Guest Author - BettyAnn Schmidt
One Night With the King Based on the book by Tommy Tenney. FoxFaith
Tiffany Dupont is spectacular in this film as the beautiful, young Hadassah, a Jewish orphan, whose cousin Mordecai accepts the responsibility for raising her as his daughter. She is mentored in the Jewish law and traditions of her people to become an intelligent, winsome young woman. The story relates that "by chance" all of the factors come together for an incredible moment in history.
When word spreads that King Xerxes (also known as Ahasuerus), ruler of Persia (modern day Iran)is seeking out all the "fair, young virgins" in the land, looking for a new queen to replace the deposed Vasti, Mordecai suggests Hadassah "try out" for the part. Her name is changed to Esther so as not to reveal her Jewish heritage, and she is accepted into the group of "concubines," the harem-like group who go through beauty treatments and grooming to spend one night with the king. If favored, the king will summon the girl back after her first visit.
In exchange for allowing Esther to enter the palace, Mordecai is given a seat of honor at the king's gate, where he has his finger on the pulse of talk around the palace.
When Esther's "one night" arrives, she enchants Xerxes. Esther "seeks the king's heart rather than the riches of the kingdom." She is made Queen of Persia.
Mordecai delivers a message to Esther when he hears of a plot by the king's right hand man, Hamas, to kill all of the Jews. Mordecai himself has alienated Hamas by refusing to bow down to him, and Hamas's long-lived hatred of the Jews ignite the fire to wipe out the entire nation.
Esther must decide now whether to risk her own life by exposing herself for who she truly is or watching her people die. Mordecai's message is stern. "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
For a time such as this. The "by chance" events in Esther's life have come together. This story's breathless climax leads us to wonder in our own lives, "Who knows but that you have come to a position for such a time as this?"
An inspiring movie available from Amazon.
