Esther 1:1-22; The King Is Here

Sermon in a sentence: There is a better King.

The King’s Honor (vs. 1-11)

Xerxes tries to find his honor in his power (v. 1), possessions (vs. 4-7), and his passions (vs. 8-10)

His military power is demonstrated by his vast empire from India to Ethiopia.

His possessions of gold, precious stones, clothing, and even women.

His passions are demonstrated by his recurring influence of alcohol, emotions, and influence from others.

The King’s Humiliation (vs. 12-18)

Vashti refuses to be used as a possession like a “trophy wife”.

The entire kingdom heres about the king’s humiliation.

The King’s Hubris (19-22)

The king makes a government decree to fix a family issue.

The king’s own pride turns a good gift into bondage. (1 Corinthians 11:2-13, Proverbs 31,

Ephesians 5:22–33 ESV

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Colossians 3:18–19 ESV

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

1 Peter 3:1–2 ESV

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.

Titus 2:3–5 ESV

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Proverbs 18:22 ESV

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 19:14 ESV

House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

The King on High

God is setting the stage for Esther to be queen.

King Xerxes is a parody of a good king.

Turn to King Jesus today! (John 6:37, Revelation 19:12-13)