Esther 1:1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace;
6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.
8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
As we begin this study, we are content to accept the fact that the book of Esther is a legitimate part of God’s Word. There are doubters who look for anything they can to try to discredit the Word of God. Some argue that because the name God is not mentioned in this book, it must not be a legitimate part of God’s Word. As we go through this book it will be rather obvious that God was very much involved in the life of the nation of Israel at that time. He worked through a pagan king and a pagan nation to protect His people. God did that at other times as well.
The Persian empire was the empire that conquered the Babylonian empire. We see from this book that Islam was not the religion of that time. Today Islam is the religion of Iran which was formerly Persia. Iran does not rule over all the territory today that it did in the days of Esther. They do have a huge influence over other countries. They are seeking to take over the entire world. Wherever they gain a foothold they become very oppressive, killing those who oppose their ruthless rule.
In Canada we do not kill those who oppose the wicked rule of our government. However, the government has demonstrated its control over the business and banking community in this country. During the Wuhan virus debacle, they were able to control large corporations and bring them to their knees. They also froze bank accounts of certain people who interfered too loudly with their wicked plans. Bill C9 is another attempt of the government to gain more control over what people can hear and what they can say. We will see how far the Lord allows them to go with their oppressive plans.
The book of Esther begins with some background information on the time of the events taking place here. Mordecai, Esther’s cousin chose to remain in a pagan land even though he could have gone back to Jerusalem. It is assumed that the events taking place here were at the same time as Ezra was involved in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. As we will see, Mordecai’s decision to remain in Persia was evidence of his compromised spiritual nature. This compromised position would get him into trouble, but God in His mercy would protect him and many other Jews. We need to keep in mind that part of God’s judgment upon His people (Israel) was to scatter them across the nations.
Verse 1 tells us the king was Ahasuerus. Ahasuerus was a title more than a name. It tells us this Ahasuerus reigned from India to Ethiopia over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces. He had quite a large territory to look after. This was in the days of camels and horses. There were no aircraft to shuttle the king from place to place.
This week the premier of Ontario got into trouble for purchasing a 28+ million dollar jet to take him around the province and elsewhere. This at a time when the province has some fairly large financial challenges. He chose to waste taxpayer dollars on this toy. Due to the backlash, he backtracked and gave the jet back to the place he purchased it. He is typical of politicians. The little guy is just a slave to pay for the extravagances of the elites. Occasionally the “big shots” still have to listen to the little guy.
This Ahasuerus had his throne in Shushan. Shushan was the royal city for the kings of Persia. Verse 3 tells us this was the third year of his reign. He believed he had been quite successful by this time, and he decided to throw a feast for all his princes and his servants. Again, with the people’s money, rulers can do quite a lot.
Rulers like to remind the people just how “important” they are. They also like to buy loyalty.
In verse 4 we read that he showed the riches of his kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty. This feast was a long one. It was for one hundred and eighty days. This was a major expense and a huge waste of time. However, that is how royalty thinks.
Mr. Trump has some big plans to celebrate the two hundred and fiftieth year of the U.S. There is much waste there as well. Worldly rulers think they are the king-pin of society and that people should appreciate that they have such “good” leaders. Humility should be the mark of a leader, but it certainly is not in the world. God has to take ungodly leaders down a notch or two at times.
In verse 5 we read that after this time of feasting, the king made a feast for all the people that were in Shushan the palace. He did not discriminate in who could attend this feast. This feast would last seven days. It was hosted in the court of the garden in the king’s palace. He was intent on leaving his mark in history.
In verse 6 we read of the impressive decorations that were available for this feast. The king wanted the people to be in awe of their king. Somehow ungodly people never figure out the waste that is being caused by their leaders.
We have so much waste in our current governments, but that does not seem to bother many of the citizens. They would sooner live under these oppressive ways than have a government that wants to let the people keep more of their own money.
In verse 7 we read that liquor was readily available. No one was forced to drink. According to verse 8 the drinking was all according to the law. That would be the Persian law, not God’s law. The Persian empire had no interest in the true God. As noted already, Mordecai chose a very compromised lifestyle, even though he was a Jew who wanted to be able to live as a secular Jew.
Pleasure was the name of the game. That is a constant mark of the world. If it is not hockey, then it is baseball or football. Of course there are the multiple golf courses where people can waste time chasing a little ball around the field. Most of those people would never walk that far for a job and of course many have powered golf carts to get them around now.
There are many other forms of entertainment, all designed to keep people from thinking too seriously. The governments do not want people to be too sober-minded.
In verse 9 we read that the queen, Vashti also made a feast for the women. Her feast was in the royal house that belonged to the king. This partying is what the world thinks is important. We read in the book of Daniel that Belshazzar was in the midst of partying when the Medes and the Persians invaded his city and killed him and many others. That was God’s judgment upon the Babylonian empire. Eventually the Medo/Persian empire would fall as well. For now, they were in the height of their power and wealth. They were going to flaunt that and show the world just how important they were.
Of course the government then was not elected. The kings were appointed and the people just accepted what was given them. Canada is not much different. We have a facade called elections. However, we know that it is money and foreign influences that puts our leaders in power. Our current federal government has achieved majority status, not by asking the people, but by manipulating some spineless people to cross the aisle to give them a majority so that they can more easily carry out their evil plans.
Just as in the time of Esther, there is a God in heaven Who limits the wicked in their plans. Canada is not Israel. However, God has a plan and He will continue to make sure that His plan is carried out for His glory.
We can be thankful today that we still have the opportunity to gather for church and we can still use the internet for good causes. The Persian empire could not destroy the Jews, even though the Jews were quite secular at that time. God did not allow it. Christianity today is quite secular as well. Most professing Christians are so in name only. They have no life in them.
However, God is merciful to both Jew and Gentile.
II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Pastor Bartel