A King in God's Hand

Introduction: Esther’s main theme is God’s providence.

God’s hand in the lives of people to accomplish His purposes

we looked at how God sustains our lives presently

we looked how God shows up all over the Bible in lives of people

Now we turn to the book of Esther itself. If you have not already please turn to Esther.

These beginning sermons will lay the foundation for the rest of the story. We are going to

The King’s Great Empire v.1-9

Purpose of this section is to be wowed by the greatness of the king!

The King’s Great Land (v.1-2)

In some of your Bibles you will read King Ahasuerus and some will read Xerxes. Ahasuerus is the Hebrew name and Xerxes is the Greek name. The same man.

massive dynasty

a little small than the USA, but more united meaning USA with Alaska and Hawaii if it was all together from border to border. It was a huge dynasty.

City we are in?

Susa modern day- Iran

The King’s Great Riches (v.3-7)

third year of his reign is significant.

He was displaying his wealth to win the army officials to go into battle.

The NIV Application Commentary: Esther Original Meaning

Herodotus records Xerxes as saying to his assembled nobles, possibly during the very banquet described in Esther:

For this cause I have now summoned you together, that I may impart to you my purpose. It is my intent to bridge the Hellespont and lead my army through Europe to Hellas [Greece], that I may punish the Athenians for what they have done to the Persians and to my father. You saw that Darius my father was minded to make an expedition against these men. But he is dead, and it was not granted him to punish them; and I, on his and all the Persians’ behalf, will never rest till I have taken and burnt Athens.…

As for you, this is how you shall best please me: when I declare the time for your coming, everyone of you must appear, and with a good will; and whosoever comes with his army best equipped shall receive from me such gifts as are reckoned most precious among us.

Xerxes displayed his wealth to show that he could make good on his promise and reward those who would rally to support his campaign.

The King’s Great Plan (v.8)

Well liked by what he provides for the people

The King’s Great Queen (v.9)

this is a bit peculiar because Persian culture did not necessitate banquets one for men and the other for women. Interesting.......

Conclusion:

King Ahasuerus is a big deal.

He has power, wealth, and a beautiful Queen

He has it all and unmatched ability to carry out his plan no matter the cost.

Money is not a problem, an army is not a problem, influence is not a problem, resources of any means are not a problem.

Transition: Even though the King has everything going for him by means of resources and the author of Esther writes in a way in which we are impressed.

What is the King’s character?

The King’s Fragile Character v.10-22

The King is Careless (v.10-11)

We move to Ahasuerus who invites his Queen to be a public spectacle to a drunken party. The language in verse 10 that his heart was merry with wine has the idea that what follows is all done in a drunken stupor.

A drunk king sends for his queen to be a public spectacle at his drunk party.

There is debate on what it means for her to come with her royal crown.

Does this have any sexual language meaning she would come naked or what exactly does this mean and the reality is that is not defined.

We do not know how she was to come besides her royal crown.

No matter how one takes she was to be showed off by the king while he and his friends are drunk.

The King is Easily Angered (v.12)

The king blows up in anger.

He is portrayed here to be quick tempered. One act of disobedience and he is seething with anger.

The King is Easily Influenced (v.13-20)

The king seeks justice what must be done. He is making this descion drunk and driven by anger.

His advisors say

What Vashti has done is not only against you but everyone

Therefore we must make a statement that affects everyone in the kingdom

all women will revolt against their husbands because of what has happened

Edict is sent that affects everyone that husbands are in control not the women

is this logical? Because Vashti refuses the king in his drunken stupor will every woman in his kingdom rebel against her own husband?

Will an edict provide family harmony in his kingdom? No

The King is Brash (v.21-22)

Ruth & Esther: God Behind the Seen The Man at the Top (1:1–3)

Ahasuerus—the king who wrote of himself, “I, the mighty king, king of kings, king of populous countries, king of this great and mighty earth, far and near.” This was the king who, because a storm destroyed a bridge that he had commanded be built across the Hellespont (Dardanelles), ordered that three hundred lashes be given to the Hellespont and that the heads of the bridge-building engineers be cut off.7

Conclusion: One sees that the king is careless, easily angered, and questionable when it comes to reasoning, and brash. Yet he is the one who has all the wealth, influence, and means to accomplish whatever he chooses. How would you feel?

Application: One could feel helpless the most powerful man is questionable at best. Can God still use a king like this? Remember Proverbs 21:1, I guess we will have to see.