INTRODUCTION

One striking thing about the book of Esther is the absence of the mention of the name of God. However, even though God’s name is not mentioned, His power and greatness can still be experienced by all who have taken refuge in Him. As much as the world struggles to make the name of Jesus a by word, believers must live lives that please Him more and more, lives that prove to the world that GOD is and is the rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. The book of Esther teaches us that when people are in search of the living God, if they see us, they need not look any further; they have seen Him.

THE RICHES OF HIS KINGDOM AND THE BELIEVER

When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. | Esther 1:4 KJV

Like king Ahasuerus, God wants to show His glory and splendor to the world much more than nature does. He wants the world to have a first-hand glance at his magnificence through us. He wants to show the world the extent of his greatness and through that bring the world to his feet.

But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere | 2 Corinthians 2:14 AMPC

God wants people to see believers and be in awe of His magnificence and grandeur. He doesn’t only want to show forth the riches of His kingdom through us, He equally wants to show forth the riches of His grace.

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.| Eph. 2:7

Just like in the third year of the reign of King Ahasuerus; Jesus resurrected from the grave on the third day and from that time till now, He rose to lead us not on a 180 days feasting, but on an everlasting feasting. No wonder he said in Luke7:34 that The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

He has raised many princes and he leads us on a triumphant parade, displaying us as trophies of his conquest over the enemy.

Col 2:15 and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

The devil has nothing on us. The law also has nothing on us. For this cause,

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Phil 4:4

ANOTHER THAT IS BETTER THAN SHE

Vs. 7 and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.

In Christ, everything is better. Better than the angels. Better persuasion. Better hope. Better covenant. Better promises. Better sacrifice. Better and an enduring substance. Better country. Better resurrection. Better provisions and the list is endless.

As king, he doesn’t want to celebrate alone, He wants to celebrate His victory with his bride. But like the Jews rejected the invitation of the King, Vashti also rejected the invitation of the king to his feast. And for what, she was feasting on her own “self-righteousness”. Her own feast, her own ideas of being right by the king.

The story in chapter one is a type of the Jews who looked down on Gods goodness in grace and chose the Law. You know what happened? God went for us instead. Those of us who gained access, not by our merit, but his goodness. The king literarily went on a search for a bride that couldn’t have dreamt of being in custody of a glory so unspeakable. We who never looked for Him. He lavished his love on us. The following verses fitly captures what transpired

Eph. 2:12-19 | That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

The first chapter is a type of Gods disdain for self-righteousness. The believer must not be caught in the trap of self- righteousness. Our joy should be in the Lord always and not in ourselves or righteousness.

Review of Esther 1