I have always been captivated by the riveting story of
Esther: her story of survival and courage in a culture that despised all she
held dear is commendable…and a chilling reminder that we are only a breath away
from having to face some of the same decisions and consequences in our lives,
whether we realize it or not, or whether we believe that they have the same consequences
that Esther’s did. In the last few days, I began a more in-depth study of this
book through a plan that selects very few verses at a time and links them to a
verse in another book. Since the plan offers no hints to their correlation, I,
in my go-getter mind, have more than enjoyed the challenge.
On the beginning day, the first pair intrigued me: how could
Esther 1:1-4 be linked to Matthew 6:9-21? The Lord began to draw the lines
between the dots for me, leaving me in awe at the deepness of the Scriptures
once unseen to me. As I continued into the study, the theme of idolatry began
to stand out.
It’s easy to believe
that idolatry only involves the worship of stone or wooden sculptures. It is
easy to believe that we are not breaking one of God’s highest commandments.
Yet, idolatry comes in much more subtle forms too. It creeps
in when we are not paying attention, stunting our growth in the Lord, robbing
our full attention from His gaze, and warping our passions into our
self-glorification. I don’t know where King Xerxes’s idolatry began –perhaps it
was in self-absorption, or in his riches and possessions, or in making his
genealogy proud. But by the time of his life displayed in Esther 1, it has
become so prevalent. Portrayed as a man consumed with his well-being, his
welfare before the people, and his riches, Xerxes appears to have it all –including
the power to deem what is right or wrong. In fact, at his week-long party, he
encourages his guests to do anything they please (v. 10 –strangely reminiscent
of Judges 17:6 and 21:25).
But idolatry weakens our hearts, minds, and souls and opens
the doors to other sins too. Once we remove God from all or specific parts of
our lives, things start to fall apart. When I consider some of my biggest
mistakes and failures, I realize that it was when God was no longer my
priority: spending time in His Word was on the back-burner, praying was a
mumbled last-minute guilt-trip, and accountability with other believers was
inexistent.
Xerxes’ life follows this trend: his idolatry opened the
door to so much distress. In verses 9-18, the king loses any form of
discernment or self-control. Not only does Xerxes lack the discernment to see
what calling for Vashti could do to compromise her honorable identity as queen,
but he also exhibits strong lack of self-control in her stand against him:
instead of quietly dismissing the matter or recognizing his error, he becomes
enraged before turning to warped advice: leaving Vashti unpunished will result
in national chaos. We know what then happens to Vashti…she is divorced and
replaced.
Idolatry has
consequences –on us and on other people.
Idolatry can come in the most subtle manners, and as I
reflect on decisions for my future, I am so thankful that God has moved me to
start recognizing idolatry, its dangers, and its hindering consequences.
Putting God first-place is definitely not an easy choice. BUT IT IS WORTH IT. I
am so glad He chastens me and removes things from my life because He loves me
too much to allow me lesser things, including a distorted relationship with
Him. Psalm 73 was quoted in a sermon I heard on Sunday, so I looked more at the
context: the Psalmist was devastated by the seeming victories of evil doers –and
felt worthless before God in light of his own failures. Yet, he was able to
find hope in God and His grace. Truly walking by faith comes to a whole new
level when you realize your relationship with Jesus is the only thing you have
that will last forever –nothing else is everlasting: not your possessions, not
your relationships, not your popularity, nor your health or success.
Sometimes, God allows pain so that it will draw us closer to
Him. He allows punishment for us, His sons and daughters through the blood of
Christ. He closes doors when we don’t have the strength to do so ourselves.
Even when evil seems to prosper and causes us to be envious of its prosperity,
we must remember its victories are NOT forever. Our GOD is enough.
In closing, I must summarize thoughts I heard in a sermon on
the radio this evening. Paul went through similar seasons in life as we did,
except perhaps on a much more pronounced level at times. In II Cor. 12, he
explains that God had granted him a special revelation…but had also allowed a “thorn
in the flesh” to keep Paul humble –and boastful only in Christ. This attitude
is how we should view our pain, our trials, and our challenges in our lives:
opportunities to stay humble, to removes our forming idols, and to only glorify
our LORD. “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong”
(v. 10). Each time I go through trial or pain, it seems that it only reaches
deeper into my soul, affects me more strongly, or challenges my faith like
never before –but I know it also strengthens me as I never dreamed and trains
my human eyes to see His unseen and to become closer to His heart. As the radio
preacher stated so powerfully, “The pain keeps you humble and His strength
brings victory despite it.” As difficult as it is to admit or type this, I know
I must be GRATEFUL for these seasons of pain, trial, unknown, and endurance –because
they are also seasons of growth in my Savior.
