Today I want us to begin a walk through the book of Esther. Esther was a Godly, brave, courageous woman. In the book of Esther we will see God’s divine protection and justice. We will see what pride can do to a person, even a wealthy one. We will see meanness and vindictiveness.
Please, pray with me at the beginning of today’s study.
**Lord Jesus, this website is for Sisters Who Care. I fear that many times we, as women, are so busy that we forget to care. Please, make caring an intentional part of our lives. Help us to be brave, courageous, women of God so that others might see Jesus in us and want to be followers of Christ. Open my heart now as I read and study Your Word. Convict, comfort, and challenge me, Lord Jesus. Amen.
As you read the following Scripture, the parentheses are my notes.
Esther 1:1-22 (HCSB)
1 These events took place during the days of Ahasuerus,who ruled 127 provinces from India to Cush.
2 In those days King Ahasuerus reigned from his royal throne in the fortress at Susa.
3 He held a feast in the third year of his reign for all his officials and staff, the army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials from the provinces.
(Ahasuerus’ purpose in this banquet was to show off his wealth and his kingdom. It was purely selfish; it was purely an act of pride.)
4 He displayed the glorious wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness for a total of 180 days. (6 months)
5 At the end of this time, the king held a week-long banquet in the garden courtyard of the royal palace for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were present in the fortress of Susa.
6 White and violet linen hangings were fastened with fine white and purple linen cords to silver rods on marble columns. Gold and silver couches [were arranged] on a mosaic pavement of red feldspar, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.
7 Beverages were served in an array of gold goblets, each with a different design. Royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty
8 and no restraint was placed on the drinking. The king had ordered every wine steward in his household to serve as much as each person wanted.
(People were feeling no pain and no inhibitions. This is why the Scripture admonishes us to be drunk with the Spirit rather than wine. Whereas, the Holy Spirit produces self-control in a Christian; wine often causes one to lose her self-control.)
9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women of King Ahasuerus’ palace.
10 On the seventh day, when the king was feeling good from the wine, Ahasuerus commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who personally served him,
11 to bring Queen Vashti before him with her royal crown. [He wanted] to show off her beauty to the people and the officials, because she was very beautiful.
12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command that was delivered by his eunuchs. The king became furious and his anger burned within him.
13 The king consulted the wise men who understood the times,for it was his normal procedure to confer with experts in law and justice.
14 The most trusted ones were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. They were the seven officials of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and occupied the highest positions in the kingdom.
15 [The king asked,] “According to the law, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey King Ahasuerus’ command that was delivered by the eunuchs?”
16 Memucan said in the presence of the king and his officials, “Queen Vashti has defied not only the king, but all the officials and the peoples who are in every one of King Ahasuerus’ provinces.
17 For the queen’s action will become public knowledge to all the women and cause them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti brought before him, but she did not come.’
18 [Before] this day [is over], the noble women of Persia and Media who hear about the queen’s act will say [the same thing] to all the king’s officials, resulting in more contempt and fury.
(Now, his noble advisors weren’t so concerned for King Ahasuerus as they were themselves and the attitudes of their own wives.)
19 “If it meets the king’s approval, he should personally issue a royal decree. Let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media, so that it cannot be revoked: Vashti is not to enter King Ahasuerus’ presence, and her royal position is to be given to another woman who is more worthy than she.
20 The decree the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom, so all women will honor their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”
21 The king and his counselors approved the proposal, and he followed Memucan’s advice.
22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language, that every man should be master of his own house and speak in the language of his own people.
Even at this stage of the Book of Esther, God is in control. He is setting events in order to bring Esther into a position where she can save the people of Israel. I am not saying that God caused or approved of Vashti’s removal or divorce. I am saying that God is always in control – even when things seem to be completely out of control.
Throughout Scripture, God used the attitudes and hard hearts of many evil people.
Exodus 9:13-16 (HCSB)
13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh. Tell him: This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews says: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
14 Otherwise, I am going to send all My plagues against you, your officials, and your people. Then you will know there is no one like Me in all the earth.
15 By now I could have stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with a plague, and you would have been obliterated from the earth.
16 However, I have let you live for this purpose: to show you My power and to make My name known in all the earth.
God never allows anything to happen for no reason. In this passage in Exodus, God says, “for this purpose I have let you live: to show you My power and to make My name known in all the earth.” It is always all about God’s glory; the lifting up of Jesus.
There was another king – Herod – in the New Testament who thought he was a god. He was eaten from the inside out by worms(Acts 12:23). Then there was Nebuchadnezzar who was sentenced to eat with the cows till he learned that he was just a man and God was God(Daniel 4:33).
Sometimes it seems that the evil, wicked, mean people are winning; that nothing bad ever happens to them. But God shows and tells us throughout Scripture that He is in control. He is merciful and He is good, but He is in control.
Do your children play sports? Does it seem that the other child is favored? It often did to me. When the children join, the coach claims that everyone will get to play. No one is shown favoritism. If you come to practice, you get to play. But then the games come and go, and Johnny who never made practice, plays every inning – while your child, who never missed practice, plays one game the whole season…
What about your husband? He works hard. Stays late. Goes in early. Never complains. Always dresses appropriately. When it comes time for promotion, Joe Blow who is always late, fudges on his time card, never dresses appropriately, and has a lousy attitude – He gets the promotion and the raise.
Or maybe it is you. It seems that you’re always working to get past the next financial obstacle just to make ends meet. While your ungodly neighbor drives a Lexus, has a pool, and cheats on her husband.
The Bible promises us that God uses these wicked people for His own purposes. He promises us that He is in control. He promises us rewards that we cannot see. He gives us gifts now that the wicked cannot have; such as the Holy Spirit Who brings love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, meekness, gentleness, self-control, and faith.
As we study more in Esther, we will see the Godly prosper and the wicked fail. We do not always see this happen in our lives. We must rely on God, Who cannot lie, to keep His promises.
Psalms 33:13-22 (NKJV)
13 The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.
14 From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth;
15 He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.
16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy,
19 To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name.
22 Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.
Remember what the Greek for “wait” means? “serve.” So what do we do while we wait on the Lord? We continue to serve. We continue to be persistent and consistent in our service and our faith. We pray; we study; and we praise.
If anyone knew what it was like to be miserable while it seemed that his enemies were prospering, David did. Still he continued to be faithful and to be a man of integrity. Prayer is our power. Praise brings joy; and the joy of the Lord is our strength. Please take time to read the entire Psalm and pray with me.
Psalms 37:1-40 (NKJV)
1 A Psalm of David. Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret--it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct.
15 Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore.
28 For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him.
33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait on the Lord, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.
**Lord Jesus, it is so hard to wait. Though I know that I will win in the end, the darts of the wicked sting. I want to trust. I want to wait with integrity. I want to bring glory to your name. Help me not to fret or worry. I will commit my ways to You. I will trust that You will deliver me. I will delight in Your Word and praise Your Name. You alone are worthy to receive the praise and the glory forever and ever. You have promised me peace; I claim that promise. Help me to keep my eyes on You, Lord Jesus. Show me someone to reach out to this day. Amen.
Together, Sisters Who Care, can win! We already have! (Ephesians 3:20 & 21)
