• The job of Hege: Perfection

  • Esther 2:
    8. So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hege, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women
    9. And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him, and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens which were meet to be given her out of the king’s house and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women
    12. Now when every maid’s turn was come to go to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)

    Hege or Hagai was a chamberlain, an officer of the kingdom in the charge of the king’s women. Like all other chamberlains, he’s eunuch. Stating this fact is significant because he stands, as it were, in the place of the Holy Spirit. Or shall we say he stands in the place of the agent of the Holy Spirit. Either way, he stands stands, a representative of the Eternal Spirit.

    A eunuch is a special breed completely disinterested in the women as far as expression of carnal love is concerned; it’s impossible for him to go beyond the platonic. Jesus Christ delineated three types of eunuch: “For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb, and there are some eunuchs which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of heaven’s sake…” (Mathew 19:12). Eunuchs may result as a result of some bodily dysfunction from birth; or as a result of castration. However, there are men who become eunuchs because of their intense love for the kingdom of heaven. Paul was one; Barnabas was another example. These were single mindedly committed to God’s longing. They’d not be distracted by any other business. It wasn’t that they were eunuchs as a result of some genetic mutation or because they were castrated. They were not piece of wood without feeling or longing for the erotic feminine touches of the opposite sex. They simply decided to keep their feelings in chech, and this by determination. “He that standeth steadfast in his heart….but hath power over his own will and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin….” (1Corinthian 7:37). This is one sacrifice for the kingdom of heaven. Being a eunuch because of the kingdom throws one up as being utterly given over to God, a unique sacrifice! God promised the eunuchs-for-the-kingdom’s sake: “Even them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off” (Isaiah 56:5).

    Hege was a chamberlain, a eunuch of the king. His job is to raise up a woman to a queenly status pleasing to the king; he is to make her worthy of her calling. As a man, he has no personal interest in the virgins; his life’s call can be sum up in one sentence: to make the king happy by finding, selecting and grooming a woman that thrills the heart of the king. This vividly recalls the story of Abraham’s servant sent out to scout a wife for Isaac. What utter commitment the man exhibited! He wouldn’t speak of himself but of his master and his son. The Holy Spirit speaks not of Himself but of the Lord. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come: he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come” (John 16:13). The Spirit of truth reveals Truth and coaches the bride of Christ; He’ll not sway the interest of the bride of Christ from going on with Him. The human vessels in the hand of the Holy Spirit are not supposed to draw the attention of the bride to themselves either. And, God help my soul, this is so blatantly violated today! Leaders in the church, this bride of Christ, are finding it hard to imitate Paul: “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2Corinthians11:2).

    Men of God stand in the place of Hege to give the bride who’s to be queen all that is necessary for purification, for perfection. After grace has harvested in the bride; the journey to satisfying the King begins earnestly thereafter. In the store house of the Spirit is the abundance of required items to make her perfect, to make her pleasing to God. In the store house is no lack for the committed Hege to raise the queen for the king. Says Paul, “….we preach, warning everyman, and teaching everyman in all wisdom; that we may present everyman perfect in Christ Jesus.”
    Processes are involved in the job of perfection and we need men who are absolutely sold out to Christ and who are competent in rightly dividing the Word of God to fulfil this job. We are still hanging around here because of the job of perfection, the Spirit’s working.

    Lord, that it may please You to give us fire-proved and wisdom-filled pastors, Amen