Walk with Esther — orphan, queen, and hero of faith.
A 30-day KJV Bible devotional following Hadassah — the Jewish orphan renamed Esther — from her kidnapping into the king's harem, to her crowning as queen of Persia, to the courageous decision that saved her people. Each day pairs a Bible reading with a first-person fictional narrative, a practical life application, supporting Scripture, and a closing prayer.
What you'll experience each day
- A suggested Bible reading from the book of Esther, to help you make Scripture reading a daily habit.
- A short Bible lesson, to deepen your understanding of the passage.
- A Guest Speaks — a fictional first-person perspective from a character in the story.
- Tips on Pleasing the King — practical, modern-day application, since King Ahasuerus foreshadows God Himself throughout the book.
- Related Scripture verses, to help you grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ.
- A closing prayer, to guide you into deeper communion with God.
What readers are saying
“Great Bible study devotional even for a man. It's Bible, Amen! This Esther devotional book is one of my favorites! I highly recommend this book. It says for women but I am part of the bride of Christ, so I can read this and still learn about the Bible and grow spiritually.”
— Josiah Molina“Great insight into a suspense story in the Bible. This book is quite readable. It is a ‘filet’ of practical application to the book of Esther. You feel that you know her personally, and that she could give you insights into how she reacted to circumstances.”
— Charles J. BrownAbout the author
Mary Jane Humes
Mary Jane Humes has been teaching the Bible in various capacities since 1988. She reads, studies, and teaches exclusively from the King James Version of the Bible. After graduating from a Christian academy, she went to college to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology, and graduated with honors in Anthropology.
Mary Jane is the author of The Faith Series Devotionals, a series of 30-day KJV Bible devotionals that combine in-depth Bible study with daily devotional reading. Currently she teaches children's Sunday school, plays the piano in worship services, and is a frequent speaker at ladies' church events.
Her passion is making God's Word accessible, joyful, and practical for everyday Christian living — which is exactly what BibleStudyJoy.com was created to do.
Not sure yet? Read Day 1 first.
Here's the complete first day — Bible reading, Bible lesson, a guest's perspective, application, and the closing prayer — exactly as it appears in the book.
Read Day 1 of Esther's Faith
“The King”
Daily Bible Reading: Esther 1:1–8
Today's Verse
“...the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.” (Esther 1:8) (KJV)
Bible Lesson
The book of Esther begins by introducing King Ahasuerus. “Ahasuerus” actually may have been a title rather than the personal name of the king. There are scholars who believe the king mentioned in Esther was Xerxes I “the Great” of the Persian empire, who ruled from 486 to 465 BC.
Regardless, Ahasuerus in the book of Esther was a real person in history. Not only was he real, but he is also, in biblical typology, a picture of God Himself. In observing Ahasuerus, the book of Esther gives us a glimpse of the character of God.
Ahasuerus was a great king and world leader. His kingdom stretched over three continents, as the Bible records in Esther 1:1, “from India even unto Ethiopia,” and was comprised of 127 provinces.
He was very powerful, he was royalty, he was rich, and he was famous. And if the scholars are right, and the biblical Ahasuerus was indeed Xerxes the Great, then it is recorded that he had a terrible temper. His word was law. He literally held the power of life and death over his subjects, so it was not wise to make him angry.
The book of Esther starts with the king being in a good mood and feeling very generous. He held a great feast for his court and members of his ruling elite for 180 days. Obviously, he was generous with his time-off policy, for after those days of feasting were ended, he followed with another feast — a shorter one, which lasted only seven days for all of his subjects in his kingdom.
This lavish banquet was held at the king's palace in the capital city of Shushan, and all his subjects were invited to come, enjoy, and partake of the king's generosity. This was an occasion for great rejoicing and festivity throughout the entire city.
The ornate furnishings and vibrant colors of the elaborate decorations that graced the palace are recorded in the first chapter of Esther. It was the custom of this culture for people to eat and drink while reclining on couch-like beds.
A Guest Speaks
“The king was so good to give us this feast. I was invited, but I was afraid to go. The king is so great, and I am just a commoner. My friends said it was all freely given, there was no catch. They said the food and the wine were the best they ever had. Now the feast is over, I wish I had gone!”
Tips on Pleasing the King
At the king's feast, his wine flowed freely, but it is noted that “none did compel.” The Bible records in Psalm 104:15 that “wine maketh glad the heart of man.” (KJV)
The king freely offered heart-gladdening wine to all of his guests, yet it was up to the individual as to how much of the king's bounty he opted to receive. There were no limits to the king's generosity. The only restrictions were the ones each guest gave himself.
This royal feast is a picture of what God offers all people. He, the Creator of this wonderful and beautiful world, generously gives life to each person to freely enjoy, whether or not he believes He exists. This lavish party called “life” is a gift from God Himself.
God is the great King. He is the Creator, and He owns all things. He is the exalted One. He is the Lawgiver since He made the natural laws of the universe. God holds the power of life and death over all His creation.
Now God graciously offers eternal life to all who will come to Him. The Bible records that all have fallen short of God's perfection, and there is none worthy to enter His holy habitation called heaven.
The Bible also records in the first part of Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death.” This is not only physical death, but spiritual death, eternal separation from God in hell.
Heaven is so wonderful that no human is good enough to enter it. But God graciously offers to impart the sinless perfection of His Son to sinful humans in order that they, too, can enjoy heaven with Him.
The last part of Romans 6:23 reads “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
God desires that all come to Him to enjoy heaven, and He freely offers salvation from hell, but He will not compel anyone. Like King Ahasuerus's wine, God's free gift of salvation will gladden the heart of all who partake of it, but He will not compel any to take of His free gift. It is entirely up to each individual as to whether or not he will partake of His gift.
Just as some of the people in King Ahasuerus's day did not partake of his great feast but perhaps looked on it from afar, so, too, today people do not accept God's gift of eternal life. They enjoy physical life given by their Creator, but out of fear, unbelief, or some other reason, they reject the free gift of eternal life He graciously offers.
Just as King Ahasuerus was pleased when his subjects came to his feast and took what he offered, God is pleased when we come to Him for salvation. If you want to please God, accept His free gift of eternal life — today. If you already have done so, take some time and thank Him for His great salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Words from Our King
Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your generous gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me not to hold back from receiving all that You offer me in Him. Where I have been afraid, hesitant, or unbelieving like the guest who stayed away from the king's feast, draw me closer to You today. Thank You for gladdening my heart with Your grace. In Jesus' name, amen.
Common questions
What Bible translation does Esther's Faith use?
Every study is written from the King James Version. Author Mary Jane Humes reads, studies, and teaches exclusively from the KJV.
How long does each day's study take?
About 9 minutes a day, covering a Bible reading, a Bible lesson, a fictional guest's perspective, practical application, related Scripture, and a closing prayer.
Is Esther's Faith written for women or men?
It was written with a female audience in mind, but as one reader put it, anyone who is “part of the bride of Christ” can learn and grow from it.
Where does Esther's Faith fit in the Faith Series?
It's the second book in the series, following David's Faith and preceding Joseph's Faith, Abraham's Faith, and Jonah's Faith.
Complete the Faith Series
Esther's Faith is the second devotional in the series. Every title is available in paperback and e-book.
Begin your 30 days with Esther
Every day pairs Scripture with a guest's perspective and a prayer to draw you closer to God — start today, in paperback or e-book.