Weekly devotion no 20

Weekly Devotion no 20
14 August 2020

Bible reading – Esther 1[1]

King Xerxes ruled over the 127 territories in his kingdom. They reached from India all the way to Cush. Here is what happened during the time Xerxes ruled over the whole Persian kingdom. ² He was ruling from his royal throne in the fort of Susa. ³ In the third year of his rule King Xerxes gave a feast. It was for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there. So were the princes and the nobles of the territories he ruled over.

⁴ Every day for 180 days he showed his guests the great wealth of his kingdom. He also showed them how glorious his kingdom was. ⁵ When those days were over, the king gave another feast. It lasted for seven days. It was held in the garden of the king’s courtyard. It was for all the people who lived in the fort of Susa. Everyone from the least important person to the most important was invited. ⁶ The garden was decorated with white and blue linen banners. They hung from ropes that were made out of white linen and purple cloth. The ropes were connected to silver rings on marble pillars. There were gold and silver couches in the garden. They were placed on a floor that was made out of small stones. The floor had purple crystal, marble, mother-of-pearl and other stones of great value. ⁷ Royal wine was served in gold cups. Each cup was different from all the others. There was plenty of wine. The king always provided as much as his guests wanted. ⁸ He commanded that they should be allowed to drink as much or as little as they wished. He directed all his servants to give his guests what they asked for.

⁹ Queen Vashti also gave a feast. Only women were invited. It was held in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

¹⁰ On the seventh day Xerxes was in a good mood because he had drunk a lot of wine. So he gave a command to the seven officials who served him. They were Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas. ¹¹ King Xerxes told them to bring Queen Vashti to him. He wanted her to come wearing her royal crown. He wanted to show off her beauty to the people and nobles. She was lovely to look at. ¹² The attendants told Queen Vashti what the king had ordered her to do. But she refused to come. So the king became very angry.

¹³ It was the king’s practice to ask for advice about matters of law and fairness. So he spoke with the wise men who understood what was going on at that time. ¹⁴ They were the men closest to the king. Their names were Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan. They were the seven nobles of Persia and Media. They were the king’s special advisers and the most important men in the kingdom.

¹⁵ “You know the law,” the king said. “What should I do to Queen Vashti? She hasn’t obeyed my command. The officials told her what I ordered her to do, didn’t they?”

¹⁶ Then Memukan gave a reply to the king and the nobles. He said, “Queen Vashti has done what is wrong. But she didn’t do it only against you, King Xerxes. She did it also against all the nobles. And she did it against the people in all the territories you rule over. ¹⁷ All the women will hear about what the queen has done. Then they won’t respect their husbands. They’ll say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought to him. But she wouldn’t come.’ ¹⁸ Here is what will start today. The leading women in Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s actions will act in the same way. They’ll disobey all your nobles, just as she disobeyed you. They won’t have any respect for their husbands. They won’t honour them.

¹⁹ “So if it pleases you, send out a royal order. Let it be written down in the laws of Persia and Media. Those laws can never be changed. Let the royal order say that Vashti can never see you again. Also let her position as queen be given to someone who is better than she is. ²⁰ And let your order be announced all through your entire kingdom. Then all women will have respect for their husbands, from the least important to the most important.”

²¹ The king and his nobles were pleased with that advice. So he did what Memukan had suggested. ²² The king sent messages out to every territory in the kingdom. He sent them to each territory in its own writing. He sent them to every nation in its own language. The messages announced that every man should rule over his own family, using his own language.

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[1] Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible , New International Reader’s Version copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflection

This week we start a new series as we enter into the story of Esther. This story is set in Persia around 483BC. A large number of Jews had returned from their exile in Babylon to Jerusalem after the Persians had defeated the Babylonians. But some had stayed in Persia and had not returned to Jerusalem.

The story starts in the royal courts of King Xerxes of Persia. We see a king who appears to have everything. And as often happens with those who have a lot, he wants to show it off and reinforce how wealthy and powerful he is, so he holds a party. This is not just any party – it goes for half a year! Every day he lavishly entertains his guests. Is he just up for a good time, or is he seeking to show them he is worthy of their adulation? Is he seeking to exert his control over his kingdom? Is he trying to send a message to other nations through his show of wealth?

After holding this party for the whole kingdom, he then holds a second party for the royal courts. The picture painted is one of godless ostentatious partying, debauchery, self-indulgence, and a king who seeks to assert his control over proceedings through what he permits and commands. This extends to him commanding his officials to bring his wife so that he can parade her in front of his people like a trophy. There is clearly no relationship here: he sees her as his property to do his bidding. But she is bold and brave and doesn’t accept this disrespect and therefore refuses to come.

And so we see the actions of the king and his nobles as they respond in fear – the fear of losing control. How can the king manage his whole kingdom if he can’t control his own wife?  What if all their wives follow the lead of Queen Vashti? So the king takes the advice of his nobles and issues a decree demoting Queen Vashti and commanding that all wives should obey their husbands. Through their fear, they seek to demand respect rather than earning it.

King Xerxes doesn’t appear to have a moral compass or to appeal to a higher being. He takes advice from his nobles who appear to have their own self interests at heart. He lives his life either oblivious to, or denying, the existence of God. He doesn’t appear to respect or value other human beings. He comes across as self-absorbed.

Do we sometimes put our wealth and possessions above God? Do we use the things we have to try and buy the affection of others? Do we rely solely on the advice of our friends, who are as equally sinful as we are, or do we seek God’s counsel? Do we make decisions that devalue the lives of others? Do we live our lives as though God doesn’t exist?

If so, we should repent and come before our gracious and merciful God, acknowledging that he alone is worthy of our praise, and seeking his wisdom. And we can be confident in his forgiveness because of the humility and sacrifice of his Son, Jesus, who humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. We acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.[1]

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[1] Philippians 2:6-11

Hymn

Verse 1

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
who like me his praise should sing?
Praise him, praise him!

Praise him, praise him!
Praise the everlasting King!

Verse 2

Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress.
Praise him, still the same as ever,
slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise him, praise him!

Praise him, praise him!
Glorious in his faithfulness!

Verse 3

Father like he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hand he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Praise him, praise him!

Praise him, praise him!
Widely yet his mercy flows!

Verse 4

Frail as summer’s flower we flourish;

Blows the wind and it is gone;

But, while mortals rise and perish,

God endures unchanging on:

Praise him, praise him!

Praise him, praise him!
Praise the high eternal one.

Verse 5

Angels, help us to adore him;
ye behold him face to face.
Sun and moon, bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space.
Praise him, praise him!

Praise him, praise him!
Praise with us the God of grace! 

Henry Francis Lyte 1834 © Public Domain CCLI:69198     

Prayer

Grant, O Lord,

that we may see in you the fulfilment of all our need,

and may turn from every false satisfaction

to feed on the true and living bread

that you have given us in Jesus Christ;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Prayer Book for Australia 1995