Esther: A time such as this series
Esther- A time such as this • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 22 viewsAim: To look at introduction and Chapter 1 of Esther.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
The Setting
The Setting
Esther is the last of the historical books in the bible.
Setting is in Susa the summer palace of the king of Persia “Ahasuerus.” His Persian name was “Khshayarshan,” but in Greek it is Xerxes.
Xerxes is the son of Darius I (seen in Ezr4, 5, Daniel6, Haggai 1, 2). He is the grandson of Cyrus the Great.
Xerxes ruled the Persian empire from 486-465 B.C. the empire consisted of 20 Satrapies, which were divided into 127 provinces, that span would cover what we call Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, and parts of Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and Arabia.
Xerxes inherited the kingdom upon the death of his father, Darius I in 486.
This Xerxes, is not the same Ahasuerus, as you read in Nehemiah, that is Artaxerxes I, for the temple was rebuilt, the walls restored some 30 years before.
Historical documents show this would have been the time that Xerxes was planning an attack against Greece that would take place just a few years later. (about 483 B.C.). He was trying to avenge the failed attempt that Darius I made and the shame that the Persians felt after that defeat.
Feasts, it was common in the Persian empire time that the kings would hold extravagant feasts (banquets) to impress their guests with their royal power and wealth. Here in chapter one you will see three feasts (banquets) mentioned, and a total of six in the book.
Author: The book does not give us a name of the author, though tradition shows it was Mordecai, the uncle of Esther.
Date: It is believed to have been written during the 4th Century B.C.
Purpose of the book: Most have it as proving the sovereignty of God even when you do not see it working in some events. Also to trust the providence of God to work out things for the good.
Side note: This is a challenged book by some for this is the only book in the bible that does not make reference to the name of God in it.
(Transition) So, there you have it, the background, the setting so let us now journey into the book and look at the 1st chapter. In this chapter we will see three evidences of the pride of the king.
His boastfulness
His boastfulness
1 Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in Susa,
3 in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence. 4 And he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.
5 When these days were completed, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were hangings of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, and 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 of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful according to the king’s bounty. 8 The drinking was done according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person.
9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
Anything stick out to you in these verses?
In (vv.1-2) you can see when, who, what, and where, can you identify each?
When: in the days of Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia
Who: We just named the who too. and as mentioned in the introduction there were more than one Ahasuerus.
What: His reign was from India to Ethiopia
Where: He was in the citadel in Susa.
Now looking at (vv.3-4) we have more specific, when, what, and why, be a good bible detective, pull the facts.
When: 3rd year of his reign
What: gave a banquet for all the princes, attendants, officers, nobles
Why: To display the riches, and the splendor of his great majesty
Side note: It went on for 180 days. Very unlikely that everyone was there at once, but it transpired over a six month period. It would have been unfeasible for all the leaders, nobles to leave for six months.
After the 180 days then what happened (v.5)?
There was another banquet lasting seven days for all who were present at the Citadel.
In (vv.7-8) you see the great display of opulence and the order to drink, don’t drink, do as you desire.
When you get to (v.9) what do you find?
Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the palace.
So the first banquet, 180 day one, was for the key military people, the political officers, officials, advisors.
The second one was for the people (men) of Shushan (Susa) from great to least, open to all. Now it is believed that for the seven day feast the King may have called all people, including those from the first banquet to return. Scripture is not specific, other historical writings of Herodotus (485-425) refers to these banquets and states this is when the king was conferring with his leaders about the invasion of Greece that failed in Marathon by his Father, Darius I. He felt compelled to avenge his father.
It is recorded that the king said:
“My intent is to throw a bridge over the Hellespont and march an army through Europe against Greece, that thereby I may obtain vengeance from the Athenians for the wrongs committed by them against the Persians and against my father.”
The king wanted to impress the nobles and the military leaders when the saw the beauty, the opulence so that they would see it and submit to the power, authority of the king, they would agree with his plan. Though his uncle, Artabanus, strongly opposed the plan.
The third one was for the women that Queen Vashti oversaw.
We know pride comes before the fall (Pro16:18) and the fall did happen
The Persian navy was destroyed in Salamis (480 B.C.)
The Persian army as defeated at Plataea (479 B.C.)
May all who are in authority remember that God is in control, God raises kings and removes kings, kingdoms too. (consider Rom13:1) and the examples of Pharaoh in Egypt (Exo7:3-5); Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon (Dan3-4); Belshazzar (Dan5) Sennacherib (Isa36-37); Herod Agrippa I (Act12:20-23). May we remember the Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
A drunken demand
A drunken demand
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, 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 display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him.
Anything stand out to you in these verses?
We have time marker again, what day does this drunken demand take place (vv.10-11), and what was the demand?
How did the queen respond to the demand, and the king’s response?
The queen refused
The king became very angry and wrath burned in him.
Scripture does not expand on the military matters, the plan, etc., scripture here is to show how Esther enters the picture, how she became Queen.
Queen Vashti refusal was very offensive to Xerxes for three reasons.
A woman challenging the authority of a man
A wife disobeying her husband
A royal subject defying the command of the king.
This drunken command proved that Xerxes had absolute control over everything but himself.
Consider Pro25:28
28 Like a city that is broken into and without walls Is a man who has no control over his spirit.
Now back to some tradition stuff, why did the king demand the Queen to present herself? Tradition had it there was an argument within the men at the feast as to which country, province, had the most beautiful women, the King called for his wife to show herself in an immodest way to prove how beautiful she was.
One recorded that she was to appear with nothing but the crown , and her refusal was because the Lord struck her with leprosy when the request was made. (most commentators do not line up with this account; but it is humorous to say the least).
Now Vashti had enough wisdom and modesty to know she should not do this thing and she refused to do it.
Guzik in his commentary makes mention that Vashti was in a dangerous situation because of the refusal, but did not put herself there for was not in the presence of the king when this happen. Guzik says:
“Sadly, man women today put themselves in dangerous places, especially when alcohol is involved, showing a severe lack of wisdom. Nevertheless it is certainly gives no justification to the sin of men against an unwise woman in such a position.”
(transition) this now leads to the results of the drunken command, the refusal, the anger, the wrath.
The vindictiveness
The vindictiveness
13 Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times—for it was the custom of the king so to speak before all who knew law and justice 14 and were close to him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom—
15 “According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
17 “For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women causing them to look with contempt on their husbands by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ 18 “This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s conduct will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger.
19 “If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she. 20 “When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout all his kingdom, great as it is, then all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.”
21 This word pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. 22 So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man should be the master in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.
The king sought counsel from the wise men (vv.13-14)
This was very similar to what you saw in Daniel that kings would turn to wise men, soothsayer, magicians for advise.
The king listens to Memucan’s advice.
Take the Queens royal position from her; give to another more worthy.
Do so, so that each man should be master in his own house.
So that wives would not despise their husbands.
Yes a wife should respect and honor her husband (Eph5:33); however it is to be done unto the Lord (Eph5:23).
The vindictiveness is seen in this passage by the anger that the king in his drunken state, out of his pride makes a decision. Makes you think of Pro14:17
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices is hated.
The result was a call for a royal edict that cannot be repealed (v.19-20)
The king issues the edict which Memucan proposed (vv.20-21)
The edict was sent so that “every man should be the master of his own house.” (v.22)
Thus we get to the end of this chapter and the reason a new Queen was going to be needed. Take away’s from tonight:
Be humble regardless of your place, your position for God lift’s up, God removes, God brings victory and defeat. Do not be prideful.
Alcohol hinders your thoughts, and your emotions, it can bring out the worse in someone and bad choices can be made.
Turn to God to His word for the best advise you can get, or turn to him to verify advise you are given to make sure it is godly.
Finally, choices have consequences and in this chapter there are consequences that do not seem right, but God is working them out for the good.
