Faithful and Fearless: Lesson 4/Day 2 Esther 1:1-9

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...Background...

It’s been about 500 years since the time of Ruth. Israel went through a myriad of judges and then the last judge, Samuel, crowned their first king, Saul. Since that time, the kingdom of Israel is no more. Kings Saul, David, and then Solomon were the only kings to rule over a united kingdom. Solomon’s sons, Rehoboam and Jeroboam, rebelled and the nation split around 930BC. Jeroboam became king over the northern kingdom “Israel” (or sometimes “Ephraim”), and Rehoboam became king over the southern kingdom, “Judah.” For their rebellion and sin, God sent prophets (Isaiah, Micah, Daniel, and others) to warn the nations that they would be overthrown by pagan nations, first the Assyrians then Babylonians, Persians, and finally the Roman Empire.

 ...Culture & Context...

Ahasuerus is the transliteration of the king’s name in Hebrew, Ahashverosh.  Xerxes is his Greek name. He was a usurper to the throne who bought the crown. His wife, Vashti, had the rights of royal lineage.

The account of Esther is set about 60 years after Persia conquered Babylon during the period of captivity and exile in Persia, around 483-465BC (although there is some disagreement among scholars on the exact dates.) Both Esther and her cousin Mordecai were descendants of the exiles who had been taken away from Israel to Babylon under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar. Although Cyrus the Great, the first Persian king, had permitted the exiles to return to Judea (Ezra 1:1-8) to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, many exiles remained. Esther’s parents were among those who stayed back. When they died, Mordecai raised her as his own daughter. At the time of Esther, there are hundreds of thousands of Jews living in Persia (modern day Iran).  

Ahasuerus is infamous for his drunken womanizing, capricious temper, and lost battles (notably the battle on which the movie “300” was based.) He was the grandson of Cyrus the Great. For more history on this fascinating man, read https://www.ancient.eu/Xerxes_I/

Check out this helpful timeline at http://timeline.biblehistory.com/period/the-exile

Reflect on the Word

The account of Ruth opened during a time when “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” While God had made a special covenant and laws with explicit behavioral expectations for the people of Israel, the reality is that all people are subject to the laws of God. Just as there are physical laws that govern our world – gravity, for example – there are spiritual laws, and God has ordained them all. Esther opens with a snapshot of a prideful king who is not unlike the rebellious children of Israel who “did right in their own eyes,” and he is not out from under God’s laws. The debauchery, drunkenness, and pride he shows will not go unpunished. Proverbs 16:18 is a good reminder to keep our pride in check and our hearts submitted in humility to our Father: “Pride goes before destruction
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Be sure to join me for the next day in our “Faithful and Fearless” lesson!

The Dwelling Richly community Bible study meets at La Mirada Christian Church every other week: Mondays, 6:30pm or Tuesdays, 9:30am, February 4-April 30, 2019

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