Esther 1:1-9 – Ahasuerus Shows Off

Winston Churchill was a master of memorable insults. He once said about Clement Attlee: “He is a very modest man…with a great deal to be modest about.” Today we meet a man who was the polar opposite of Attlee: a very proud man with a great deal to be proud about.

Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes (the Greek version of his name) was the most powerful man in the world. Here’s what he had to say about himself: “I am Xerxes, the great king, king of kings, king of countries containing many kinds of men, king in this great earth far and wide…” He wasn’t wrong. He ruled over 127 provinces covering vast swathes of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe (v1). He commanded the most formidable army any of his enemies had ever seen. Xerxes was a proud man…with a great deal to be proud about. He was also a passionate evangelist. With great enthusiasm he spread the message of his own power, wealth and splendour. What better way to show that than by throwing a massive party? The guest list was a Who’s Who of the Persian Empire: princes, governors, generals and nobles , and there at the top table, supreme over these prominent men was Xerxes himself (v3). Talk about a photo opportunity!

There were 6 months of festivities, with every detail designed to display Ahasuerus’ majesty. The wine was practically unlimited and no doubt the food was just as extravagant. The lavish surroundings would have made Buckingham Palace look grotty by comparison. Even the beauty of Ahasuerus’ trophy wife tells us that this was a man to be feared and revered.

Of course, this presented a problem for God’s people. Imagine telling your children that God blesses those who follow him when they could see the wagons of wine being carted to the pagan palace. Imagine how hopeless they must have felt when this “King of Kings” set his wrath against them. Who could possibly bring hope to a situation like that?

Questions
1. Do you ever look the success of those who reject God and wonder if following Christ is worth it? Where can you find the encouragement you need?
2. Do you ever get intimidated by the power and influence of those who reject God? Where can you find the courage you need?

Prayer Points
1. Pray that God would help you to see the emptiness of success without him.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.