May 10, 2025 - Esther 1-11

History moves on, and people just do what they do.  Farmers farm.  Builders build.  Fishermen fish.  Teachers teach.  And kings sit on their thrones and throw big banquets and feasts.  King Ahasuerus of Persia brought his army and all his officials before him for the great feast and “showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness” (1:4).  And  then, he gave a feast for the people and commanded Queen Vashti to appear.  The familiar story (which you sort of need to read in one sitting in order to get the full sense of the events) continues with the queen's refusal, the search for a new queen, the selection of Esther, and Esther and her uncle Mordecai's thwarting of Haman's plot to destroy the Jews.  In the end, Mordecai is honored by the king, Haman is hanged, Esther delivers her people, and the Feast of Purim becomes an annual celebration of God's deliverance of his people.

It is often pointed out that nowhere in the book of Esther is God's name mentioned.  However, his hand is seen everywhere as he watches over Esther and his people.  How faithful he is!  Kings do what they do and God does what he does!

Give to the winds your fears,

Hope, and be undismayed;

God hears your sighs and counts your tears;

God shall lift up your head.

Thru' waves and clouds and storms

He gently clears the way.

Wait now this time, so shall this night

Soon end in joyous day.   -- Paul Gerhardt (1656)