Glorious King

Who does the phrase “the splendour and glory of his majesty” make you think of? If you’re anything like me, and familiar with the Old Testament, you’ll think of the Lord God. So imagine my surprise the other morning when I read these words. They weren’t assigned to the King of Kings, but to King Xerxes of Persia. Inevitably, as I read through the rest of Esther chapter 1, I found myself comparing the two kings. Here are three contrasts I came up with – there may well be more:

1. True majesty

• Xerxes was so impressed with himself that he displayed his wealth and splendour for a full six months (Esther 1 v 4). Even the recent Da Vinci exhibition didn’t last that long!
• “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19 v 1-4)
• God: 1; Xerxes 0

2. True forgiveness

• Not content with displaying his glory, Xerxes wanted to show off his wife as well. But Queen Vashti was having none of it. She disobeyed the king’s command and refused to come. (Esther 1 v 10-12) Xerxes was furious and cast her away (v 19). Never again was she allowed to enter his presence.
• All of us, all too often, disobey the true King’s commands. We deserve to be cast out of His presence for ever. BUT… “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came be Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3 v 23-24) AND… “we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.” (2 Corinthians 4 v 14).
• God: 2; Xerxes: 0

3. True headship

• It’s amusing to watch Xerxes’ advisors panic when they realise other women will hear about Queen Vashti and follow her example. That can’t be allowed! (Esther 1 v 16-18) So Xerxes commands the entire Persian empire that “every man should be ruler over his own household” (v 22).
• Contrast that with Christian households: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. … Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5 v 22, 25). This isn’t a Persian dictatorship. It’s a marriage modelled on the sacrificial relationship between Christ and the church (v 32). All of us, married or single, male or female, young or old, are called to obey our true King so that we may “live lives worthy of God, who calls us into his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2 v 12) – and one day see Him face to face.
• God: 3; Xerxes: 0

Esther is known for being the book where God isn’t mentioned. But even so, He’s just beaten Xerxes hands down.