The Hidden Hand of God in an Ungodly Culture
Introduction and Context
Welcome to The Well Community Church. I am so glad you’re hanging out with us here today. If you have your Bibles, we’re going to be in the book of Esther. If you are a guest with us, I just want to say welcome. One of the things we try to do here at this church is take a book of the Bible and dig. We want to understand what’s happening behind the scenes. We want to understand the culture, the context, what it meant when it was written, to whom it was written, and then what implications or applications that has for us here in our day.
I say that because last week, if you were with us, we covered a ton of history—lots of background and lots of information. If for some reason you came back after that, I salute you. And also, I just want to say to the family here at The Well, thank you for having an appetite for the Word of God and a desire to study to show ourselves approved unto God as workmen who don’t need to be ashamed, but handle accurately the word of truth. That’s who we have been for twenty-plus years, and that’s who we’re going to continue to be. So, welcome to those who are guests, to those in person over at our Fig Garden campus tonight with the rowdies in our PM crowd, and to those online. We’re just delighted to walk out this messy process of life with God together.
We will be in Esther chapter one, covering verses 1 through 22—the whole chapter. We’ll start with a little background information so we can know where we’re at and what’s happening.
Esther 1:1-2 (NASB)
Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, in those days as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which [was] at the citadel in Susa,
The Vastness of the Persian Empire
The author gives us a timestamp as to who the king is, but also a snapshot into the vastness of the Persian Empire. As we mentioned last week, Persia’s empire spanned from India all the way into North Africa, through ancient Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), and even included attempts to invade modern-day Macedonia or Greece. It consisted of 127 provinces. How do you keep control over an empire that vast? These provinces were divisions ruled by what were called satraps, who oversaw multiple provinces.
In this expanding empire, Persia was assimilating entire cultures, demanding two things as they went: earth and water. This meant that as they came into your region, they demanded earth—requiring you to give over to the king all the land under your authority. Nothing you had by way of land was yours anymore; he required total submission. Water meant that any resources in the land were given to the king as well. You can imagine that as the king swallowed up civilization after civilization, his war chest grew beyond belief. Scholars and historians suggest that the wealth of the Persian Empire was almost beyond imagination. We had never seen anything like it to that day, and truthfully, few empires have compared to it since.
Verse two tells us that King Ahasuerus (the Hebrew name for Xerxes) sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa. We know what that throne room was called: the Apadana. Archaeologists have found it and know its scale—it was two and a half acres under roof. That is over 110,000 square feet. This size was not for any political purpose; it didn’t benefit the kingdom functionally. It was a “statement building.” When you came from wherever you came, you were meant to be impressed by the God-King Xerxes. That’s what he wanted and, in many ways, what he required. It was six stories tall and was the site of the first of nine banquets mentioned in this book.
A Party of Unparalleled Opulence
When I say banquet, you probably think of chicken, pilaf, and some mixed veggies. That’s not what this was. This was the most opulent, decadent, and indulgent throwdown you can imagine. Verses three and four tell us the scope of this party.
Esther 1:3-4 (NASB)
in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army [officers] of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence. And he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.
I don’t know how you like to party, but if you invite all your princes, attendants, army officers, and nobles for a party that lasts six months, that is an excessive celebration. Why would you do that? First, simply because you can. But second, as verse four says, it was to display the riches of his glory and the splendor of his majesty. The king was doing something very intentional. While Persian kings often threw banquets, this one was unique because it was likely the party he threw to raise funds for his mainland invasion of Greece. His father, Darius, had been defeated at the Battle of Marathon, and Xerxes wanted to avenge that failure. This was a four-year capital campaign to raise money. It’s similar to Roman emperors offering “bread and circus” to buy the favor of the people. Xerxes was buying favor to raise the necessary funds.
Esther 1:5 (NASB)
When these days were completed, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
We aren’t sure if this is a separate seven-day feast on top of the six months or the culmination of that period. Either way, the guest list changes. This time, he invites everyone in the city, from the greatest to the least. It’s a universal invitation to the garden of the king’s palace. For six months, the commoners watched the nobility party; now, they were invited into a place they had never been allowed to visit.
Esther 1:6 (NASB)
[There were hangings of] fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, [and] couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.
The decor featured fine white and violet linen, silver rings, marble columns, and couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of precious stones. Nobody invited had ever seen anything like it. Imagine being invited to the wealthiest home you could imagine and being completely wowed by the benevolence of the God-King. The more lavish the party, the more Xerxes was lifted up. That’s exactly what he wanted.
Esther 1:7-8 (NASB)
Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful according to the king’s bounty. The drinking was [done] according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person.
One of the difficulties of this book is its moral ambiguity. The people participating here are scoundrels, engaging in activities that are overtly unbiblical. Drinks were served in golden vessels, and the Bible notes that no two cups were alike. You’re used to tailgating with red solo cups, and suddenly you’re in the palace drinking from unique golden chalices. Verse eight notes that the drinking was done according to edict. Normally, in Persian custom, the king set the pace—if he drank, you drank. But this time, the king gave a green light to everyone. You could drink as much as you wanted, whenever you wanted. Permission was granted to indulge deeply.
A Command and a Conflict
While the men were reveling, Queen Vashti was hosting a separate banquet for the women in the royal house. Persian culture didn’t usually require women to eat separately; they often participated in the revelry. But here, she is hosting her own party. After six months and a week of drinking, things were bound to get weird.
Esther 1:10 (NASB)
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,
On the seventh day, the king was “merry with wine.” He commanded his seven eunuchs—think of them like the Secret Service for his harem—to bring Queen Vashti before him wearing her royal crown to display her beauty. Eunuchs served the harem because, to a king, bloodline was everything. By removing the male genitalia of those around his wives, the king ensured that any child born was definitely his. These men were sent to summon Vashti. Notice it was a command. In that culture, you didn’t tell the king you had a headache. If he summoned, you came.
Esther 1:12 (NASB)
But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him.
She refused. The text doesn’t tell us why, though there is plenty of speculation. Some Jewish traditions suggest she was summoned wearing only the crown—naked before the drunken crowd. Others suggest she feared being insulted or assaulted by the drunk men. Some historians wonder if she was pregnant and just wasn’t feeling up to it. We don’t know for sure, but we know it didn’t go well for her. The king’s wrath burned within him. He was embarrassed. He had likely been bragging about her beauty, and she shot him down in front of everyone. Furthermore, he worried about the cultural precedent. If the queen could say no to the God-King, would every other wife in the empire start saying no to their husbands?
The Folly of Men and the Power of Edicts
The king assembled his council of seven wise men.
Esther 1:13-15 (NASB)
Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times– for it was the custom of the king so [to speak] before all who knew law and justice and were close to him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom– ‘According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus [delivered] by the eunuchs?’
He doesn’t ask for marriage counseling; he asks for a legal ruling. He treats her refusal as a violation of the law of the state. The council’s response is not legal—it’s pragmatic and motivated by fear.
Esther 1:16-17 (NASB)
In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, ’Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but [also] all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. ’For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women causing them to look with contempt on their husbands by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’
Mamukan argues that Vashti has wronged everyone because her conduct will cause all women to look at their husbands with contempt. The irony of small-minded men is the assumption that they could garner the respect of their wives through a government edict. Respect is earned; it isn’t a right granted by a decree.
Esther 1:18 (NASB)
’This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s conduct will speak in [the same way] to all the king’s princes, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger.
They proposed a solution: an irrevocable royal edict.
Esther 1:19-20 (NASB)
’If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she. ‘When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout all his kingdom, great as it is, then all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.’
When a Persian king made an edict, it was irrevocable. We see this later in chapter eight and in the book of Daniel. The edict was that Vashti would never again enter the king’s presence and her position would be given to someone “more worthy.” Notice that in verse 19, they stop calling her “Queen Vashti” and just call her “Vashti.” She has already been deposed in their minds.
Esther 1:21-22 (NASB)
[This] word pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man should be the master in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.
The king liked this plan. He sent letters to every province, using the Persian “Pony Express” system, which could deliver mail across the empire in two weeks. The decree was that “every man should be the master in his own house.”
A Biblical Vision for Marriage
If we stop here, small-minded men might be deceived into thinking the solution to a difficult marriage is more control. We must be very careful. This text is not an exemplary model to be followed. It is meant to be highly critical of the Persian nobility. These are ungodly men in an ungodly culture with ungodly practices. Fellas, I do not recommend you quote verse 22 to your wife.
Does the Bible communicate roles in marriage? Yes. But it looks nothing like this. In a biblical marriage, we are equal in value—there is neither male nor female in Christ—but we are different in our roles. For example, look at what Peter says to husbands.
1 Peter 3:7 (NASB)
You husbands in the same way, live with [your wives] in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Husbands are told to live with their wives in an “understanding way.” This means having knowledge of her. What are her passions? Her dreams? What would her ideal weekend look like? We are to treat her as a “weaker vessel”—not as someone less than, but as something precious, like fine china that you handle with tenderness. If a husband doesn’t do this, Peter says his prayers will be hindered. Fellas, if mama ain’t happy, not even God is happy. You have a responsibility to walk with God and love that woman, giving yourself up for her.
We also see this in Ephesians.
Ephesians 5:21 (NASB)
and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
We are called to mutual subjection in the fear of Christ. Submission without godly servant leadership feels like being married to a little Napoleon. That’s not the goal. The word for submission is hupotasso, which means to place oneself under willingly. My wife knows I will answer to God for the health of our family, so she takes initiative to help me be what God has called me to be. And for my part, being the “head” means I serve her and am willing to die for her—not just once in a heroic moment, but dying to myself every single day.
When you love your wife, it makes it easy for her to respect you. When she respects you, it makes it easy for you to love her. That is a healthy cycle. If that cycle breaks, fellas, it is your responsibility to call a timeout and own your part. You love her better, not because she deserves it, but because God called you to do it.
The Hidden Hand of God
As we finish, remember that the main character of this book isn’t Xerxes, Vashti, or even Esther. It is God. It is the hidden hand of God moving in an ungodly culture.
It “just so happened” that Xerxes was king. It “just so happened” that he summoned Vashti and she said no. It “just so happened” she was deposed, creating a vacancy for Esther to step up “for such a time as this.” Our God is sovereign, and He is moving even when we don’t see Him.
I’m encouraged by this because we don’t need to fear what’s happening around us. Xerxes was an awful king, but God is the ultimate ruler. We live in a tumultuous time. It’s an election year, and blood pressures are high. But whether you vote blue or red, the reality is that our God holds the hearts of kings in His hand and channels them like water. No authority exists except that which is appointed by God. We don’t need to fear. We can pray for those in authority so we can live peaceful, tranquil lives, knowing the hidden hand of God is moving in our culture today just as it was then. Amen?
Amen. Let’s pray together.
Father, I’m mindful that You are a good and faithful God. You are doing amazing things in our midst, and even if we don’t see it, You are always working. We celebrate You and the continued hidden hand of our God in an ungodly culture. Lord, help us keep our focus on You. Help the men be what You’ve called us to be as husbands and fathers. Help the ladies walk with You as godly wives and moms. For those whose stories are full of brokenness, remind them that You are a God who rewrites narratives. It’s not how we start, but how we finish. Give us hope today. In Christ’s name, Amen.