Esther 1:1-22  Click here for Bible Verses

Hi GAMErs,

Today we begin the book of Esther.  Here is some background on Esther that you may find helpful:

  • Despite being allowed by kings like Cyrus and Darius to return to Jerusalem (see Ezra 1 and 6), and despite being urged by prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah to return to Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity as exiles (Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 29:10 and 50:8), many Jews chose to stay in Persia.  The book of Esther is about those Jews that stayed in Persia, the threat of genocide the Jews faced while in Persia, and the incredible way God used a Jewish orphan called Esther and her cousin Mordecai to save the Jews from that threat.
  • Scholars believe that the events described in the book of Esther took place between 483 B.C. and 473 B.C., after the events of Ezra 6 (when the temple was rebuilt in Jerusalem) and before the events of Ezra 7 (when Ezra returns to restore the sacrificial worship system in Jerusalem).
  • In the book of Esther, the name of God is not mentioned even once.   Yet in this book we see the sovereign hand of God working to protect and save His people.

Today’s passage is Esther 1:1-22.  Let’s go!

Esther 1:19 (NIV) 
19  “Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.”

On verses 1-22:  The year is 483 B.C. King Xerxes, ruler of Persia, is in the third year of his 21 year reign and is planning a major attack on Greece.  To garner support for this attack on Greece, King Xerxes throws a massive 180 day festival followed by a 7 day party, all of which flaunt King Xerxes’ wealth and power.  When King Xerxes commands his queen Vashti to appear before his guests, the lovely Vashti refuses.  The furious King Xerxes consults his advisors who counsel him to oust Vashti from his presence, depose her as queen, and replace her with someone else.  One of the alleged reasons for taking these measures was to discourage other women in Persia from being disrespectful to their husbands.

What can we learn from this?  Queen Vashti disobeyed King Xerxes’ command and as a result was ousted out of King Xerxes’ presence permanently.  Similarly, the consequence of us disobeying our King’s commands was that we be ousted out of His presence forever.  However, unlike King Xerxes who simply moved on and found another bride, our King never gave up on us.  Rather than leave us out in the cold, Jesus went out to where we are.  There He found us and did whatever it took to rescue us and bring us back into His kingdom, even if it meant giving up His own life in the process.  Jesus is a king and hero like no other.

Lord Jesus, thank You that when we disobeyed Your commands, You did not divorce us, abandon us or replace us.  Rather, You went out to where we are and paid the highest price to win us back.  What a humble, gentle, merciful, and beautiful Saviour You are.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!