My Mom woke me up every Sunday for church when I was growing up. I didn’t love or hate church, it was part of the rhythm of our life. It was as much a staple as Kellogg cereals for breakfast. But one day, as a rebellious 15-year-old, I decided NOT to go. My mother called to me as usual, and whence noticed I was not up gulping down some Raisin Bran within a few minutes she returned to my bedroom and reminded me it was Sunday and I HAD to go to church. I remained deeply entwined in my comforter. Soon she returned, perplexed and angry. “Joni!” She commanded, “Get up.” “I’m not going,” I stated, my voice muffled beneath the comforter. My mom threatened, pleaded, and invoked my sister’s help. All to no avail. She finally grabbed my feet and tried to drag me out of bed. I clawed at the sheets and held on. My mother finally gave up. II thought I won that battle. The truth is, I lost. It would be many years before I went to church again.Photo by Mohammad Metri on Unsplash
Hello and welcome to the “Storming the Gates” podcast. Today I am beginning a new Bible Study series on the book of Esther. I still remember reading through my Bible and discovering Esther. I was enraptured with this true fantasy! Esther is a page-turner, full of twists and turns, revealing God’s providence and presence in unexpected places.
In fact, the first place we will look at is a Castle in the Persian empire, dating back to about 450 BC. The Jewish people are living in exile far from Jerusalem. Nonetheless, overall they are treated well in this foreign, albeit heathen,land.
Lets start by reading Chapter 1:1-3
“Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:) That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, 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:”Ah yes. Opulence. Wealth.
This reminds me of our country. We here in America are blessed beyond measure. Since the days of Solomon has there been a nation where so many people had so much?
Yet. Look around. Has wealth made us better? More kind? More loving? Are we, on the whole, more thankful and giving people? Have our four TV’s, two cars, and smartphones made us happier and less stressed?
OR have riches caused some to become spoiled children, stomping our feet and saying “I want a squirrel, daddy!” Has it caused us to feel victimized at the mildest slight?
It’s interesting to me, as Thanksgiving approaches, to contrast our response to wealth with our nation’s humble beginnings. For instance, the Pilgrims lost half their comrades to death that first terrible year on the East coast. Yet, with but 5 kernels on each plate, they still showed gratitude to the King in heaven. God bleed those five kernels on each plate until it grew into an abundant harvest. One year later they celebrated a feast with the local Indian tribes! On each plate they placed five kernels, lest anyone forget how far God had brought them. Have we forgotten how far we’ve come? More importantly, have we forgotten WHO brought us this far?
Lets go on to verse 4-9
“When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.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;Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
So Vashti is throwing her own party for the gals! Chick flicks and popcorn for all! We know lvery ittle about this previous Queen of Ahasures, but lets speculate for a moment that she was the daughter of another King, given in marriage as the Royals tend to do. Beautiful and Elite. A picture of grace and wealth.
Then the king does THIS: (verses 10-11)
“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.
The king’s heart is merry with wine, and in a drunken voice he tells his buddies “My wife is the best-looking girl in All the kingdom! You have to see her! Chamberlains: (clap clap) Bring the queen to me!”
He is Not the godliest character we are dealing with here.
But there is a Good king who desires beauty.
He desires YOUR beauty.
The God in heaven is entranced with YOU. The joy and pride of His heart! Psalm 45:11 says “So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for He is thy Lord, worship thou Him.”
God yearns to be with you. He calls for you to draw near to Him. He wants to talk to you and love on you and share secrets with you. All you must do is come.
So what does Vashti do? (verse 12)
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.
I don’t know what happened here and the story does not say WHY Vashti refused. She may have been about to lay down a 7-letter Scrabble word with an “X” on the triple letter square. Her and the gals may have been painting each other’s nails and swapping recipes… but whatever it was, Vashti said NO.
The king called.
And Vashti said, “No. I’m busy.”
Has the King of heaven called to you? Is he calling to you like in Song of Solomon “Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away!” And there we lay with a little puddle of drool by our snoring selves. Yanking the covers tighter around us. Refusing the call.
Just like the story I told you earlier.
When I said No I thought I was only saying I didn’t want to go to church. I was really telling God “No.”
That “No “meant a long period of silence from heaven.
It was the beginning of me getting off the path of righteousness and wisdom and onto the rough road of rebellion and pain.
It is time my friend, to say YES when the master calls.
How can we begin this journey into a life of prayer.. the kind of prayer that can save a nation without first surrounding ourselves to the King?
