Tue, 24 January, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Esther 1:1-12

¹ Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, ² in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the capital, ³ in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, ⁴ while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. ⁵ And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa, the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. ⁶ There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. ⁷ Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. ⁸ And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. ⁹ Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

¹⁰ On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, ¹¹ to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. ¹² But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.

The book of Esther begins with the story of how Esther comes to be in a position to intercede for the Jewish people saving them from the schemes of Haman who was plotting to destroy the Jews.

In this first chapter, we are introduced to King Ahasuerus (aka Xerxes). It is 483 B.C., and the king is holding a lavish display of his power and wealth. The narrative tells us about the rich ornaments and decorations, and the golden drinking vessels. We are told of how extensive is the reign of the king: from India to Ethiopia, including 127 provinces. All this impresses upon us the power and wealth of King Ahasuerus.

It is quite a picture we get. King Ahasuerus is an amazingly powerful king. Yet after he gets all this build up, the narrative tells us that with all his authority, this king can’t control his own family. Queen Vashti refuses his command to come for them. Some people believe the command for her to come before the king and his guests with her royal crown was actually a command for her to come with only her royal crown. In other words, he was commanding her to appear before them naked. We don’t know for sure if this is what was meant, or why Queen Vashti refused. But what we do see is that this man who holds sway over the lands from India to Ethiopia is unable to get his own wife to do what he commands.

What do we learn from this?

The book of Esther is about God’s providence. We keep seeing how God arranges the small events within the book to bring about the physical salvation of His people. In this chapter, we see that because of her disobedience, the queen is deposed, soon to be replaced by Esther. We will see other small events, like the sleeplessness of the king, be used by God to preserve the Jewish people.

What we see from this is that God is in command. We see powerful kings can do whatever they want, yet they are still subject to God’s providence.

Where is Christ in this passage?

Redemptive history is building towards the coming of Jesus Christ. At the time of Esther, Haman attempted to wipe out the Jews. If he had his way, Haman would have destroyed the line of the promise. But God, in order to keep His promise to bring salvation, acts in time to save the Jews. He acts to control the big events and the small events to bring about His desired end. He acts to preserve the line that will bring Jesus Christ into the world.