Overview of the book of Esther

A new queen in Persia… (3 things)

• 1^st – Refusing the King… 1:1-22
  • 1^st – A feast fit for a King… vs. 1-8
    • In the days of Ahasuerus…
      • King Ahasuerus – is the historical Xerxes – who reigned from 486-465 B.C.
      • The son of Darius – the same Darius who was a contemporary of Daniel – Daniel 6
      • Xerxes son Artaxerxes would be the one who sent Ezra and Nehemiah back to Jerusalem!
    • He was King of the 127 provinces of Persia – from India to Ethiopia…
      • The kingdom of Persia was the greatest the world had ever seen up to that point…
      • The territory they conquered ranged from India in the East – to Africa in the West…
      • The heart of the Persian Empire was modern day Iran / Persia…
      • And the story begins in its capitol of Shushan – the modern city of Susa in Iran
    • The King threw a lavish party for all the nobles and princes of Persia…
      • To show off the riches of HIS kingdom – and the splendor of HIS glory and greatness…
      • The party lasted for 180 days – capped off by a special 7-day party for everyone in the city…
      • The courtyard was decorated in blue and white curtains – marble columns / silver rods…
      • Silver and gold couches sat on mosaic tiles of alabaster / turquoise / and black marble!
      • And everyone was allowed to drink as much as they wanted from gold cups!
    • The King obviously had A LOT of money – and he used it all to bring glory to himself!
      • That might sound like a great life – but the one thing that was lacking was God…
      • And we are going to see his happiness crumble in a moment – because it is built on sand! 
      • The world looks at us and think we are foolish for trusting in / looking to Jesus…
      • But there will come a day when all they depend upon collapses into a heap of dust!
      • Matthew 7:26 – “Like a foolish man who built his house on the sand…”
  • 2^nd – A drunken request… vs. 9-15
    • Queen Vashti (Beautiful) had her own feast with the women of the royal palace… vs. 9-15
      • And on the 7^th day of the feast – King Ahasuerus merry with wine (drunk)…
      • Called for Vashti to come with her crown (presumably only her crown) show off her beauty…
      • But the queen refused to come naked before a group of drunken men (understandably)…
    • Enraged the drunken King called for his wise men to discuss a punishment for the queen!
      • I am amazed at the poor decisions people make when they ‘have a little too much to drink’…
      • Then rather then admit their poor judgment – they go to other drunks for advice…
      • A great example of why it is a really good idea not to get drunk – it ruins marriages!
      • You will never hear someone say – ‘my marriage is so much better because I drink.’
  • 3^rd – All women are to honor their husbands… vs. 16-22
    • Memucan – one of the kings advisors – gave this advice…
      • Vashti had not only insulted the king – but all the princes and men of Persia…
      • Because their wives would hear the Queen had not obeyed the command of the King…
      • As a result – they too would begin to despise the words of their husbands!
      • Therefore the King was encouraged to banish Vashti as punishment for her disobedience…
      • And a decree sent throughout the Kingdom – all women should honor their husbands!
      • The saying pleased the King – and a letter was sent out to all the provinces of Persia
    • This ends up being a bit of a hot topic – especially in our modern equal rights culture…
      • But the command for wives to honor their husbands is a Biblical one – Ephesians 5:22
      • The question has to be asked – what does it mean for a wife to honor her husband…
      • The example of honor / submission is found in the Church submitting to Jesus Christ…
      • We do not tell Jesus what to do – we are to be completely loyal to His commands!
      • In the same way a wife should be COMPLETELY submissive to her husband…
      • Not that the wife should be mute – it is a wise man that listens to his wife!
      • Yet in the end it is the responsibility of the husband to decide – and the wife to follow!
      • And when a wife submits herself to her husband – she is not ‘trusting him’…
      • She is trusting Jesus – especially if her husband is not making a great choice!
      • But when the wife is not submitting to her husband – she in a sense gets in the way…
      • Better to duck and get out of the way – and let God deal with her husband!
    • What if a husband is an unbeliever…
      • All the more a wife should be submissive to her husband…
      • I Peter 3:1 – “Wives be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives…”
      • It may very well be that their Godly example will win their husbands to Jesus!
      • But believer or un-believer there is one very important exception…
      • If a husband asks his wife to do things contrary to the Word of God…
      • In that case a wife must always submit and obey to God first!
    • It is VERY important to note…
      • This command is not for all women to submit to all men – just a wife to HER husband…
      • Also the command is for the wife – the husband has nothing to do with it….
      • It is not for the husband to remind his wife – tell her to submit…  
      • Whether or not the wife it submissive is between the wife and the Lord!

• 2^nd – Picking a new Queen… 2:1-23
  • 1^st – Queen Esther… vs. 1-11
    • The wrath of the King subsided – he sobered up – and he regretted what he had done… vs. 1-4
      • But the laws of the Medes and Persians could not be repealed – even by the King…
      • So instead the decree was given for a new queen to be chosen…
      • A search was made throughout the empire to find the most beautiful young women
    • In Shushan there was a Jew named Mordecai – from the tribe of Benjamin… vs. 5-11
      • A descendant of Shimei – who had cursed David when he fled Absalom – II Samuel 16:5
      • Whom David head spared when he was restored – allowing him to have children!
      • Mordecai had adopted his cousin who was an orphan – her name was Hadassah (Myrtle)…
      • But her name was changed to Esther – Star – because she was so beautiful!
      • She was chosen to be one of the young women taken into the harem of the King…
      • However under the instruction of Mordecai – she did not tell anyone she was a Jew!
    • From mercy shown by David – to orphaning a little girl – to the drunken request of a King…
      • It turns out God was orchestrating every detail in preparation to save His people…
      • We often try to label things in life – we call them either Good or Bad…
      • Because we do not always understand why God allows the things He does…
      • But there are no coincidences with God – He uses all things in our lives!
      • Romans 8:28 – “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
  • 2^nd – Each women had 12 months to prepare to meet the King… vs. 12-20
    • Presumably because many came from lower classes – and wanted to present their best…
      • Afterwards they could take anything they wanted with them to impress the King…
      • They would go to him in the evening – and in the morning return to a 2^nd haram…
      • And they would never see the King again – unless he specifically requested them by name
    • When Esther went to meet the King – she only took what Hegei (chief eunuch) suggested…
      • And the King loved Esther more than any other women – so she became the new Queen…
      • Not because of all the beauty treatments – or jewelry – all the women had that…
      • It was because of the far deeper beauty that came from inside Esther!
    • The trend today is for women to focus on external beauty…
      • They judge their beauty based on clothing – hair / jewelry / nails / etc.
      • They think these are what make a person beautiful – they could not be more wrong…
      • Someone might have the best clothes – hair – makeup – and all the accessories…
      • But if they are mean and sinful – there is no beauty – just the opposite!
      • Yet someone can be very homely – but if they are full of Jesus – beautiful!
    • And for those who live for outward beauty – they are in for a surprise…
      • It does not last – not matter how much you try – you GET OLD…
      • Women spend LOTS of money trying to hold on to the beauty of their youth…
      • They buy ‘beauty products’ / spend HOURS in front of the mirror / surgery…
      • But no matter how hard they try – age ALWAYS wins out in the end!
    • Therefore do not focus on outward looks…
      • I Peter 3:3-4  – “Do not be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should be known for the beauty that comes from within…”
      • Not that there is anything wrong with a woman being ‘pretty’…
      • If the house needs painting to make it look good – paint that house!
      • But women should not focus ONLY on making the outside pretty…
      • Instead they are to ‘put on’ good works – beauty coming from their heart!
      • Seeking the inner beauty that comes from knowing Jesus Christ!
  • 3^rd – The plot against the King… vs. 21-23
    • Two of the eunuchs of the King became furious with him – and plotted to kill the King…
    • But Mordecai overheard their plans – and informed the Esther – who then told the King…
    • The King had the men hung on a tree (impalement) – the event recorded in the history books
    • But nothing was done for Mordecai – at that point – God was still working!

• 3^rd – The command to kill the Jews… 3:1-15
  • 1^st – Haman the Agagite… vs. 1-6
    • After these things – the king promoted Haman to the head of the Princes…
      • So all the servants of the King bowed and paid respect when Haman passed by…
      • Except Mordecai – he refused to bow – and word of his insolence came to Haman…
      • But instead of seeking to just punish Mordecai – he decided to instead kill all the Jews!
    • Why did Mordecai refuse to bow – Haman was an Agagite – a descendant of the Amalekites…
      • When Israel came out of Egypt – Amalek had attacked them… 
      • They wanted to keep Israel from Mt. Sinai – where God would give Israel the Law…
      • To keep Israel from hearing from God – becoming the chosen people of God…
      • As a result God promised He would completely destroy even the memory of Amalek!
      • 400 years later King Saul was commanded to fulfill that vow – I Samuel 15:1-3
      • Saul slaughtered the Amalekites in battle – but he did not kill them all… 
      • He left alive the best of the sheep / cattle – and King Agag!
    • In the Bible ‘Amalek’ is a type / picture of our flesh (sinful desires / sinful nature)…
      • Our flesh does not want to listen to God – it desires to keep us from the Lord…
      • There is a battle inside of us every day – between our sinful flesh / and our Spirit…
      • It is the battle between what I ‘know’ God wants – and what I ‘want’…
      • Romans 7:15 – “I do not understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I do not do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.”
      • Why do I do what I know is sin – because I want to – no one forces me…
      • Why do I not do what I know is good and right – because I do not want to …
      • The battle between our flesh and Spirit – our will versus the will of God…
    • The failure of Saul to completely wipe out Amalek would cost him his life…
      • Saul was later killed by an Amalekite – II Samuel 1:8-12
      • And because Amalek was not wiped out it almost destroyed the entire nation of Israel…
      • Haman and Amalekite (descendant of King Agag) – wanted to kill every Jew!
      • The Amalekites in our life are not always obvious – they can seem innocent…
      • That ‘one drink’ that could not possibly hurt – the ‘one night’ we go to out to…
      • The ‘one Sunday’ we miss church because we are so busy…
      • When we give in to the flesh – the flesh desires more – and then more…
      • We end up on a slippery slope that threatens to destroy our relationship with the Lord!
  • 2^nd – Casting lots… vs. 7-15
    • In the month of Nisan (April) Haman cast lots to decide what month to eradicate the Jews…
      • The lots fell on the 13^th day of month of Adar (March) – 12 months later…
      • He went to the King and told them about the Jews – with their ‘different laws’…
      • He was willing to pay 10k talents of silver – $200 million – for their extermination!
      • The King gave his ring / seal – and the order was sent out to every corner of the Empire…
      • To destroy / kill / annihilate – every Jew – young and old / men and women…
      • And to take all of their possession and land as spoils (motivation for murder)…
      • After the King and Haman sat down to drink – while the city was in confusion!
    • Ironic – that Haman spent millions to destroy the work of God on a specific day…
      • But it was Haman who actually was rushing towards a judgment day of his own!
      • The world spends countless millions today to try and take God out of society…
      • Influencing politicians / elections – and an complete take over of public education…
      • But for all their efforts – God will not loose – they are the ones hurling towards judgment!
      • So many people today are just going about their daily lives – blinded by lies…
      • They assume life just goes on – tomorrow will be just like today…
      • They do realize that Jesus is coming soon – judgment is right around the corner…
      • It is our opportunity to share with them – to warn them…
      • They may mock us – they might not believe – but then again they might and be saved!