Today’s reading: Esther 1:1-22
The Book of Esther records the fascinating account of a young Jewish girl whose actions literally save the Jewish people from annihilation. I never tire of reading this story or looking for the numerous life lessons it contains. That being the case, for the next couple of weeks we’re going to read through and consider what we can learn from this Book, looking not only at Esther, but also at some of the other individuals who were key players in this account.
The first chapter of Esther gives us quite a bit of information, mostly about King Ahasuerus (or Xerxes, depending on what version of the Bible you’re reading) and Queen Vashti, the reigning officials of the Persian Empire where this account takes place. This chapter sets the background and gives us context for the rest of the story. So we won’t be meeting Esther until we reach Chapter 2.
Day 1 assignment: Read Esther 1:1-22 looking for details-where the account takes place, the political situation, who is in control, identifying key people, determining what is taking place at this specific time, etc. Make a list or highlight things in your Bible as needed. Then, take a couple of minutes to focus in on King Ahasuerus. What does this chapter show us about the king? What lesson(s) did these verses reveal about money, wealth and/or pride?
Source: Tami’s Blog
