On The Stage Of Life
Esther • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsJust because something has been deemed lawful doesn't make it acceptable in God's sight. It is always better to disregard lawful orders rather than diobey God.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Drunk Driver
The defense attorney for a drunk driver was asking all the right questions. The arresting officer had testified that the defendant, when asked to produce his car registration, had fumbled around endlessly in the glove compartment.
“But it was dark, was it not?” asked the lawyer.
“Yes,” said the policeman.
“Was the glove compartment cluttered?”
“Yes.”
“How long did he fumble around there?”
“Maybe five minutes,” responded the officer.
“Well,” continued the attorney, “do you find it unusual that a man would take his time looking in a dark and cluttered glove compartment for a small piece of paper?”
“Yes,” replied the officer. “He was sitting in my patrol car at the time.”
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
Drunken decisions are never good decisions.
Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
Proverbs is full of reminders about loosening your inhibitions.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Controlled Revelation
Controlled Revelation
Moses Maimonides a 12th century Jewish Doctor and Teacher said, “Esther is equal with the first five books of the Old Testament.” Despite the fact that Esther not Mordecai ever Mention God’s law even once
The jews did try to change the book of Esther. They tried to add 107 verses including a prayer by Mordecai and Esther which they tried to sneak in by way of the Septuagint. They wanted to make it a little more acceptable. They thought like many of us today that God needed a little help.
“I would recommend you either believe God up to the hilt, or else not to believe at all. Believe this book of God, every letter of it, or else reject it. There is no logical standing place between the two. Be satisfied with nothing less than a faith that swims in the deeps of divine revelation; a faith that paddles about the edge of the water is poor faith at best. It is little better than a dry-land faith, and is not good for much.”—Charles Spurgeon
The point of the book is God trying to remind us that He is Faithful even when His people are not.
Many Old Testament books are quoted in the New Testament, but Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther are not. However, they are certainly included in
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
The story of Esther is a beautiful reminder that even when God is invisible, He is still involved in our lives, Even when He is in the shadows He is the Sovreign of the Shadows.
Providence is the hand of God in the glove of history-J. Vernon Mcgee
Extravagant Debauchery
Extravagant Debauchery
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: When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
Ahasuerus/Xerxes had money to burn and he literally burned it for 6 months at this extravagant party.
This was more of a War Council than just a banquet. Ahasuerus was trying to convince his leaders that he/they were powerful enough to defeat Greece.
At the end of this great so-called War Council. Which is how most nations end up in war. Ahasuerus invites everyone else.
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;
Paridaida is the Persian word for garden, Paradeisos is the way the Greeks pronounce it.
This is the same word from which we get our word Paradise.
This palace was paradise and Ahasuerus was the king of paradise.
To the rest of the world Ahasuerus look all-powerful… undefeatable… he looked like the sovreign of all that he surveyed.
He certainly could lead the world’s greatest army against the world only other superpower… Greece… except he couldn’t even command his own wife.
An Immoral Demand
An Immoral Demand
Queen Vashti is putting on a banquet of her own that would have included all 360 of the king’s concubines and the female company of all of the leaders at the Kings feast, as was Persian culture.
Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
The king gets drunk and order’s his seven eunuchs to bring Vashti to his party for his amusement and the entertainment of his guests.
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
Ahasuerus did not consider Vashti his helpmeet, she was a part of his wealth.
When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
He dishonoured himself as a husband by not being her protector.
And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
He dishonoured himself as a Persian by demanding rather than requesting that which Vashti could reasonably refuse since it was against their custom fo their wives to appear in public.
Ahasuerus proves that He didn’t even have rule over his own spirit by losing his temper.
The all powerful king could not even command his own wife.
Leaders should be cautious not to command their followers to do that which they may reasonably disobey.
The Midrash (a commentary from the 2 century) says she was commanded to arrive in nothing, but her royal jewelry.
This decision was obviously made because the king was drunk as were his guests.
Alcohol may reveal your heart, but it never places anything in your heart.
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
Herodotus (a Greek historian) states that Persian royalty were promiscuous and that often they would parade their wives or concubines around unclothed as a competition to see who was most attractive.
Could you really expect less from a man who hs 360 concubines and several wives in a godless society?
Are we really all that different in present society?
The spirit of Ahasuerus is alive and well in our present world.
Look at the beaches, Mardi Gras, the Las Vegas strip, the billion-dollar pornography industry bachelor parties, or the local Gentleman’s Club where you will never find a gentleman.
Queen Vashti rightly refused the king’s request
But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
Some years ago, when the news broke that Joseph Stalin’s daughter had defected from Communism and Russia, many people were startled. Her statement, given to reporters who met her plane in New York, told why she defected:
“I found it impossible to exist without God in one’s heart. I came to that conclusion myself, without anybody’s help or preaching. That was a great change because since that moment the main dogmas of Communism lost their significance for me. I have come here to seek the self-expression that has been denied me for so long in Russia.”
That woman’s struggle was a terrible one. To leave Russia, she had to leave two children in Moscow and realize that it would be, as she said, “impossible to go back.”
Pascal said there is within every person a “God-shaped vacuum.” He’s right. Historians Will and Ariel Durant observed in their summary volume, The Lessons of History, that “there never has been a significant example of morality apart from belief in God.”
No doubt everyone was shocked at her refusal… Ahasuerus had been embarrassed by his disobedient wife no wonder he was so angry.
But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
The sacred writer makes us respect the queen amid all her disgusting surroundings. The brave queen refused to obey the royal order. Her beauty was her own and her husband’s. It was not for open show among hundreds of half-drunk men.-Alexander Whyte
Courageous Vashti stood up to a man known in history for his brutality.
Vashti sacrificed a crown for her character.
We usually rush right past Vashti, but we should pause for a moment of silence in remembrance of her courage.
How much is character truly worth? How far are we willing to go in order to receive praise or get attention? What are we willing to sacrifice to just get along?
Vashti knew that her decision would most likely cost her everything, but she, also, knew it was worth it.
The supreme test of goodness is not in the greater but in the smaller incidents of our character and practice; not what we are when standing in the searchlight of public scrutiny, but when we reach the firelight flicker of our homes; not what we are when some clarion-call rings through the air, summoning us to fight for life and liberty, but our attitude when we are called to sentry-duty in the grey morning, when the watch-fire is burning low. It is impossible to be our best at the supreme moment if character is corroded and eaten into by daily inconsistency, unfaithfulness, and besetting sin.
Vashti’s refusal puts Ahasuerus in a difficult position… he is supposed to be the most powerful man on the planet, but he has just been defied by his wife in front everyone that matters to him.
He should have sobered up and chose a reasonable response… instead he sought the advice of his drunken council.
An Illogical Response
An Illogical Response
Ahasuerus should have sobered up and chose a reasonable response… instead he sought the advice of his drunken council.
And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
These were is cabinet… his confidants.
The first thing they do is try to soothe the kings damaged ego by exaggerating the problem.
“Your marital spat is a global crisis!”
And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.-Abraham Maslow
Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.
Any man who needs a decree from the king to receive honor from his wife, has much larger issues at play.
For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
Basically their greatest fear was that their wives would hear about this and the entire nation will descend into anarchy.
If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
Respect can not be legislated… it can only be earned.
Respect is the gift extended from one loving spouse to another.
Ahasuerus wanted respect from a woman whom his very request revealed how little he cared for.
The king’s response at the behest of his council was completely illogical.
First, they suggest he send out a royal decree to prevent the story from getting out.( so their solution was to inform the entire nation in order to keep from informing the entire nation)
Esther 1:17 (KJV 1900)
For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
Secondly, They were especially afraid the women would find out so they sent an edict to every household. Just think about it.
They were certainly hindered by the fact they were drunk, but the greater influence was the king’s will.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small uninhabited island. He cried out to God to save him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a rough hut and put his few possessions in it. But then one day, after hunting for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; he was stung with grief.
Early the next day, though, a ship drew near the island and rescued him.
“How did you know I was here?” he asked the crew.
“We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.
Though it may not seem so now, your present difficulty may be instrumental to your future happiness.
God is in the process of using a banished queen, an angry king, and vacant throne to set the stage for His perfect fit.
No matter how crazy and difficult our lives get never forget this that God is behind the scene directing it all.
God’s hand is not jus tin the glove of history… His hand is in the glove of your history and mine.
You may not be able to see how God is working out every moment of your life, but rest assured He is running the show.
Don’t ever fall prey to the notion that God is asleep at the wheel.. or that He doesn’t care about a nation. or that He is out of touch with today’s society.
God is not sitting in heaven wringing His hands as godless leaders make brash unfair and even foolish decisions.
That is the amazing thing about God and His providence… He takes even the most evil and wicked decisions and molds them to His perfect plan.