We are not surprised by this turn of events for Esther. This feast makes me reminisce about royal weddings I have seen on TV or read about in the press. Journalists will take time to explain exactly what is happening and to describe clothes and the delicacies of the banquets.

Like any good heroine it seems Esther did everything right! And everyone liked her. Do you suppose that was because she was a nice person? I prefer to think that it is because the favour of God rested on her. People of prayer are often recognisable as people of peace.

This sounds to me like a very stressful moment for any young woman. Suddenly the day has come! I suppose it could be compared to a wedding day for a modern day virgin in parts of the world where young girls do not meet their husbands until they are married!

It seems as though the king was not in a very desperate hurry for his new queen. Over a year before he got to meet any of the prodigies! That must have seemed quite a long year for Mordecai who spent much time near to the courtyard of the harem.

We see the hand of God at work. We can begin to understand why Esther was orphaned and consequently brought up by a male family member. Her education with Mordecai would mean that she was not afraid to speak to men. It would mean that she knew about many things.

The setting for the story has been explained. Here we have the introduction to our heroine, but first the hero. Mordecai had had a really important role to play before this story began with Vashti. He came from a respectable family and had done what was right for his cousin.

Behind the scenes God was at work. He had a plan and just as all the way through the Bible we see His purposes being fulfilled, He would provide the right queen and fulfill another hidden purpose in doing so. Maybe it was The Lord who inspired the wise men.

It would be so helpful here if the writer had included the reason why Vashti refused to obey her husband, and join him at his party. Was she enjoying her own event too much to leave? Had she drunk too much wine at her own celebration? Was she feeling defiant?

Xerxes wanted to show off his beautiful wife! But it seems as though he did not give her too much thought until he had drunk too much! I wonder why the seven eunuchs are named, and why it took seven men to go bring one wife to see her husband!

Yesterday we saw that King Xerxes was rich. I believe one of the reasons this book is a part of the Bible is because it gives us a picture of Heaven where everything is free and available for all participants, and where the majesty and richness of everything is amazing.