Money can’t buy it

Esther is the only book in the Bible that don’t use the name of God, or record any prayers to God.

The main character of the book is King Ahasuerus. About 450 BC he was one of the world’s strongest leaders. He lived in what is now Iran and he ruled 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia,.


To help govern this vast area Ahasuerus had a kingdom wide mail service, he might have called it 'The Camel Express'.

In the book of Esther Ahasuerus is planning to go to war with Greece and he sent word for the governors and army officers of his Media-Persia Empire to come to Susa (his Camp David) for a war conference - the war conference and its concurrent celebration lasted six months. After all, how long would it take to ride a camel from Ethiopia to Tehran?

When king Ahasuerus made a law it could not be changed! No repeals! If anyone entered his court uninvited they would die, unless he held his scepter out to them.

After the six month planning party was over the king gave a party for his staff - janitors and cabinet officers alike. The wine flowed freely and the king soaked up too much of his own sauce. In a half drunken stupor he called for his wife to come and dance and display her figure before the men.

Queen Vashti refused!

Consider his plight. He ruled his kingdom but not his own household. It was humiliating!

He had power and when he spoke a person could became rich, poor, or dead. But even with all of that, the love of his life refused his demand. He could not rule his household like he ruled his kingdom.

He could not demand a woman's love.

Rich or poor, young or old, all men receive a woman’s unerring love the same way - they earn it.

If money and power could buy a woman’s love, the rich families would be the most devoted and the poor families would live in bedlam, but that is not the way life is.

I like the Bible verse that says, "Husbands love your wives...". It is a fun thing to do! It pleases the heart! It makes life rich and worth living!

In another place it says, "Wives, fit in with your husbands' plans...".

Love is God's idea. He is the author of it and He demonstrates it best. Love is not a reward for good behavior. Love is ... well, it’s hard to define. Here’s a Bible quote that helps:

"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude.
Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.
It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. ...
There are three things that remain -- faith, hope, and love -- and the greatest of these is love."


PS. Upon the advice of his lawyers Ahasuerus divorced Vashti and banned her from his presence forever. Four years later (after he lost the war with Greece) he was still sad and missed Vashti. He made a through search of his kingdom and selected Esther to be his new queen and the object of his love.