Esther 1-2 ‘The unseen hero’

I guess that none of us have witnessed the sort of things that we occasionally read of in the Bible. Has anyone here seen anything like the Red Sea or the Jordan River being parted? Can you imagine a bunch of people making a noise and watching the walls of Jericho crumble? Have we been at a party recently where the water turned to wine? I don’t suppose you have witnessed anyone feed a large crowd with five loaves and two fish?

I hope that the fact that we have not seen such things doesn’t cause us to doubt God. You see those were exceptional events. They tended to happen at key points in the salvation story of God’s people. I’m not saying that miracles don’t happen today, they do. It’s just that God’s normal way of acting is more hidden. God generally works in an unseen way.

The book of Esther is one of two books of the Bible where God’s name is not even mentioned (the other book that does not mention God is Song of Songs). This is a classic story of God working behind the scenes. You see although God is not spoken of here I hope that we will see that he is the true hero! Indeed he is more than the hero in this book he is also the director controlling all that is going on. We see this in the opening two chapters.

The king does as he pleases . . . (chapter 1)
Our story begins around 483 B.C. It is the third year of the reign of Xerxes, the king of Persia. Xerxes had ascended to the throne in his thirties and his empire stretched from India to Cush (now northern Sudan).

Xerxes was a man who liked parties. The first banquet that we read of is for all of the nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present. This banquet lasts for 180 days (nearly six months)! The banquet was probably a public relations exercise designed to boost morale about the empire. Xerxes was displaying the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendour and glory of his rule. These verses certainly show Xerxes to be a man of worldly opulence and presumably a big show off!

I don’t know why you drive the car you drive or why you chose your career or the house you live in but don’t be a show-off like Xerxes. The Bible has a poor opinion of show-offs. Xerxes is not an example to follow. The apostle John wrote, for everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but of the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:16-17).

After the 180 days there was another banquet that lasted seven days. It was held in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest, who were in the citadel of Susa. The writer of this book highlights just how lavish an occasion it was!

There was also a third banquet being held in the royal palace, one for the women. It was being presided over by the beautiful Queen Vashti.

When it comes to alcohol the Christian has two choices: to drink in moderation or not to drink at all. Like many people who have had more drink than they should Xerxes makes a fool of himself. On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him . . . to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at.

True to form Xerxes was showing off. He wants to show off his wife, as if she was just another one of his possessions. ‘This was a society where women remained heavily veiled in public and no-one would see the features of a woman except her husband’ (Diane Tidball). Xerxes was demanding something that would be humiliating for Vashti. She refused to simply be his trophy piece so the king became furious and burned with anger. How embarrassing for Xerxes, he rules 127 provinces but he can’t get his wife to do what he says! One of the features of the book of Esther is its humour—the joke is on this pathetic man.

Xerxes could have done with the advice of the book of Proverbs. A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult (12:16). A patient man has great understanding, but a quick tempered man displays folly (14:19).

Instead he gets the advice of his not so wise ‘wise’ men. One of them, Memucan, suggested, in the presence of the king and the nobles, that when women hear of what Queen Vashti has done they will despise their husbands and not do what they say. He advises that Xerxes should issue a royal decree, which cannot be repealed that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes and that Queen Vashti’s position should be given to someone else. Then women will surely respect their husbands!

. . . but God’s purposes prevail (2:1-18)
At the beginning of chapter 2, it seems that when Xerxes calmed down he regretted his decision about Vashti. We are surely better keeping our mouths closed when our anger rises for we could easily say things that we will later regret.

So the king’s personal attendants come to him with a proposal: “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king . . . Then let the girl who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” Xerxes reaction to this proposal might make us laugh. This advice appealed to the king . . . Of course the idea appealed to this shallow man!

We are then introduced to Mordecai and Esther. Mordecai is one of God’s Old Testament people, he is a Jew. He had a younger cousin named Hadassah, who was known as Esther. Esther was lovely in form and features. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.

Esther is chosen to be brought to the harem of the king. She pleased Hegai, the eunuch in charge, who gives her the best place in the harem. She did not reveal her nationality or family background because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.

When Esther’s turn to be with the king comes, after twelve months of beauty treatments, she wins the king’s favour more than any of the other girls. He crowns her king instead of Vashti, gives a great banquet and proclaims a holiday throughout the provinces.

Conclusion
King Xerxes, a man with no regard for God, has put Esther in place as queen. He has put her in a position where God will be able to use her to rescue his people. Although God is not mentioned in these chapters he is clearly directing all that goes on. The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases (Proverbs 21:1).

This principle may draw our minds to the cross where people seemed to act independently of God but God’s purpose prevailed—they crucified and innocent man and in that crucifixion God rescued people from their sin.

So God might not be acknowledged in our workplace, home or classroom but that does not prove that he is not there. He might not be seen in the goings on of governments but he is in control. People may mock us for our faith but only as much as he lets them. Decisions in life may go against us but only where he permits. We can trust the God who may generally work behind the scenes but nevertheless remains in control of all things and indeed works them for his glory and the ultimate good of those who love him!