SCRIPTURE: ESTHER 1
INTRODUCTION:
The setting of the book of Esther was in Susa, the Persian capital during the time of Xerxes, king of Persia from 480-465BC. The book begins with Queen Vashti refusing to obey an order from her husband king Xerxes. She was subsequently deposed and the search began for a new queen. Esther was a beautiful Jewish girl who was chosen by King Xerxes and became the queen of Persia.
Mordecai, Esther’s older cousin was a government official and during his tenure, he foiled an assassination plot. But the the ambitious and self-serving Haman was appointed second-in-command in the empire. He was proud and wanted everyone to bow down before him. When Mordecai refused to bow down to him, Haman became furious and determined to destroy Mordecai and all the Jews along with him. Haman deceived the king and persuaded him to issue an edict condemning all the Jews to death. Mordecai, the uncle of Esther persuaded Esther to save his people. Esther risked her life to appeal to the king and rescued the Jews. Esther devised a plan by inviting the king and Haman to two banquets. During the second banquet, she appealed to the king to save her and her people from extinction for Haman had plotted to kill them. The king sentenced Haman to death and the Jews were saved. The Feast of Purim was celebrated annually to commemorate the historic rescue of the Jews from extinction.
QUEEN VASHTI DEPOSED (vs. 1-22)
King Xerxes was the ruler of over 127 provinces starting from India to Cush. During his third year of reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He displayed the vast wealth of the kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty for 180 days. Then he gave a banquet for 7 days in the garden of the king’s palace. Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of king Xerxes. On the 7th day, king Xerxes was in high spirits from wine and he commanded the 7 eunuchs to bring before him Queen Vashti wearing her royal crown in order to display her beauty. But when the attendants delivered the kings command, Queen Vashti refused to go. The king because furious and angry. He consulted the wise men on what to do to Vashti for not obeying the command of the king. Memucan advised him to depose Vashti so that all the women will respect their husband from the least to the greatest. The king did as Memucan proposed. He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom to each province in its own script to each people in its on language proclaiming in each people’s tongue that every man should be ruler over his own household.
THOUGHTS;
The royal banquet degenerated into a drunken party. So, when Queen Vashti was called by the king to show herself off, she refused. She lost her crown but she kept her integrity.
When king Xerxes became angry, he made foolish decision by following the advices of others. We should learn to control our temper. Do not follow any advices from someone when you are angry.