A Crown to Her Husband Prov. 12:4 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
In Esther, we find a woman who became a queen and, likewise, a crown to her husband. As Proverbs 12:4 says, a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. Virtuous means she is morally excellent, chaste and pure. Her character is an example of the character we hope to see in our young ladies. Men should hope to find such a crown in their wives. Esther was a crown to her husband because she was:
Fair and beautiful – Est 2:7 – compare her with Abigail in 1 Sam 25:3. Compare her with the virtuous woman of Prov 31:30. The Bible emphasizes the beauty of her countenance more than the beauty of her outward appearance. Today “beauty” is outward attractiveness enhanced by makeup, hair styles and clothes. But in the Bible, beauty is more than outward appearance [1 Tim 2:9-10; 1 Pet 3:2-4]. Esther had this unenhanced beauty [Est 2:12-15].
Chaste – Est 2:17 – she came to the king a virgin. Compare her to the church [2 Cor 11:2]. According to Titus 2:5, young women are to be chaste. You will be a crown to your husband if you wait for him until you are married. And you will continue to be his crown if you remain faithful to him.
Obedient – Est 2:10, 20 – wives are to obey their husbands [1 Pet 3:5-6]. See Titus 2:5. Contrast Esther’s obedience with Vashti’s disobedience when she refused the king’s commandment, causing her to be deposed as queen. Obedience starts at home.
God-fearing – Est 4:13-16 – she feared the Lord. She put her own life on the line to save a nation which benefited not only her people but also the king [Prov 31:30]. Mordecai replaced Haman, who was a very wicked right-hand man. And God blessed Ahasuerus’ kingdom with the blessing of Abraham [Gen 12:3].
Wise – Est 5:8 – she decided to wait a day between the first banquet and the second banquet to give time for God to work. Esther employed the wisdom of God to wait patiently for his divine intervention and she was rewarded with success.
Humble – Est 8:3 – she fell down at the king’s feet. She never did lift herself up. In her humility, she accomplished, through God’s guidance of the king, what she never could have accomplished if she had risen up in pride.
Submissive – Est 9:12-13 – she said, “if it please the king.” Yet she was the one who made the decision. And she was given authority in Est 9:29-32 to write the decree of Esther. In her submission, she was given authority to write as royalty. She was, indeed, a crown to her husband.
Conclusion: the world has a completely different view of women than the Bible does. Women in the world strive to attain through their own means what Esther attained through godly means. I encourage you to live by God’s words, not the world’s. Be a crown to your husband.