Esther Chapter 1

This week, I began a ladies study through the book of Esther

The verse for the definition of this Bible study is: “Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD, and who meditate on His name. Malachi 3:16

Notes for Week 1, Chapter 1: Lesson 1

What’s the most amazing factor about the book of Esther? It’s what makes many question its inclusion in the Bible. Esther is the book that never mentions God by name, yet it is where God moves everything for His glory. God shows His mighty power and Sovereignty over all His creation. 

This is a great book that proves the action of faith without sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7. For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Corrie Ten Boom said it this way, “Trust the unknown future to a known God”

We don’t need to see God but we see Him in all that He does. 

In the Book of Acts 2:2, the upper room was filled with the sound of a rushing mighty wind. There was no wind, God supplied only the sound. At that time, the Holy Spirit chose that sound as His entrance, as proof of His appearance. They didn’t see God but they certainly knew He was in the room.

When God came to Mount Sinai, the children of Israel saw only great dark clouds, and lightning, and heard thunders. They didn’t see God but they knew He was present.

God isn’t mentioned in Esther but He certainly is in it. As we see the appearance of God throughout this book, it is because God moves the natural in ways that are unnatural to the world. Miracles are only special from our side of heaven, because nothing is miraculous with God. Miracles are work as usual for God. 

That makes the book of Esther one of the most powerful books of faith we can read. It is a great book of faith, for what is faith but in the belief that God will answer prayer and do all things good for His glory and the salvation of the world. We don’t see God but we pray anyway.

The more we read the Bible, the more we know the Power of God. The more we know the power of God, the more we trust Him. The more we trust Him, the less we fear the chaos of the world. The more we understand our Awesome God, the more set apart from the world we can live. A greater peace will exist in us.

 We read and meditate on the word of Almighty God and our faith is in the One and only God who has proven Himself over and over again. The gospels are great lessons of the realness of our Awesome God, His love for us and His power over everything He created. John 1:1-4

We don’t need to see God but God loves us and will keep us, no matter what happens around us.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary gives the purpose of writing this book of Esther was to encourage the returning Jewish exiles by reminding them of the faithfulness of God.

Esther is a great work of faith for us today, proving God, whom we can’t see, but it proves Him so beautifully.

Historically, there’s a lot of national things going on at this time. The Jews have been freed from their 70 years captivity for disobedience to God and many have returned to Jerusalem. Esther’s story occurs between Chapters 6 & 7 of the book of Ezra. (Ezra 6: 19-22)

The nation of Israel was back in business. They were now sacrificing with what David describes as a broken and contrite heart. All those years they had not obeyed God with all the Sabbath years had placed them in captivity for 70 years. Now, a remnant returned to worship with the correct heart for God and His Holiness.

In the gap between Ezra 6 & 7, King Ahasuerus comes to the throne of the now mixed rule of the Medes and the Persians. When the book of Esther opens he’s ruled for 7 years.

The kingdom of Media and Persia are not a very solid national structure. Their weakness is described in the Daniel prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the huge statue. King Aharuerus reigns during time represented by the silver torso. Also Daniel prophesizes of the bear devouring the three ribs. And again the Ram with two horns destroyed by the goat. All three symbols means the kingdom is weak in its divided alliance.

Esther 1:1-5

I’m not going into much about the history as I want to focus on God in this book. But some is necessary and it really brings God’s sovereignty to the forefront.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary says this about the king:

Much evidence supports the historicity of the facts in this book. Xerxes was a real king in Persia. His drinking parties were well known. Xerxes did have an irrational temper, occasionally exhibiting fits of rage. He did have a palace in Susa and a large harem there. Various features of the court can also be substantiated from other sources. (BKC pg 700/701)

As for the instability of king’s mind, when attempting the campaign to conquer Greece, the king ordered a stretch of water whipped and had shackles thrown into it because the violent current washed away his bridge.

The king was about to go into a huge battle to try to add Greece to his list of conquered nations. He throws a great party in the capital to prove he’s going to win. This way the lesser rulers of the semi-detached smaller states within his kingdom would support his fight. Daniel’s interpretations of the weakness of the cohesiveness of this kingdom are evident because Xerxes doesn’t appear able to give an executive order and have an army fight for him. Doesn’t say much for his authority.

Our God lives outside of the time He created, can see all the empires of the world before Him at all times. He sees and has seen King Xerxes defeated.

God is so awesome!!! We cannot but worship Him.

While the king is throwing a party for the men, Vashti, the Queen matches his extravagance for the women. We can assume she too is attempting to bolster the moral of the ladies who very well may become widows in the next few years of war. Widows have never had a good success in any nation, including those of nobility.

In his party, the king does a dumb thing. He commands his wife, the Queen, walk the palace runway in her finery and she refuses to parade before him and his drunken cohorts. He should never have made the command. Esther 1:10-18.

There is a sense that Vashti’s refusal to come at the King’s command was right, that is the respect for the men in the room. Respecting her husband’s throne, even if he wasn't showing respect for it.

But she was also wrong refusing to come at his command, for it was open disobedience, shaming her husband and her king.

The King was wrong and Vashti was wrong. In fact—the entire scenario was wrong. And although it was wrong, Vashti should have obeyed anyway. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

But there was something right in it as well. Anyone take a guess? (God’s sovereignty.) Proverbs 21:1

This drunken command brings more proof of Xerxes weakness to rule such a vast kingdom. It probably disgusted some of the men at the feast, because women were not to be included in counsels of war, if in fact that is Xerxes reason for the party.

Humiliated in front of the people he was attempting to impress, the king makes a law while he’s drunk. The worst case scenario just became a disaster of a catastrophic earthquake.

Esther 1: 19-21

Do you feel sad for Vashti? Well, don’t. she’s a pagan idol worshiper. She doesn’t know Jesus as her Savior. She doesn’t worship the One and Holy GOD. She is a drunken woman, who worshiped false gods. She’s the Queen of Persia. She’s a heathen who rules over a nation of slaves conquered in war. She has the right to order anyone whipped or imprisoned, or killed for any reason she wanted. This woman is in all probability just as cruel as her husband, the King is. 

The Bible gives us several women in power who misused their positions.

Jezebel was a queen and a murderess. (1 Kings 21)

Athaliah was a crazy murderous queen of Judah. (2 Kings 11)

 Potiphar’s wife had control over Joseph as a slave. (Genesis 39)

Vashti is described as very beautiful—but Proverbs says this, As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion” Proverbs 11:22. Vashti’s outward beauty was destroyed not only by her husband’s drunkenness, but by her own drunkenness. (Ephesians 5:18.)

Recorded in Luke, is Jesus words to the woman at the well.

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” Luke 4:23,24.

We also have these words from Jesus that encourage our faith in Almighty God, These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” John 14:33. 

The nation of the Medes and Persians was under the ruling hand of a weak, pagan, temperamental king, the children of Israel were still subjects of this kingdom, but they had the One and Living God working on their behalf. Even though we Christians live in troubling times, we have the One and Living God working for us. Let us look up with gladness and joy and anticipation. Our redemption draws near. Hallelujah!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

We serve an Awesome God!

Lesson Points:

1.     Every book in the Bible has significance.

2.     We walk by faith, not by sight: 2 Corinthians 5:7 (1 Peter 1:8)

3.     God moves the natural in ways that are unnatural to the world.

4.     Esther is one of the most powerful books of faith

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