical application of myrrh impacts the emotional part of the brain and may help one feel more calm and confident. Jesus, The Author of Creation designed myrrh to promote beauty from the inside out. Although myrrh can promote healthier emotions, it’s not a “magic solution”. Having a daily relationship with Jesus, the King of Kings is what truly transforms lives from ashes to beauty (Isaiah 61). Regardless of how we currently view ourselves, the truth is that Jesus treasures us as “His daughters – His royal beauty”.

*Myrrh is one of the ingredients in the following Oils of Shakan, LLC products:

At Night with the King – A facial moisturizer with natural and organic ingredients.

Biblical Oil Blend – For anointing, prayer time, prayer walking, devotions, intercession, or as a massage oil.

References

1Price, L., Price, S. (2012). Aromatherapy for Health Professionals. London: Elsevier.

Learn More

BLOGS. Read through our blogs which promote Beauty from the Inside Out with topics on forgiveness, science & essential oils, scripture & essential oils, and more!

PRESENTATIONS. Request to have Rosie come speak at your location (organization, church, school/college, retreat, home, or other). See Rosie’s speaking page with suggested presentation topics here.