KING XERXES
Powerful king
Esther 1:1 says these
events happened in the days of king xerxes who reigned over 127 provinces
stretching from India to Ethiopia .The number of provinces which can only be
likened to countries in modern parlance. (Not anything near what we refer to as
kings today with very small land mass, powers that are checked and tributes
that can be question or avoided altogether) Civilization and modernisation has
eaten away a good portion of the awe and powers that royalty wielded, in the
dark ages, when kings speak ONLY GOD can change what they say Esther 8:8d says
for the writing in the king’s name and sealed with king’s ring may no man reverse,
nonetheless kings like emperor having one hundred and twenty seven province
that reports to them. He reigned from 486BC-465BC.
Baby King
Some signals which points
to immaturity can be found in the exhibitions of this king we will briefly
examine some of them:
High spirits: Prov 20:1
says wine produces mockers, alcohol leads to brawls, those who are led astray
by the drinks cannot be wise. The king is supposed to be a custodian of wisdom
so as to make good and fair judgment, also proverb 31:4-5 says it is not for
kings O Lemuel to guzzle wine, rulers should not crave for alcohol. Verse 5 for
if they drink they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed. But
the contrary happened in Esther 1:10 which says on the seventh day of the
feast, when king Xerxes was in high spirits because of the wine. Little wonder he
requested for the queen to come and dance, although God rules in the affairs of
men and sincerely without creating an alibi for women disobeying their husband,
the disobedience of Vashti might not be unconnected to the fact that she knew
that the king was drunk before requesting for her. Today’s kings can be drunk
or possessed in power/money/women/bigotry/wickedness/selfishness among others may
God save us from any drunk king and may we not be one ourselves or may God give
us wisdom and grace be free from its grip in Jesus mighty name Amen.
Always holding or being
hosted to a feast: A king who celebrates for one hundred and eighty days which
is also six months and half of a year does not really strike like a serious one
Esther 1:4, as if that was not enough a seven days banquet was added Esther 1:5.
In a semblance of Heaven’s foreknowledge of this as the king’s weakness, Queen
Esther was inspired to request the king to come to a banquet even after the
whole Jew had prayed and fasted for three days. Esther 5:4 says And Esther
replied if it please the king let the king and Haman come today to a banquet I
have prepared for the king.
He doesn’t seem to have a
mind of his own: Proverbs 11:14 says without wise leadership, a nation falls,
there is safety in having many advisers also Proverbs 15:22 says plans go wrong
for lack of advice many advisers brings success. These scriptures clearly
states the irreplaceable and highly placed impact/value of wise and right counsels/advices
but if all that a king does is take advices his subjects are in great danger.
This king was found seeking and taking all advises/counsels. It is also said
that two sets of people are ultimately routed for failure those who listen to
everybody and those who listen to nobody. He was advised on the following:
-To evict Vashti Esther
1:19a so if it please the king, we suggest that you issue a written decree, a
law of the Persian and Medes that cannot be revoked. It should order that Queen
Vashti be forever banished from the presence of king Xerxes …. A situation he
regretted latter Esther 2:1,there are better ways to settle family affairs even
when they were/are public figures, than following inputs from ungodly outsiders
not minding how wise they claim or are tagged.
-To look for a new wife/queen:
Esther 1:19b, 2:2-3.
-To exterminate the Jews:
Esther 7:8 then Haman approached king Xerxes and said, there is a certain race
of people scattered through all provinces of your empire who keep themselves
from everyone else, their laws are different from those of any people, and they
refuse to obey the laws of the king. So it is not in the kings interest to let
them live. Vs 10a says the king agreed. Even without any verification, a yes
man.
- To repay Mordecai for
his vigilance and loyalty: Esther 6:6 so Haman came and king said what should I
do to honour a man who truly pleases me? Vs 10 says excellent the king said to
Haman quick take the robes and my Horse
and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, As if Mordecai consulted another
person before being vigilant and loyal.
Rich king
King Xerxes was a very
rich king, judging by the number of province that was under his control which
paid tributes to him. This is reinforced in Esther 10:1 which says king Xerxes
imposed a tribute throughout his empire even to the distant coastland.
One of the major essence
of the banquet which lasted for one hundred and eighty days was to show his
rich status Esther 1:4 says that the celebration lasted 180 days – a tremendous
display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty.
Except for grace of self-control when human have some money/wealth the next
thing usually noticed is a bid to make a statement with such, dresses,
occasions and fleets of automobile and airplane/jets are easy adverts.
The decorations and
apparatus for serving also lends credence to the kings affluence Esther 1 :6
talks about the decorations,1:7 which says drinks were served in gold goblets
of many designs and there was abundance of royal wine, reflecting the king’s wealthy
status.
The numbers of days of
the feast plus another seven days and with the quality of drink(royal wine
according to 1:6) which was also said to be in abundance, a rich king he was.
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shalom
