The Jewish people were taken captive by the Babylonians who were defeated by the Persians, Xerxes was king and he and his Queen, Vashti ruled. Xerxes was showing off his magnificent kingdom with a party that lasted for several months, toward the end of this great party he called his queen to show of her beauty, “…Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him.” (Est. 1:12) The king consulted with his counselors because this behavior was JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE.
“They all agreed, the queen’s behavior will become known to all women, so that they will DESPISE their husbands…let a royal decree go out, that Vashti shall come NO MORE before the King; and give her royal position TO ANOTHER…” (Est. 1:17, 19) So, after the kings anger subsided, “…the king’s servants said: “Let beautiful young virgins (Esther was one of them) be brought into the women’s quarters and let beauty preparations be given them. This thing pleased the king, and HE DID SO.” (Est. 2:2-4) Esther, found favor in the king’s heart and he SELECTED HER to be queen.
“One day as Mordecai was on duty, two of the king’s eunuchs—became angry at King Xerxes and plotted to assassinate him…Mordecai gave the information to Queen Esther. She then told the king about it…” (Est. 2:21, 22) This was recorded in the chronicles but NOTHING WAS DONE to honor Mordecai. In the meantime an enemy of the Jews, Haman was promoted to a high position and made it his goal to wipe out the Jews. He convinced the king to enact a law to kill all the Jews because he had a HATRED FOR MORDECAI.
The king could not sleep one night so he had the chronicles brought and just by “coincident” the part where Mordecai SAVED THE KING was read and the fact that nothing was done. The king called Haman in so they could decide how to honor this person, Haman thought it was for him so he came us with an elaborate plan to receive honor and ended up walking Mordecai around on a horse all around the city.
Esther revealed Haman’s evil plan to the king and the Jewish people were saved. We need to claim for ourselves this scripture…
“…WHO KNOWS WHETHER YOU (Esther and all of us) HAVE COME TO THE KINGDOM FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?” (Est. 4:14)
-Bill Stockham