Esther 1
Pastor Mark Hudson
Reversal. That seems to be the theme of Esther. Or don’t get sucked into believing those in power are in power. This first chapter is such a fascinating way to tell the story . . . of what?
The near extermination of the Jews
How God is always in control
How God’s covenant faithfulness can never be thwarted.
No one can stop, obstruct, prevent God from accomplishing His will. All of the above or just one?
Yet on a deeper level, we can see there is a profound lesson of the will of God being accomplished without even mentioning the name of God. So how does the author begin to tell this story? This is a captivating story that gets more thrilling as the story continues. In fact, there is a sardonic (mocking) tone to this account.
It may be that we are watching a war council as the Persian and Medes are planning to attack Greece. Ahasuerus’ father Darius could not defeat the Greeks, so his son wanted to seek revenge (Herodotus 7.8). This feast is the king inviting other armies and nations to join him in his efforts. His display of wealth and power remind his guests that he is able to reward or punish since he is the most powerful man on earth.
Remember, this account is written after the fact to people who already knew what happened. It may be like us in 2023 in the U.S. writing about Watergate. We know how it turned out. One word to describe this chapter is excess. A feast lasting 180 days! Then another one lasting for a week! Notice in v.6 and following the detail the author employs to describe the beauty. What power! Who could resist? This King can do anything! Well, not so fast.
The humor of all this show of power is what Vashti does – she refuses a simple request. Wait a minute. We are supposed to be impressed with the king’s authority and then this? His own family does not obey in this, a simple request. And this king seems rather petty, “At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.” Maybe a bit too much wine. As an aside, Herodotus the historian explains the combination of drunkenness and decision making,
Moreover, it is their (the Persians) custom to deliberate about the gravest
matters when they are drunk; and what they approve in their counsels is
proposed to them the next day by the master of the house where they delib-
erate, when they are now sober and if being sober, they still approve it, they
act thereon, but if not, they cast it aside. And when they have taken counsel
about a matter when sober, they decide upon it when they are drunk. (1.133).
Jobes, whose commentary I am referencing adds, “the ancients believed intoxication put them in closer touch with the spiritual world.”
What a wonderful place to live. The king, calm and deliberate, provided a safe place for all. Not so. This king is looking worse by the minute. And what of his ‘experts in matters of law and justice?” These ‘experts’ seem to be ruled by their own insecurities and on one hand, don’t want the women of the realm to hear about this but then on the other hand, tell everyone in the kingdom about it. They ‘make’ laws out of thin air and pretend no one can change their whims, er their ‘laws.’
This is how laws are made? This is the inner working of this power and authority. Seems silly and it was meant to ridicule and mock not just this king but anyone who lifts their hands against God Almighty. “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision” Ps. 2:4. And so should those watch these proud peacocks uttering laws they so proudly claim ‘may not be repealed.’
Jobes quotes M. Fox regarding the humor of this passage
The book’s incongruous humor is one of its strange hallmarks. It mixes
laughter with fear in telling about a near tragedy that is tellingly reminis-
cent of actual tragedies. We laugh at the confused sexual politicians, the
quirky emperor, and, above all, the ludicrous, self-glorifying, self-destruc-
tive villain . . . .
Humor, especially the humor of ridicule, is a device for defusing fear.
The author teaches us to make fun of the very forces that once threatened-
and will again threaten-our existence, and thereby makes us recognize their
triviality as well as their power. “If I laugh at any mortal thing, said Byron,
‘tis that I may not weep.” Jews have learned that kind of laughter. The book
of Esther begins a tradition of Jewish humor. (Fox. Character and Ideology
in the book of Esther, p. 253).
And in all this proud mansplaining, they are doing the will of God albeit for their own ungodly purposes. Queen Vashti will be replaced with Esther who is of course Jewish. In this male dominated, testosterone court that can toss out a queen with their laws, comes Esther who will soon yield power in ways they could have never imagined. Comparing Esther to Vashti, Esther is wiser and exhibits feminine characteristics of compassion and protection for her people (maybe somewhat ‘encouraged’ by Mordecai) and courageous (dare we say masculine) leadership that sends Haman to the gallows.
Believers may be in the minority, have little of the wealth and power of worldlings, and oppressed by their own government, but if we could see the reversal coming and see how silly their lawmaking is and how confused they are what would we think? And if we could see the sovereign, immutable, omniscient, Potentate on His glorious throne laughing at His enemies, how confident would we be?
We serve the Lord Jesus, risen from the dead, reigning over His enemies and over the eternal kingdom that will have no end. Every king will bow before Him on bended knee. He will finally render judgment that can never be reversed and He will eternally reward His people who will reign with Him. Oh, for a while, believers are persecuted by fearful, scared people who sit on precarious seats of worldly power, but those same believers will be embraced and loved eternally and will never shed a tear in glory because God Himself will wipe away every tear and usher in eternal and ever-lasting joy that will never dim, waver, or be exhausted.
Great Father, reigning on the only throne that matters. You dwell in unapproachable light, glory, and majesty. You reign eternally and every king, every head of state, everyone who has some measure of power or authority, is accountable to You, the only wise God. All glory, honor, power, praise and thanksgiving is Yours and You reign over all. Remind us to see through what we see on earth. This is all passing away. None of this is eternal except the souls of those around us. And on this day in December of 2023, we pray for the protection of Jewish people here and around the world. We pray for an end of anti-Semitism and an end of all hate. Protect your people around the world who are suffering now. We lift up those millions of believers who, this very day and every day suffer for their faith. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.