Discernment Quenchers (Esther 1)

Background Info on the Book

Anonymous author, not sure of the date of writing either. But it could have been written close after the time period it records— the reign of Xerxes 1 or King Ahasuerus (485-465 BC).

Major Characters

King Ahasuerus (or Xerxes 1)

Reigned from 485 BC until his assassination in 465 BC.

Father of Darius the Mede (Daniel 9:1)

Vashti (Queen)

Esther (or Hadassah)

Hadassah means “myrtle,” which is a symbol of peace (2:7)

Esther means “star”

Mordecai

Older cousin of Esther; raised her (2:5-7)

Haman (Persian official under King Ahasuerus [3:1])

We Need Discernment

When I read through Esther, I see horrible discernment. This theme comes to mind because we see King Ahasuerus severely lacking discernment.

We’re going to start our study of Esther on this topic of discernment. I think discernment is so necessary today.

Turn to 1 Kings 3:5-12 [READ]. I think King Solomon gives a really good definition of discernment: distinguishing between good and evil.

Discernment is determining fine distinctions. It’s actually like discrimination.

When you hear the word “discrimination” you most likely think of the negative component of the definition, which refers to actions and policies that treat persons or groups unjustly on the basis of some factor, such as sex, ethnicity or age. This is sinful—showing partiality instead of recognizing and celebrating God’s design.

But do you realize there is a positive component of the meaning of the word discrimination and that is practicing discernment or drawing fine distinctions.

We discriminate all the time. You make fine distinctions.

You like this food better than that.

You like this show better than that one.

You prefer this kind of vehicle than another.

Everybody discriminates morals too. You’re always making fine distinctions between good and evil. This is discernment.

Obviously, the question is what determines right and wrong?

God honored Solomon’s request and blessed him beyond his request. And James tells us that if we need wisdom, we can ask God and He will give it.

King Ahasuerus was a secular leader who reigned over a massive area. “From India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces” (v.1). He did not acknowledge God, and we see that in this historical narrative.

By studying Esther 1, I want to help us hone our ability to discern. We live in a day where we are bombarded with messages and we must constantly discern between good and evil in order to glorify God.

By studying Esther 1, I want us to see God’s sovereignty over a world even where evil runs rampant as a result of the fall of man.

Now here’s your Bible trivia nugget of knowledge for the day: Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not mention God. You won’t see the word God or any other name for Him in this book.

Although Esther had been commonly accepted in the Hebrew Bible and was never contested as the full canon of Scripture was formed, even in the Reformation days, Martin Luther criticized Esther that it was too Jewish and had no gospel content.

But just because we don’t see the name of God written, the fingerprints of God are all over it. Similarly, just because you can’t see God physically or touch him, or hear an audible voice doesn’t mean He isn’t there.

KEYS ILLUSTRATION.

“No matter what, these keys will always be in front of you.”

Hold in front. Where are the keys? How do you know? (see)

Blindfold. Hold in front. Shake keys. Where are the keys? How do you know? (hear)

Blindfold. Hold in front. Where are the keys? How do you know? (feel)

Blindfold. Hold in front but step back and make no noise. Where are the keys? “I don’t know.”

Where did I tell you they would be? “In front of me.” Then guess where they are?

There are times when you can’t see God, or feel Him. You can’t seem to hear Him. But He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. Our trust in His presence is not based on our feelings but on his faithfulness.

God is there. He certainly was there in the time of Esther even though He is not mentioned directly.

As we look at chapter 1, I want you to observe 3 “Discernment Quenchers” for King Ahasuerus. These are 3 factors that can easily cause any of us to lack discernment or have bad judgment between evil and good.

3 Discernment Quenchers: Pride, Unwise Counsel, Bitterness

Pride

Can you imagine throwing a 180-day long party to celebrate your greatness? That’s what Ahasuerus did (v.4)

His drunkeness from his feasting led to a horrible decision. He treats his wife like a piece of furniture for everyone to gaze at because of her beauty, but she rejects this insulting offer.

Was this good discernment? No! He was coming off of a 180-day arrogance display of all he possessed (curtains, pillars, pavement, dishware (v.6-7).

And somehow hedecided he would devalue his wife by lowering her to be like one of these items fashioned by hands.

She was fashioned by God, but the king wanted to treat her like a curtain rod.

Listen: When you get angry because you didn’t get your way, you need to repent of your pride.

V.12- Ahasuerus’s “anger burned within him.

Pride is a discernment quencher. You won’t be able to see God clearly if you are looking so intently at yourself.

Unwise Counsel

v.13- “wise men who knew the times.” This is a phrase that describes so many people still today!

The king asks their counsel of what he should do in response to his wife not wanting to abide by his selfish command.

Their unwise counsel was that Vashti didn’t just sin against the king, but (v.16) she sinned against all the people in the 127 provinces of King Ahasuerus.

All the women are going to do the same thing as Vashti.

The counsel: (v.20) If it pleases the king, write a law that cannot be repealed that Vashti can never again come before the king.

To whom do you listen for determining right from wrong? More than ever today, you will hear more from so many different perspectives than ever before. There is so much unwise counsel out there.

Not only should you be careful who you listen to, but you need to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Pride and unwise counsel were the king’s discernment quenchers. Let’s look at one more:

Bitterness

The king was hurt. It didn’t matter that he brought it upon himself, but he was hurt. And you’ve heard the old adage: Hurt people hurt people.

Why? Bitterness. Roots of bitterness can set in and poison all of your thinking.

When we are hurt, our flesh wants vengeance.

Not only was Ahasuerus’ discernment quenched by the unwise counsel he received, but his own bitterness led him to his poor decision to ban Vashti from his presence.

He wanted to get back at her, and I think his arrogance is back on display again in his decree: You can never see me again.

I almost wonder if Vashti just kind of shrugged— ok, bye.

This whole situation is messed up because the king wasn’t thinking right. He wasn’t following God’s ways in this— if he would have just repented of his sin instead of continually giving into his selfishness, he might not have been in this situation.

When you get into ch.2:1, we realize that the king did all of this while he was still angry.

Here’s a simple life lesson— calm down before you make decisions!

It appears that the king regretted what he did in his drunken anger. Ever know anyone like that?

The king’s discernment was quenched by his pride, unwise counsel, and bitterness. Your discernment could be quenched by those same things.

But Esther is not just some account where we look for moral lessons.

The Bigger Picture & Plan of God

Despite the secular king’s foolishness, God used it all to set the stage for the deliverance of His people. The natural progression is that we are introduced to the king and queen in ch.1, Esther in ch.2, then Haman (another wicked character) in ch.3.

Find great comfort in this truth: Even unrighteous rulers cannot thwart God’s plan.

Think about this also— the account in Esther takes place during Ahasuerus’ reign, which is 485-465. The Jewish Bible, the OT, was arranged in a different order than our English Bibles. Esther was the 3rd from last book of the Hebrew Bible. (Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, books of Chronicles).

If Jesus’ birth was around AD 6, then Esther is taking place just before the 400 year period of silence, the Intertestamental period, before the birth of the Messiah.

Israel had already suffered defeat and deliverance from several enemies up to this point— Egypt, Babylon— and here was yet another threat to the Jewish people, from whom God promised ultimate deliverance to all people.

This is one of the last major threats to God’s people before the coming of the Messiah about 460 years later.

We need to remember that God’s sovereign plan was in place before the foundation of the world. When we read Esther, we are reminded that God rules and reigns over this earth and for all eternity.

We need to make sure our lives don’t contradict God’s plans and ways. This brings us back to one of the original questions I asked:

what determines right and wrong when you are discerning all that you hear and see in our world today?

Let’s end by looking at Proverbs 2:1-15 [READ].

Proverbs 2:1–15 (ESV)

The Value of Wisdom

2 My son, if you receive my words

and treasure up my commandments with you,

2 making your ear attentive to wisdom

and inclining your heart to understanding;

3 yes, if you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

4 if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

5 then you will understand (discern) the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;

from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

8 guarding the paths of justice

and watching over the way of his saints.

9 Then you will understand (discern) righteousness and justice

and equity, every good path;

10 for wisdom will come into your heart,

and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

11 discretion will watch over you,

understanding will guard you,

12 delivering you from the way of evil,

from men of perverted speech,

13 who forsake the paths of uprightness

to walk in the ways of darkness,

14 who rejoice in doing evil

and delight in the perverseness of evil,

15 men whose paths are crooked,

and who are devious in their ways.

How will you be able to discern well and know right from wrong? By [doing the underlined things in this passage].

We must treasure the Word of God and live according to it. The Bible is the only way we will know right from wrong because it is the truth of God, our creator.