The book of Esther shows the events that took place during the reign of the Persian King Xerxes, who reigned from India to Ethiopia (1). This Xerxes is the same person mentioned in Ezra chapter 4. The book of Esther does not directly mention God or the Lord. However, Esther and Mordecai's desperate prayer for the Jews, the chosen people of the Lord, and their courageous actions show the faith of the Jews in the later stages of the exile in Babylon.

Xerxes threw a lavish banquet in the third year of his reign (5-8). On the seventh day of drinking and partying, the king commanded Queen Vashti to appear, wearing her royal crown to show off her beauty (11). When Vashti refused, the king became enraged and asked his wise men for legal advice (12). In their eagerness to please the king, the men advised him to banish the queen and replace her with a better one (19,20). And the king's letter went out to all his 127 provinces in every language (22).

The king's conduct was selfish and unspiritual. However, using Xerxes' worldly actions, the Lord was quietly laying out his plan to deliver his people.


Application: Father, you are the one who is in control of history. Help me to keep my focus on you and see your work in our generation.
One Word: Not Xerxes. The Lord is in control.