Thought for the Week

Last week I gave a tiny introduction to the Book of Esther. I introduced Ahasuerus. Secular history knows him as Xerxes and I will call him that. We also lean on secular history to tell us about the times. Xerxes the Media-Persian king had a vast Empire. But as is often the case, he wanted more. He waged a war against Greece, which was to become the next World Empire. We heard about this a bit in the Book of Daniel in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision. It was of a statue, head of gold, chest of silver, belly of bronze, upper legs of iron and feet of iron mingled with earth. The head of gold is gone in the defeat/demise of Babylon. The chest of silver is Media-Persia, to become Persia, and the belly of bronze, to become Greece. At any rate, Xerxes made war against Greece with a huge army, and was defeated. In defeat he became glum. But, he had no intimate person to console him since he had deposed Queen Vashti. Of course he had a harem but we should know sex and love are not the same. So, while he had access to womanly compassion, it was not the same. Meanwhile I expect his counselors were watching him and his moods. For, if he remembered they had advised him to dismiss Vashti who had apparently been his love, their heads would have been on the block. So, it was they who advised holding this “beauty contest” to find a new queen. Bringing back Vashti, would have been dangerous to them as well, had it been legal. We come to chapter two and are introduced to my two main hero-figures. Mordecai and Esther. They were related. Mordecai acted as the adopted father to Esther. Mordecai held a minor position in the government. When Mordecai became aware of the king’s edict to bring beautiful, young, virgins to the palace, he thought it an opportunity. Esther was brought for she was indeed beautiful. I might add, beautiful inside and out. When she was brought she was introduced to those in charge but Mordecai had warned her not to reveal her nationality. They were Jews and still looked upon as a captive people. The person in charge of these potential queens, was immediately impressed with Esther and gave her special treatment with regard to preparation for her ‘night with the king’. Perhaps she depended on him for advice about the king’s preferences. At any rate, she so favorably impressed Xerxes that he made her his queen. The Book then records a small incident that does not appear to mean much. Later it will have surprising consequences. Mordecai, in his capacity as gate-keeper, overhears two men discussing and making plans to assassinate the king. Mordecai somehow gets this information to Queen Esther. She reports it to the king, giving the source of information as Mordecai. An investigation is carried out and the culprits are found guilty and executed. That seems to be the end of the matter. But I think as we read and study this Book, we will be able to see the hand of God, we might call it “providence.” Israel has been permitted to return to their homeland but many did not. They are still God’s people. He is still protecting and providing for them. What we have seen so far, may not seem special. But as we continue we will hopefully see how God has been working in the past, present through His people and will be glorified in the end.

Scriptures to Read

Esther 1:1-4

Esther 1:5-9

Esther 1:10-12

Esther 1:13-18

Esther 1:19-22

Esther 2:1-4

Esther 2:5-11