Esther 1:1-22 – God’s people were exiles in a land where its leaders exemplified drunkenness, objectification, and all manner of sinful dysfunction. In this unconstrained society, God enacted a plan even though He was never mentioned or honored.
Setup
- God’s people lived in exile among a people who lived as if God didn’t exist.
- Ahasuerus was loud but limited; God was silent but sovereign.
Situation
- Revelry: Ahasuerus flaunted wealth and women, revealing a kingdom driven by ego, excess, and exploitation. (Esther 1:1-9).
- Refusal: Vashti’s refusal to be paraded proves that defiant dignity still has a place in a corrupt culture (Esther 1:10-12).
- Removal: Ahasuerus removed Vashti to hide his insecurity and preserve his reputation (Esther 1:13-22).
Shadows
- A godless culture can’t fully silence the conscience God placed within.
- God’s providence in the shadows proves stronger than any king’s extravagance in the spotlight.
Significance
- Contemplate your environments: Surroundings and substance can dull your discernment and derail your direction.
- Confront your calling: Masculinity isn’t toxic but rejecting God’s design for it is.
- Consider your Savior: Jesus didn’t demand His bride’s body; He offered His own in her place.
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