The Spirit on All People
Scripture Passage: Esther 1 & 2

Slide 1

Introducing Esther
4 part series
"Many Issues and a Few Features"

Slide 2

Issues of empire and power
This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from
India to Cush:

Slide 3

Feature of festivals
4 For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. 5 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days,

Slide 4

Issues of excess
7 Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality. 8 By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions,

Slide 5

Issue of objectifying women
10 On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs... 11 to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at.

Slide 6

Issue of dysfunctional relationships
15 “According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.”

Slide 7

Issue of replacement people
Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.

Slide 8

Issue of control
20 Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”

Slide 9

Issue of narcissism
4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.

Slide 10

Issue of inequality
Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, 6 who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon

Slide 11

Issue of assimilation
14 In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines.

Slide 12

Feature of Reversals
17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women,.... So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Slide 13

Advice from Jesus
Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

Slide 14

Feature of Foreshadow
(stay tuned)
22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai....the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals....

June 12, 2022 - Introducing Esther