Esther 1:3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him
It is spring, a season of celebration where I am. Two days ago, I attended a college graduation and tomorrow I attend a wedding. Both are recognizing and celebrating what we deem important, education and the institution of marriage. You know, celebration and what we celebrate really indicate who we are as a nation, a family, and a person. To this day Israel is a nation, not just people who have a common country, because there is some agreement on what it is that should be celebrated. A people is not really a people if they cannot agree what is worthy of celebration. That is largely where we are today in our society, disagreement on the most vital, fundamental issues of existence and what is to be celebrated.
In Esther 1, we are reminded that what you celebrate indicates who you are. The nation of Israel celebrates something called Purim that goes back to the story of Esther, when God’s people were under the tyranny of the world power of Persia.
Verse 1 says, “Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)” Ahasuerus had immense power, an empire with a great reach. What is about to take place happened in Shushan the palace. Verses 3 and 4 say, “In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him: when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days.” The Bible goes on to talk about the magnificent feast the king put on.
What you celebrate indicates who you are. What did Persia celebrate? There were four obvious things: power, riches, honor, and beauty. The Bible says the king demonstrated the power of Persia unto the nobles and princes that were before him. We are told this may have been part of a four-year planning for war against Greece. Persia was a great power. In fact, this particular chapter talks about people who said, “May it please the king.” This phrase that is found nine times in the Old Testament; seven of them are found in this book. Everyone wanted to please this man who had such great power, and that is what they were celebrating.
They celebrated riches. This banquet was a feast in great opulence. The following verses talk about the splendor of this palace. They celebrated honor. The Bible speaks of the honor of Ahasuerus’ excellent majesty. And then there was beauty. Ahasuerus summoned Vashti the queen to show her to the people assembled. So, power, riches, honor, and beauty were celebrated. Does that not sound like our society today? What do people want, magnify, and celebrate? It is these very things.
What about Purim, this Jewish holiday that is not often thought of? What does it celebrate? Essentially it is celebrating the sovereignty of God. It is amazing that God is not once named in this book, yet His picture is on every page. It is kind of like a child who does not know how to spell grandpa or grandma, but certainly knows their faces when he sees them.
Persia celebrated things that were important to Persia. Purim is a celebration of the sovereignty of God. What an irony to see a book that reminds us of the sovereignty of God when the setting is the power of wicked men. What about you? Are you celebrating Purim, the sovereignty of God? Or are you celebrating Persia, power, riches, honor, and beauty? Into what do you invest your money, your time, and your ambition? Time will tell. It does matter what you think is important. It does matter what you do with your money, time, and ambition, your life.
Tomorrow I will be at a wedding where two people will be joined in marriage before God and witnesses. It is a celebration of the very foundation of society, a man, a woman, marriage, family, society, church, government. Some things are important and worthy to be celebrated. What you celebrate indicates who you are.