THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 1:1-8
“This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush.” (Esther 1:1)
The Persian king Xerxes the Great (486-465 BC) was known as the King of kings.
He ruled from India to Egypt (Cush), and upward into Greece.
God isn’t mentioned, nor that He really is the King of kings.
All we see is human power, authority, greatness and grandeur.
It takes eyes of faith to hang on to the invisible God when the visible is so… clear.
Jesus stands before the might of Rome, whose Caesar claims to be ‘the son of God’.
As He is questioned by Pilate – Rome’s agent – He knows who the real authority is.
“Jesus answered, ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.'” (John 19:11)
Jesus looks behind the visible greatness of this world, and sees the greatness of God.
What is greater, the work of art, or the Artist that created it?
God has given authority and power to Xerxes “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
The same is true for every ruler and leader and ‘illionaire’ and celebrity.
We all receive our time, place, position and potential from God, and to Him we will be accountable.
One day we will stand in His court, and report to Him for how we lived and led in His world.
We may become great in this world, even Rulers of rulers, but there is always one King over all kings!
Our God reigns over the whole creation, into the vast stretches of the Universe.
Now THIS is greatness and grandeur worth marveling at!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, by faith we look to God for the true source of greatness and grandeur. Help us to humble ourselves, like You, that we may be honoured, like You, before the great God over all!
Observations/Application
The king display his wealth for 180 days. Full of pride? See what I have done? And to top it off he gave a banquet and showed still more. He desired to please his guests at the party.
A people pleaser.
A crowd pleaser.
Look at me and see my power and wealth.
Lost in his own wealth, pride and greatness.
But who had put him in a position such as this?
Where is the Creator God, the Ruler of the creation in all of this?
The king was puffed up and needed to be reminded of His place and His task.
May I always see God’s hand at work in me and through me and praise Him for all what I have. It is a gift from God to be used in His service.
Not what my hands have done
Can save my guilty soul;
Not what my toiling flesh has borne
Can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do
Can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears
Can bear my awful load.