A King out of Control

December 27, 2017

Esther Chapter One

Before we explore these verses, let me share a little irritation with some of the more learned men who point out how unique the book of Esther is, in that it never mentions God.  It is the only book of the Bible that does so, and yet its story is so much about God’s divine providence.  These scholars are troubled by who wrote the book, why they do not have more information about King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) who ruled Persia from 486-465 B.C. 

What this book has done for me is given thought to our God who is not seen, yet who is active in each of our lives.  We know the hope of the Jews as the plot thickens on removing them from the face of the earth the hidden hand of God was at work through both Mordecai and Esther.  My prayer for you is that you allow the Holy Spirit to encourage and establish your faith as you explore how the God Who is Spirit goes to battle using His servants.

In this chapter, you will find very foolish men, a king out of control who wants to display the vastness of his wealth, and all the good stuff he has acquired including his queen on display for all the area he controls.  It is a vast amount of real estate from India to Cush, 127 provinces was his wealth and all the good stuff he had acquired, and King Ahasuerus also wanted to show off his show pony, Queen Vashti.  It must have come as a surprise to all; the King, the wise men that gave him advice and the young men who had the King’s ear when she did not show up.

This is the account; on the seventh day of the feast, the king was in good spirits, and that means he had more than likely drank his fill and wanted to show off his queen.  This is the account from chapter 1:10-12. “On the seventh day, when the king was feeling good from the wine, Ahasuerus commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who personally served him, to bring Queen Vashti before him with her royal crown. He wanted to show off her beauty to the people and the officials because she was very beautiful. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command that was delivered by his eunuchs. The king became furious and his anger burned within him.”

The wise men seemed to give him some outstanding counsel from a worldly view, and the reader must also understand that the men of that time viewed women as their property.  So much of the counsel is based on the fear of women voicing their thoughts and becoming independent or less dependent on the man.  This view came into my thinker, Jesus changed all of that for the woman, and I often wonder if ladies of faith share that with the ones outside of the faith?

Now getting back to the King, and the seven princes of both Media and Persia, who saw the king each day and all others had to be called before him or if they entered his presence without him requesting it was sure death.  With one exception, and you will want to remember this; you would be killed unless the king extended his golden scepter.

Picking up the account of the man the king and the princes listened to, Memucan, in verses 16-22, “Memucan said in the presence of the king and his officials, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but all the officials and the peoples who are in every one of King Ahasuerus’s provinces. For the queen’s action will become public knowledge to all the women and cause them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti brought before him, but she did not come.’ Before this day is over, the noble women of Persia and Media who hear about the queen’s act will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in more contempt and fury.

“If it meets the king’s approval, he should personally issue a royal decree. Let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be revoked: Vashti is not to enter King Ahasuerus’s presence, and her royal position is to be given to another woman who is more worthy than she. The decree the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom, so all women will honor their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”
The king and his counselors approved the proposal, and he followed Memucan’s advice. He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language, that every man should be master of his own house and speak in the language of his own people.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice