Esther Ch. 1

Sermon Discussion | Esther Ch. 1

In the opening of Jeremy's sermon he gives us some history on King Cyrus who ruled Persia before Xerxes, who we meet in the opening of Esther. In the context Jeremy provided it was as though he puts himself forward as a hero and savior as though he was saying, "Your god has heard how bad your life is and has sent me to save you! I want to do everything in my power to keep you happy, give you all you desire, you can even continue to worship your god".

1. Xerxes is throwing a banquet for the nobles, officials and military leaders. The motivation here is not just to celebrate himself but it appears that his desire to win the people.  As a Jewish listener, how would they compare this YHWY? What part of this behavior is like God? What is unlike God? Why or why not would the God of the bible be okay with this type of leadership?

2. Read Esther 1:4-8. If Xerxes is in the business of taking over Greece, What are some things you notice about this banquet? Jeremy drew our attention to v.6 which to the Jewish listener would have sounded like a temple. Who is on the throne? How would you compare this temple with the temple that God has set up?

3. Read v9-12. We meet Queen Vashti, after 7 days of drinking and schmoozing, Xerxes comes up with a plan to show off maybe his greatest treasure - his Queen. Verse 11 says, he wanted "Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at." There is writing that says she was only wearing a crown. What does this reveal about the character of Xerxes? The queen refuses and Xerxes is furious! Outside of embarrassment, what might some other reasons he was so angry? He then calls a meeting with his advisors on what to do, what does this response reveal about him? 

4. Read v16-22. It is said that Queen Vashti has "done wrong" and that her behavior will become known to all the women and they too will despise their husbands. Is this true? Can we guess what kind of influence the Queen has? Do you think the king is more upset that the queen refused his order or that this has allowed his household to be exposed? (The text doesn't say how they related to one another, so this is more of a thought experiment). In a twist of irony, the king sends a decree that Vashti has been sent out and he will give her royal position to someone who is "better", essentially outing how she had disrespected him. Does the king have real power & influence? What would it be like to live under this king?

Can you start drawing any conclusions upon the story under the story?