Esther 1:1-7 (ESV Strong's)
The King's Banquets
1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. 5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace. 6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.
God Uses Man’s Desire for Glory to Accomplish His Glory
Everyone likes a party. Imagine a party for six months. Imagine a party for six months you and only special friends of high power and influence are invited to attend. Imagine that same party followed about another week of party for everyone in the nation? This was the above scene. The King loved to show off his power and his influence. He had military leaders, political figures and servants attend this six months ordeal. Because the common citizen was left out of the six month party, Ahasuerus gave a week long party, just for the rest of the citizens of his kingdom. We have no way to relate to such a celebration.
Notice the beauty and show the King put on for his guests. He wanted them to see the pomp and circumstance of his glory. He was not afraid to selfishly promote his success and his fortune.
What is missing in this portion of the story is what the book of Esther is all about. The book of Esther is about God’s sovereign control over the affairs of man to accomplish His divine purpose. While in captivity the nation of Israel must be kept alive and a remnant must be returned to Israel. The Messiah is to come from this remnant. When one of the chief officers of Ahasuerus (Haman ... who would have attended this party) was offended by one of the Jewish captives (Mordecai), he arranged a plot to destroy the Jews. Esther is the story about God intervening into this wicked plot to save the Jewish people.
King Ahasuerus was a people pleaser. He threw the party to show his significance and please people. He threw the week-long party to show his significance and please people. He agreed to Haman’s plot against the Jews to show his significance and please the Haman. God knows this about mankind and uses those tendencies to accomplish His plans. God used the party to have Ahasuerus to dump his queen. He Ahasuerus’ lust and desire for fleshly things to put Easter in the position of queen and have power in the kingdom. He used the greed and lust for power of Haman to allow the plot against the Jews to formulate so God could show His great glory. He used a sleepless night of the King to reveal to him the good work of Mordecai. God uses the celebration of mankind and the lust of mankind to accomplish His plan and to bring Him glory.
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