Esther is a Biblical character who is very interesting. One thing that makes the book of Esther unique is that God is not mentioned anywhere in the book. This is the only book of the Bible where God is not mentioned. This is just a side note for those who would love to read an engaging story about Providence.
What about the man in Esther’s life?
We read his backstory in chapter 1. King Ahasuerus is not just a king. He is an emperor, a king of kings. He reigns over the Medes and Persians, the expanded Babylonian Empire. Today it would stretch from Kuwait around northwestward into Turkey. In that era this is one of the largest, if not the largest, empire until Alexander the Great expands Greece.
Ahusuerus is benevolent
We see him in a massive feast, lasting for weeks, hosting the kings from around his empire.
Likewise, his queen Vashti, who is Esther’s predecessor, is hosting a party for the women from around the empire.
Ahusuerus is proud of Vashti
At the peak of the party Ahusuerus sends his royal guard to bring Vashti to join him at the feast. The language indicates that he is proud of her beauty.
Vashti refuses Ahusuerus
The reasons are not disclosed. We don’t know why Vashti refuses.
However the effects are evident.
Ahusuerus and all the noblemen become furious with Vashti.
If we insert a little bit of Romans 13, we can deduce that the civil servant like Ahusuerus is actually fulfilling a role given him by God. In other words, the emperor is fulfilling a unique ministry or calling. Certainly the character or nature of Ahusuerus will bear this out in the rest of the book of Esther.
He asks the noblemen to advise
They seem to understand his calling to the empire. It’s as if they say:
She has not only rejected you, she has rejected your calling!
Furthermore when all the women of the empire find out about this, from the greatest to the least, they are going to disrespect their husbands like Vashti has done to you.
Don’t go back to her!
Put her out, find a new wife, and issue a decree.
Esther 1 and Ephesians 5
The language is so similar.
“When the king’s decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great), all wives will honor their husbands, both great and small.” – Esther 1.20, NKJV
“Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” – Ephesians 5.33
“all wives will honor their husbands, both great and small”
Ahusuerus issues a decree.
“and let the wife see that she respects her husband”
Paul uses the format of a formal creed.
honor… respects… both are commands.
We hear a lot about unconditional love from the husband to the wife, but we don’t hear enough about unconditional respect from the wife to the husband.
Vashti disrespects Ahusuerus in front of the noblemen of the entire empire.
Enter Esther
A king is disrespected by his queen.
His nobleman rally to his side and advise him to put her away.
A new search begins.
Although God is not mentioned there is no doubt He raises Esther up.
The drama and timing of Esther makes this a tremendous story.
The whole book can be read out loud in less than an hour if you want to take the time.
It’s a story that everyone seems to relate to at one point or another in the trajectory of their life.
Even now Erika Kirk is being compared to Esther.
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