One Persian King, Queen Esther and a multitude of important decisions
With a look at the calendar I knew I must decide on a theme for Purim, which occurs this week. The first festival was celebrated by the Jews in Susa on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. Today those dates are rendered as February 25,26 and 27. Soon after the first festival it was decided those living in villages should observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, and those living in walled (larger) cities should celebrate on the fifteenth.
With that information I decided to look at Purim decisions. There are actually quite a few decisions that are made in the book of Esther, some good and some bad, and these are indicators of the choices we must make today that will affect our personal lives and the lives of others.
The Party Before Purim
Take for instance the decision Persian King Ahasuerus made in the first chapter of the book of Esther. In the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. People from all 127 provinces came for the festivities which were to last for 180 days. During this time there was a great amount of eating and drinking, as well as games and dances and other events to keep the prestigious politicians entertained. But over time, some of them got bored, and the king felt he needed to step it up a notch.
What could he do … a decision must be made! King Ahasuerus decided it was time for the men at the party (for the people were segregated in this time before equal rights) to meet his Queen! Certainly the beautiful Queen Vashti could entertain the mostly drunken men. (right or wrong??)
A messenger ascended to the Queen’s quarters, where she was also throwing a party and entertaining the women, and asked her to come down and entertain the men. Vashti made a decision (which later she might have regretted, or not) and told the King she would not exit her chambers to make an exhibition for the men’s gathering. (right or wrong??) That ended her career.
Deciding on a New Queen
That decision led the ruler of the Persian Empire to be single, and everyone knows every King needs a Queen, it is almost part of the job description. What should be done?? The royal cabinet decided, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.” The king gleefully agreed. (right or wrong??)
A great pageant was announced, and women from each of the 127 provinces, plus others signed up for their opportunity to live with the king. (right or wrong??) These beauty queens were secluded for a time of pampering and preparation. They were cared for by the royal staff and given the best food they ever tasted.
producing a first century air conditioning
One of the beauty queens, Hadasseh by name, had been personally selected by her uncle Mordecai and after much motivation, decided to enter the contest. Because she was “different” (and by that it must be understood she was Jewish), her Uncle suggested she go by the name “Esther,” which seemed agreeable to her. Esther found favor with Hegai, the caretaker of the Harem.
Deciding a Beauty Pageant Winner
Following six months of treatment, appointments were made for King Ahasuerus to choose his new bride. Each and ever night there wa s a decision to be made, would the monarch say, “yes or no??”
After Esther’s visit with King Ahasuerus, the choice was made. This fair Esther would be his new Queen. (right or wrong??)
A Matter of Racial Decisions
At that time Persian King Ahasuerus had an evil servant named Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite. This man served as his Chief of Staff, and made many of the decisions both for the royal court and for the government. The man loved attention, and desired that every man pay homage to him because of his royal position. But the Jews, including Esther’s uncle Mordecai, had decided to honor God alone, and none other. (right or wrong??)
Hamen decided to use his position to eliminate this issue that pestered him. He went to the King and said, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.”
Haman convinced the King to allow him, as his Chief of Staff to issue an order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. (right or wrong??)
The Edict Becomes Known
When Mordecai heard what had been done, he went into mourning. He decided to go to Queen Esther and ask her to enter a plea with King Ahasuerus to save their people. Esther feared taking this request to the king, but after Mordecai explained the edict and reminded his niece that she was Jewish (and that Haman would discover this fact), the Queen decided if all the people would pray for her safety, she would go to the King. (right or wrong??)
A Banquet fit for a King and an executioner
Following the days of prayer, Queen Esther had a plan. She decided to put on her royal robes and to invite the King and antagonist Hamen to dinner. At the meal (it actually took three), she would accuse the executioner and present his edict to King Ahasuerus in the hopes that the royal monarch would have mercy. (right or wrong??)
During the third banquet, Queen Esther made a plea to the King, “If I have found favor with you, please grant me my life, and spare the lives of my people, this is my request.” King Ahasuerus asked her what she meant, and the queen displayed the edict. Everything was explained to Hamen’s great embarrassment and displeasure. King Ahasuerus decided to hang Haman for his crime. (right or wrong??)
The end of the matter
With the death of Hamen, the King needed a new Chief of Staff. Mordecai was recommended to the position. As his first act of office, he equipped and allowed the Jewish people to defend themselves if attacked. (right or wrong??) The defense of the Jewish people took place in the villages of Persia on the 13th day of the month of Adar, and in the walled city of Susa it occurred on the 14th day. These two days became the celebrated festival of Purim.
Do you have trouble with decisions (right or wrong), I have a book to help entitled Spring; connecting With God. The book is available in paperback or on kindle. It would be the right decision to order a copy and read its contents while eating Hamantaschen.
