Esther

Esther 1: A King above the king

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the great king of Persia, please pause and turn to the LORD, who is King above every king. Ask Him to hush our hearts and to help us see Christ, the true King, in this chapter.

For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with understanding.

Psalm 47:7

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You are King above every king, and lead us to Jesus, the King of kings. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Esther opens in Susa, the Persian palace, where King Ahasuerus rules 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. He shows his riches to his princes at a feast that lasts one hundred eighty days. Then he holds another feast for seven days in the palace garden, with royal wine in golden vessels. On the seventh day, merry with wine, he commands Queen Vashti to come so the people can see her beauty. She refuses, and the king's anger burns in him. Memucan advises a law that Vashti may never again come before the king, and it is written so that it cannot be altered. Letters go to every province in its own language, saying that every man should rule his own house.

As you read Esther 1, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The king of Persia cannot rule his own anger, but God is King above every king.

In the book of Esther God's name is never written, yet His hand is on every page. It begins with the greatest man on earth, King Ahasuerus, who rules 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia (verse 1). On the seventh day, merry with wine, he commands Queen Vashti to come, and she refuses (verses 10 to 12). The ruler of 127 provinces cannot rule his own anger, so he asks his wise men what the law says (verses 12 to 15). Memucan advises a law, written so it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before the king (verse 19). Her royal place is to go to another, and chapter 2 shows who that will be (verse 19). The chapter does not say why Vashti refused, so please say only what the text says. Proverbs 21 verse 1 says the LORD holds a king's heart like a stream, and turns it where He wants. Above Ahasuerus stands Jesus Christ, whom Revelation 19 verse 16 calls King of kings and Lord of lords.

How does Esther 1 show us that the king of Persia cannot rule his own anger, but God is King above every king?

The king of Persia has great riches and great power.

Ahasuerus rules from India to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces (verse 1). The hangings, the gold and silver couches and the marble floor show how rich his house is (verse 6). Yet he cannot rule his own anger when Vashti refuses (verse 12). He asks his wise men what the law says, as was his custom (verses 13 to 15).

The king's laws cannot be changed, yet his anger rules him.

After Vashti refuses, the king's anger burns in him (verse 12). His advisers fear that the women of Persia will follow her, so they urge a law (verses 16 to 20). Letters go to every province in its own language, saying every man should rule his own house (verse 22). An angry king made this law, yet husbands must love their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5 verse 25). The king's word reaches everywhere, yet it does not make him wise.

God is King above every king, and Jesus is King of kings.

This book never names God, yet Daniel 2 verse 21 says He removes kings and sets up kings. No law of Persia can overrule Him. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19 verse 16). He rules with perfect wisdom and perfect justice, and He rules His people in love.

Memorise

But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.

Esther 1:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where does my own anger rule me, and who can change my heart?

King Ahasuerus ruled from India to Ethiopia, yet “his anger burned in him”, and he could not rule that. He wrote a law that “cannot be altered”, and still he could not make himself wise. The greatest king on earth could not rule himself.

We are the same. We cannot rule our own anger and pride, and God's judgment on sin cannot be altered either. Jesus is the true King of kings, and He did what no king of Persia could do. On the cross He took the death His people had earned, and Jesus rose alive from the grave. What He did there is enough, and no sinner needs a second Savior.

King Jesus calls every one of you to come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Him. Every sinner who bows to this King is forgiven, and He never drives away anyone who comes.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God rules over every king, and that Jesus is the King they need. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. In verses 10 to 12 the king, merry with wine, orders Vashti to come, so please explain this in your own words.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He is King above every king, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.

Isaiah 9:7

Lord God, thank You that You are King above every king, and that Jesus rules with perfect wisdom. Please help each child to turn from sin and trust Him. Calm our anger and our pride this week, and teach our family to bow to Him. Amen.