Esther: Silent but Sovereignনমুনা

Xerxes was in the third year of his reign, having defeated Egypt at war when he gave a great banquet. Verse 4 tells us that the banquet lasted 180 days and was an extravagant exhibition of King Xerxes’ greatness and wealth. This banquet was probably given as a reward to military officers and noblemen from all over the kingdom and was possibly also an opportunity to plan for the upcoming invasion of Greece.

At the end of the six-month-long banquet, King Xerxes gave another banquet that lasted seven days. This banquet was for everyone who lived in the citadel of Susa. No one was excluded, from the greatest to the least. Again, it was a lavish banquet. Verse 7 records that: ‘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.’ The guests could drink a little or a lot, or not at all if they chose. Everyone was free to do as they wished. 

Verse 6 describes the garden of the king’s palace in Susa and shows that life in the Persian Court during King Xerxes’ reign was luxurious. They feasted on fine foods and drank from gold cups. The Persian court was dripping with wealth and extravagance.

King Xerxes was an incredibly powerful and proud king. At the beginning of his reign, he was the most powerful man on earth. Archaeologists excavating at Susa have found inscriptions from that time in which King Xerxes refers to himself as, ‘The Great King, The King of Kings; The King of the lands occupied by many races; The King of this great earth.’ He obviously thought a lot of himself and very little about the God of Israel. 

In contrast, read Philippians 2:5–11. Compare Xerxes’ pride with the humility of Jesus, the true ‘King of kings’. In his pride, Xerxes believed that he was greater than God Himself. How do you view yourself? Does your attitude reflect the humility of Jesus or are you tempted to believe that you are more important than God and others? 

True greatness is demonstrated in humble self-sacrifice. Jesus said, 

‘… whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’ (Mk. 10:43–45).

Reflection 

What does your lifestyle say about your priorities? Are you using every resource God has given you for His kingdom and glory or do you live for your own pleasure and satisfaction?