36 Then He spoke a parable to them: "No one [g]puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece taken out of the new does not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilt, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, [h]and both are preserved. 39 And no one, having drunk old wine, [i]immediately desires new; for he says, 'The old is [j]better.'" Luke 5:36-39
Esther's meticulous preparations, in anticipation of King Ahasuerus's selection of a new bride, serve as a profound lesson in the value of readiness for significant events.
I want to compare Esther's heart in getting herself ready to meet the King and Queen Vashti's heart rejecting the King's summoning her to the royal banquet. Their contrasting responses highlight the significance of making the right choices in preparation for significant events.
God the Father wants to deal with the heart. The parable of the new and old wineskin is a good reminder of what will replace the old ways of doing things and step into new revelation on preparing our hearts to draw closer to the King.
Queen Vashti's heart posture is very similar to that of the scribes and Pharisees in dealing with Jesus. The heart issue was pride. I will not change my ways because I am used to how things have always been done. In Vashti's situation, she was already holding a banquet. Why should she drop everything for the King? While scribes and Pharisees have always fasted and prayed a certain way, they questioned Jesus's authority and decision to have his disciples eat and drink, especially with tax collectors and sinners. Esther 1:12, Luke 5:29-33
In contrast to Queen Vashti, Esther would have to have a different heart revelation about preparing herself to see King Ahasuerus. If anyone had the right to reject the King's summons, Esther did. She was living with her uncle Mordecai when she was rounded up with other young women by the King's decree. King Ahasuerus wanted to choose a new bride to replace Queen Vashti. Esther 2:8
Esther would have to undergo preparation time to get herself ready to meet the King. It would require a new structure and a new heart to embrace the new way she would have to live her life. In the same way, we will have to do the same to embrace the new. It requires a new wineskin to embrace the new and living way.
Just like Queen Vashti struggled with King Ahasuerus, the scribes and Pharisees struggled with how Jesus and the disciples needed to follow the traditions of fasting and praying. After the Pharisees complained, Jesus spoke to them about the old and new wineskins in a parable. He understood that they needed new hearts to help open their eyes to see and hear so they could prepare their hearts for a change. They were unwilling to embrace God's plans and purposes for their lives because the scribes and Pharisees were so used to following men's traditions. (Old wineskins) They preferred the old customs of their forefathers instead of following the new and living way that Jesus was showing them.
Esther's example of preparing herself to be the King's bride is the same preparation we will need to step into new wineskins of revelations to allow the Lord to change us from glory to glory. It requires surrendering to his process for our lives.
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. To this day, the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even today, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as [b]by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18
Esther's year-long preparation, a testament to her anticipation and readiness for her presentation to the King, serves as a powerful parallel to the anticipation and readiness we should have for the imminent return of King Jesus. This comparison underscores the urgency of our spiritual readiness to embrace any new wineskin God destined for our lives.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Rev 19:7-8
To God Be The Glory!
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