Explore the Bible Lesson Preview Feb. 4, 2007 "When Life Turns Upside Down" Background: Esther 1:1-2:23 Lesson: Esther 2:5-10, 16-17, 21-23 Motivation: The historical account of Esther as Queen of Persia is one of the most engaging stories in the Bible. In the midst of the story, every believer should draw strength and trust in God caring providence for His children. Examination: I. Ahasuerus Provides a Feast (1:1-9) A. Date: "In the third year of his reign" (3) Ahasuerus is better known as Xerxes I, the successor to Darius I and king of a vast empire from Ethiopia to India. Xerxes reigned from 486-465 BC; according the Herodotus, a Greek historian, Xerxes held a council of war in the third year of his reign to plot the conquest of the Greeks. B. Place: The events in this book occur in one of the Persian capitals, Susa or Shushan. Perhaps the magnificent banquet was designed to impress the king's nobles with his wealth and power in order to gain their support in his proposed Greek campaign. C. Occasion: These verses set the stage for the drama involving Xerxes' wife, queen Vashti. Believer's Study Bible, p. 672: 1:9 "Herodotus names Xerxes' queen as "Amestris," and describes her as infamously cruel. Suggestions have been made to identify her with either Vashti or Esther, although philological and historical arguments for either are unlikely. More likely Vashti and Esther were wives of Xerxes/Ahasuerus that Herodotus does not mention. It should be noted that although Herodotus is often called the "father of history," he wrote primarily from interviews and with the intention to entertain and to glorify the Greeks. His work is far from faultless historically. Therefore, it is improper to pit Herodotus against the Bible, assuming the Bible to be in error where it is inconsistent with Herodotus." 1 / 6
II. Queen Vashti: Refuses the King's Command (1:10-12) This account has been subject to much speculation. What was the relationship of Xerxes' drunkenness to the request for his queen? Why did the queen refuse his request when she might be put to death for refusing? We don't have all the answers; but, if I may make a modern day application: A. Husbands are to love their wives unselfishly (Ephesians 5:25, 28, 33; Colossians 3:19) God's design for marriage is for the husband to display a servant-type love (agape) which honors his wife. Xerxes' request was made out of lust, not love. A husband's love is intended by God to place the wife's needs ahead of the husband's. The king was wrong in asking his wife to put on a public display for the amusement of his drunken cohorts. B. Wives are to acknowledge their husbands as spiritual head. (I Corinthians 11:3, Ephesians 5:22, Colossians 3:18, I Peter 3:1) Queen Vashti brought misfortune upon herself by haughtily refusing her husband's request. If sexual immorality or immodesty was implied, then she had every right to refuse. However, if she simply wanted to assert her independence, then she was wrong. The king's reaction, "his anger burned within him" (12), is evidence of the power struggle involved. NOTE: God's design for all Christians is that they be conformed to the image of Christ. The New Testament's emphasis on love and submission in marriage strikes at two common causes of marital disharmony. Selfless love is needed to overcome the natural tendency to prioritize selfish interests over family. Submission counters the natural tendency to manipulate rather than to pray and trust God. III. The Queen Removed (1: 13-2:4) A. Counsel of the Wise Men (13-15) Because Vashti's refusal was of a public nature, the king realized that it had broad implications. To his credit, he summoned counselors. However, it is important to note that when marital discord becomes public knowledge, the 2 / 6
potential damage to the relationship is multiplied. Couples should learn to resolve conflicts without talking to others! Of course, Christian counseling may be appropriate and encouraged. B. Consequences of Disobedience (16-18) The male counselors were extremely concerned that the Queen not set an example for women across the empire. A modern day feminist would lump all Christian men in with these Persian advisors assuming that the common goal is to keep women oppressed. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Promise Keepers and other Christian organizations and writers have served as timely reminders that a husband's headship is more a position of service and responsibility than a place of power. A man who will not be obedient to God with self-sacrificing love for his wife cannot in turn expect his wife to be blindly obedient to him. C. Conclusion of a Worldly Empire (19-22) The unalterable "law of the Medes and the Persians" deposed Vashti as queen and proposed each man as "master in his own house" (22). D. Courting of a Wife (2:1-4) Is this the world's first beauty contest? It is symptomatic of a worldly mindset that a marriage be based solely on physical beauty. It is also an indication of God's providence that such extraordinary measures would allow a peasant Jewish girl to become queen of the Persian Empire. IV. Esther selected as Queen (2:5-18) Four years had elapsed since the beginning of the story. History buffs will recall Xerxes' unsuccessful campaign against the Greeks during this interval. That Esther would become queen seems almost like a fairy-tale; yet, notice the elements God used. A. Mordecai was Available - "And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is Esther..." (7) Probably a government official of some kind, Mordecai used his initiative to set God's plan in motion. 3 / 6
B. Esther was Attractive - "Now the young woman please him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparation to her..." (9) "And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her." (15b) Beauty is only skin deep. To separate herself from all of the other candidates, Esther evidently had a spiritual beauty that came from God. C. Xerxes was Adjustable - "The King loved Esther more than all the other women..." (17) Whereas the Pharaoh of the exodus had a hard heart, Xerxes allowed God to adjust his attitude and to allow him to become a part of God's plan. V. Mordecai Saves the King (2:19-23) Even before the problem of Chapter 3 was evident, God was laying the groundwork for a solution. Mordecai's discovery of a plot against the king resulted in favor from the king, a key element of the story (6:2). Spiritual hindsight is always 20/20. Application 1. God's plan for marriage involves submission to His will by both husband and wife. 2. God takes care of his children. Even before we may recognize a problem, God is working to provide an answer. Teaching Kit Item 17 - Poster: Unit 3 Outline; Item 18 - Poster: Hurricane Biblical Illustrator Page 24 - Susa: Esther's Capital City; Page 72 - Xerxes: King of Persia 4 / 6
Notes & Dates: 1/4-3/22 - Men's Life, Thurs. 6-7:30 am, Jan. 18 - Walk in the Word with Dr. James McDonald, Jan. 18 - Lifeway Luncheon FSC, Jan. 19-20 - UBA Conf., Jan. 20 - Share Your Faith Training, 1/23-4/10 - Living Proof with Beth, Jan. 27 - HCDE Conf., Feb. 1 & 8 - Women's Event, Feb. 5 - KHCB "Radio Rally", Feb. 9 & 18 - Planned Giving Seminars, 2/19-3/12 - Bible Study with Anita, Feb. 22 - Women's Event, Feb. 25 - HFBC CAR, Mar. 16-17 - Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Conf., Mar. 23-24 - Ruth Graham and Friends Conf., Mar. 25 - Spring Loaded, 3/30-31 - Sing. Women's 40+ Retreat, Apr. 13-14 - HAAEYC Conf., Apr. 28 - Reg. Preschool Conf. w/lifeway, May 1 - FBI Memorial Service, May 11 - Celebrating Women, May 12 - LeTourneau Univ. Grad., May 19 - HBU Graduation, 5/24 - FBA 8 th 5 / 6
grade Graduation, 5/24 - First Kids Pre-K Grad., 5/31 - HCHS Graduation. 6 / 6