Bad Men in Charge - ESTHER START

The world has always had a number of bad men in charge. These men have usually seen fit to glorify themselves at the expense and/or embarrassment of others without much thought. Take for instance the beginning of the story of Esther. We often focus on Mordecai and her efforts to save the Jews but we should take a long look at chapter 1 which underscores the culture into which both of these "heroes" of faith found themselves. It was a culture of chauvinistic dominance at the hands of the Persian king, Xerxes (Ahasuerus).

Esther 1:1–4 (ESV) 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.

In every good story, character formation is important. We have a lot of that here in chapter one concerning this man. First, he is ruled by his wealth and wanted to show the world all that he had. And to him, 6 MONTHS seemed to fit the bill. 

After highlighting the expensive furniture and decor, the details turn to the party atmosphere he created:

Esther 1:8–9 (ESV) And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

Now Queen Vashti is mentioned here as a somewhat independent woman - having her own ball as Xerxes hosts his. This division will come into focus almost immediately.

Esther 1:10–12 (ESV) On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.

Xerxes can rule the world, but not his own wife and this drives him nuts. He's embarrassed and emasculated by her refusal to "parade" before his friends. We do not find fault with Vashti in this instance as the king's demand seemed very self-serving. 

But after consulting his advisor, Memucan, Xerxes is given this warning:

Esther 1:18 (ESV) This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will say the same to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty.

Then he offers the following advice:

Esther 1:19–20 (ESV) If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.”

The advice? Banish and replace the woman! If she will not be ruled, rule her out. Memucan's advice calls on Xerxes to flex his royal muscles and demand like-behavior from all the men in his kingdom. Xerxes is a locker room king who feels he owes it to his fellow man to model dominant behavior to the woman in his life. This detail looms throughout the book over the Jewish girl with zero power - Esther.

My friends, in world history, this has been the biggest problem for society - bad men. Men who feel the need to use their greater (1 Peter 3:7) strength and power to dominate rather than to serve and give. Where does feminism come from? Bad men who pushed women down instead of lifting them up. To be sure, there is fault on the part of both sexes, but God had directed the man to guide the woman in the garden and Adam refused to lead and instead he followed. Ever since men have been trying to make up for Adam's passivity with devastating control. 

Xerxes is one of those men who used his power to glorify himself, isolate himself, and hurt others. His actions have been followed throughout the world by countless others and he causes our hearts to yearn for the True King who came to serve, give His life and seek the lost. Without Christ, we are a world of Xerxes, but through Christ, bad men (like Paul and many others) have become changed men who change the world.