For Such A Time As This – Introduction to our study in Esther
The story of Esther is one that spans generations. It speaks to how we can impact our culture for God’s kingdom.
Since my return from China, I have a new awareness of orphans. Esther’s story is so rich in every way, but this new dynamic has given me a new appreciation of this little girl who overcame so much. Esther stepped into her destiny, to be in a place to make difference. Her decision to trust God, saved her people from death.
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You may not be royalty in the eyes of the world, but you are a daughter of the Most High. [Tweet This]
How do I step into my identity as God’s daughter?
When I read the story of Queen Esther, I wonder about questions like that.
King Ahaseurus banishes his wife, Queen Vashti, and after a woeful set of circumstances, he wants a new queen. Esther is taken to the King’s harem to undergo a year of beauty treatments.
The palace officials brought beautiful virgins—that right there tells us how young Esther was. Marriage and betrothal in that culture took place as a young teen. No wonder they needed a year of beauty treatments. They were attempting to turn little girls into women for the king’s pleasure.
The story of Queen Esther reads like a movie. [Tweet This]
The sets, costumes, court intrigue and plot twists captivate me as this story unfolds. An orphan girl is taken, favored, and chosen to be queen. She is taken from her home and the care of her uncle and brought to the palace harem.
I would have been scared to death.
I wonder, how does all this trauma and drama become Esther’s destiny? [Tweet This]
I hope you will join me as I dig into this story. The book of Esther is found in the Old Testament. The story begins at a banquet, but not just any party. This one lasts for 180 days. There are ten chapters, and trust me when I tell you they will hold your attention right through to the end.
Read Esther Chapter One as we begin. The first thing I’d like you to see is everything you discover about King Ahasuerus (also called King Xerxes).
What type of character do you see?
What are his traits?
What potential problems do you think will come of his faults?
Take note of what you discover about the other characters in chapter one also; I suggest a notebook for your findings.
The destiny of Esther’s story begins…
Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus…
Take note of anything that stands out as you read the first chapter. If you have any questions or observations, join the conversation in the comments below.
The Persian Empire was vast, including 127 provinces. Here is a map to help put this in perspective.
I love the onion-like layers of this book and I can’t wait to share them with you,
What are you most looking forward to as we begin?
Jeanne
For a few more details as we begin, check out my next post called, Digging In. There are so many layers to this book. Themes and contrasts make it multi-dimensional and fun.
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King Xerxes threw a lavish banquet that lasted 6 months to display the vast wealth of his kingdom and the glory and splendor of his majesty to the military leaders, princes and nobles that he wanted to impress. And then, when that party was done, he had another banquet lasting 1 only a week for all the male citizens in his country. Six months and 1 week of non-stop partying. I cannot even comprehend that! How much partying can one person do? What happens to the rest of their lives while they are partying? Do they have to hire someone to tend to their farms, their stores, their businesses? Do they go home and refresh themselves and change clothes daily and return to the party? Do they miss out on 6 months of family life because of a party?
The king did not need to see his queen for any particular reason, he just wanted to put her on display along with the rest of his wealth for all to see. Was she busy, was she sick, did she not want to be paraded as property to bunch of drunken men. He did not even discuss it with her. Her feelings were not taken into consideration at all. He spoke to his advisers and not his wife.
In his drunken stupor, King Xerxes allowed others to convince him to impose a law that could not be repealed that would keep women “in their place.” Let us keep our women in line with fear and punishment and let us use the Queen as an example. What?!
Delsye, thanks for your comments and the questions that make us ponder. The King’s advisors are like the Pharisees in the New Testament: they were protecting their territory. Something to think about. This culture is removed from our thinking, but the actions of human nature transcend time. Thanks for joining the conversation. I love hearing your insights.
I feel that many of the guests who had actual jobs to do would come and go if they chose to. That was a lot of people to hang around for 6 mths! I remember some of the old movies where they always showed the “partying” and people would just lay around drunk, sleep wherever they pasted out. I’m sure there were many who did do that. They probably didn’t retire to individual guest rooms like we would do if we were invited to the Queen of England’s party. She has a bit more class and is not the show off that this king was. She also doesn’t throw parties that last for months.
I also think that Queen Vashti was pretty vain herself and she most likely didn’t respect or honor her husband. She didn’t care if she disrespected him in front of his friends and probably figured they were all so drunk no one would even notice that she didn’t show up. Not that I think it’s right for the king to parade her around just to further puff himself up. Would Esther have come in that position? She would have at least explained herself I’m sure.
Linda, thanks for stopping in and sharing your thoughts. This is a complicated story to be sure…and one that our western view doesn’t fully understand. It shows the human condition, that’s for sure. I’m glad you’re joining us as we read the book of Esther. You pose a good question about how Esther would have handled it…interesting to ponder