v.1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)v.2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, v.3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him: v.4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. v.5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace; v.6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble. v.7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. v.8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure. v.9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. v.10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, v.11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. v.12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. §

Let us ‘press towards the mark’ of experiencing the FULL union with our King so that in no way will we disappoint Him. We shall see the sovereignity of our God who doeth ALL things well, as each step unfolds in the life of the "the Esther-Firstfruits’. Truly all things work together for good — the good of His plan in us and through us.

God’s purpose was to have Esther as the Bride of the King. For this to be reality, she would have to become fully compatable to His thinking, His ways and His plans. For the union that makes two become one, there would have to be such a complete surrender. Our Lord deserves nothing less than a perfect bride and His plan will most definitely succeed because He is God. Let us then read again the scriptures of the Book of Esther and discover the ‘good news’ of God’s working with us until we experience being ‘joint heirs’ with the King in His Kingdom with all the ‘being’ and ‘doing’ associated with that. 

Ahasuerus was the king that ruled in 127 provinces: a victorious king who shared his victories with his nobles. We have Christ, our King who rules in ‘120’ and ‘7’ areas in our lives. With Bible Numbers we know that ‘120’ speaks of ‘the end of all flesh’ which our King will see expressed fully in His people starting with the firstfruits. There can be simply no ‘flesh’ getting in the way of His ruling through us in His kingdom. The ‘7’ speaks of perfection and completion that will be the expressed as a result of such a dealing. Such perfection is seen in the complete oneness He desires with His Bride, His Queen.  

Verse 3 of this first chapter declares that a feast was called in the palace — the place of the throne — in the 3rd year which corresponds to God’s feast of the 3rd. month, namely The Feast of Pentecost. Similarly Mount Sinai is situated in the desert of Sinai. Exodus 19 declares that it was in the THIRD month the children of Israel were in this desert . . . a dry place! God moved to meet with them (via Moses) and supernaturally gave His word. I commenced a ‘new day’ in theri lives. The THIRD month corresponds to the Feast of Pentecost. There comes a release of God’s word at that time as they (and us too) begin to receive His wordwith new understanding: God’s word was promises to the obedient but remained laws to the unteachable. 

To receive the full blessing of this feast one must come to the palace — the King’s house, His dwelling place where His word only is carried out. The palace speaks of where the King’s word is paramount — His thoughts become our thoughts. Yet in such an atmosphere, Vashti would fail to enter into the climax of her calling because she was NOT led of the Spirit. She knew what was needed, but her own thinking led her to miss out. So many Christians, desiring the baptism in the Holy Spirit, receive less than the full release/blessing because they are looking for an experience rather than a release to feast with the King and hear His every word.

The palace was at Shushan which means ‘lily ‘ emphasizing the whiteness of purity or holiness and the trumpet shape depicting the proclaimation of this word of holiness. Let us not be of those who fail to ‘go the course’ and receive ALL the provision and blessings that this feast releases in us. The challenge here is. . . ‘Would you spend 180 days in a teachable attitude so that you do not miss out on anything that the King makes avcailable?’

Here in this account, which is a parable to us now, all the people found in the palace — whether they were nobles or servants — had the same opportunity to fully partake of this feast consisting of good food and new (to them) wine.

 

This was a special time when each participant saw the glory of the King. . . even his excellent majesty. They also witnessed or were told about the King’s glorious kingdom. This picture was the ultimate of the King’s desire and, no mistakes here, HE SAID it was glorious! One only gets a true vision of the Kingdom of Heaven when one is in King’s real house.

The ‘180’ days were for the FIRST guests — those who were in the palace: to be in the palace one just needed to fully surrender one’s own way and one’s own ideas of the King and His purposes.

AS we have seen, the King purposed the first part of the feast to be ‘180’ days. Firstly we note that the wise guests did not leave the feast until they had presumably partaken of all that was provided. As we see ourselves in the feast of Pentecost, we too will not quit before what the King desires is accomplished. Our subsequent walk depends upon receiving all of it. ‘As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him’. (Col.2:6).

Why ‘180’ days? What could it imply? Let us keep our observations in the positive vein. From the meaning of Bible numbers, we can readily see that the 180 can equal 6 x 30 = God’s desire is:- for man (6) to come to maturity (30): also 180= 9 x 20 = that redemption (20) is unchangable (9): and 180 = 12 x 15 = God’s perfection thru His government (12) brings rest (15).

All these purposes must first be received and experienced by the people of the palace AND THEN the feast gets extended ‘7’ days for the people at large who had come and were then found (v.5 present in Hb.= found)in the palace. This next phase of the feast was about six months later and was held in the court of the garden of the palace.

 

The numbers in scripture are simply amazing. The first long feast and celebration was to lead the people to a purpose — that of "Tabernacles". Let’s see it here: first there was a feast of ‘180’ days for the first-called . . . those abiding in the presence of the King in His house and who obeyed without question everything that He desired. Now we add ‘7’ more days for a total of ‘187’. The ‘187th.’ day of the Hebrew year is the DAY OF ATONEMENT of the Feast of Tabernacles. The feast of the third month (year) must lead right on into the Feast of the seventh month — Tabernacles. . .

. . .in which the fullness of God will be manifest in the overcomers . . . in the Bride.

There were decorations (or outward expressions) put in place by those who had been in the first part of the feast. These effects were hangings of white, violet (Hb. blue) and green held between marble pillars complete with silver rings and purple linen cords holding them all straight. In such surroundings, the new guests were resting on beds (i.e. couches) of gold and silver and no earth was visible because it was covered with paving stones of red, blue, white and black marble. What a glorious sheltered setting contained within these drapes/hangings.

In this area where the next phase of the feast was being held, there was no ‘earthy’ thinking to be seen: all such thoughts (with their subsequent actions) were covered over with marble. We are like these polished stones that have had all the rough edges of Adam’s fallen nature removed; some of the rubbing was tough and took a long time! Lively stones (us)taken from the earth, shaped, ground smooth and now fitting perfectly together with its neighbour.

The RED part of this mosaic pictures death to self through the application of the Blood of Christ; the BLUE marble slabs bespeak of the anointing that is continuously present — including the awareness of His desire.

Verse 8 tells us that the drinking at the feast was according to law. It started out that the guests would only drink when the king drank: he stopped . . . they all stopped, and so on. We are told later in that verse that they could drink according to how each felt. This speaks to us of a maturiy of having come through the ‘law’ stage. We can now be trusted to move in the expression of the king’s desire . . . how He would do it! The hardest part is to be in submission solely to the King’s word so that one can learn His ways and receive the first revelation that, as it were, breaks the ice of our reasoning resistance! ‘Lord, please increase our capacity’. The amount that they received was according to what they desired. The ones hungering and thirsting after righteousness are the ones that get filled. What is your capacity? Here in the palace there was no compelling or urging needed for each knew what was in the mind of the king for them. Having come to the palace, the place of the throne, they knew that their ‘own free will’ was long buried being dead.

Vashti and her guests picture for us all thinking that has not been brought to the cross. If it is not brought so, then it will most certainly produce a false image of God and a false picture of what He is doing in His people. Oh how tradition has substituted its own beliefs, dogmas and ‘Church Constitutions’ that keep folk from the true provision of grace — the true feast with the King. To wear the royal crown, one has to remove oneself from one’s own controlling word.

Vashti pictures for us what could be termed ‘old testament Christians’. These are they who have had an experience of salvation, who have truly met and had an encounter with the Lord Jesus. They believe that their salvation experience is all the union that can expect with Him until they get to heaven! These ones move in the law of doing in order to obtain. They are still infants in the Lord who need to lay the foundation in their lives of ceasing from dead works (Hebrews 6:1-3). The true and full release of theSpirit will be unveiledto each one who only wants His desire: this is for them to enter intoHis fullness and union while in heaven on earth. . . where His will is done! Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. 

There are (5) ‘royal’expressions extended to Vashti. This grace (5) from the King gave her the opportunity to partake of the royal wine (v.7), live in the royal house (v.9), wear the royal crown (v.11), hear and understand the royal commandment (v..19) and enjoy all her royal estate (v.19). But alas, she lost out so much of this provision by refusing to obey the King — by refusing to come into His presence . . . by not desiring to receive all that is provided. The crux of her problem was that she would not wear the royal crown for this feast. Her testimony showed that she just would not surround herself, her mind with the King’s thoughts, desires and purposes. She had such strong convictions from the fundamental and traditional beliefs, that they made her rigid and unteachable. Her security was in ‘what she believed’, ‘what she had been taught’ and she knew almost nothing about the progressive dealings in the purposes of God. One cannot be fully changed through all the glories (II Cor.3:18) unless one is willing to leave ‘Passover’ experiences (not remove them but rather move on from them — like building on a foundation) and move through the whole of God’s year (program) of Pentecost and Tabernacles (from initial salvation to the fullness of being like Him .

 

Vashti was so close to entering-in to the fullness but her own ideas of the spiritual were placed before the King’s word. Thus her honored position was lost and another took her place.

 

Another way of looking at Vashti in this account, is to see her as representing the Old Covenant people of God who tried to obey the law and worked hard at it! This approach is similar in many ways, so long as we apply the parable to ourselves that the scriptures might be truly profitable to our walk.

 

Esther 1:13-19

v.13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:

v.14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;) v.15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? v.16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. v.17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. v.18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. v.19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. §

 

The palace enters a new era . . . one of grace all the way! The edict went forth that suitable young ladies were to be invited to the palace and the prevailing condition for acceptance was that they were to be virgins. They would not have been touched by ‘man‘— not influenced by the word that man preaches. Each one coming would have a vision of being Queen, of coming into full union with the King. Their desires would be absolutely unselfish and all their thoughts would be towards pleasing the King. Knowing that it would take time to prepare oneself for such an occasion, they would, of course, have faith and patience. Without such a vision, they would never have last for twelve months. Such that would come would supernaturally naturally feel ‘at home’ in palace surroundings. These elegable virgins would be brought to the palace (i.e. the means to get there would be provided by the King!). To be found ‘suitable’, they would have faced up to the demands of such a calling — they would have purposed to leave behind their families, their possessions, their previous hopes and dreams — and come as they were to the place prepared called ‘the house of the women’. This place would be the ‘processing plant’ under the watchful and caring eye of Hergai who, to us, is a picture of the Holy Spirit.

 

The main target for those called was that they became pure through obedience. All that they needed to achieve this would be GIVEN to them. All we ever need to enter into the Holy of Holies has been given to us already by King-Jesus at Calvary. We do not have to ‘work’ for anything . . . it is ‘by grace’. The target for each of us is to please the King. It is a sure walk of faith because without faith it is impossible to please Him. Faith is put to the test as one’s ‘flesh’ is dealt with. They that are in the flesh cannot please God. The flesh was created by God and was seen as good. Since the fall flesh took on a new master and could no longer be termed good. Flesh needs therefore to be fully restored as a vehicle that expresses the King.

As it takes time for a little seed to grow, so it takes time for a perfect work on the flesh to be accomplished. It is ‘line upon line’ . . . here a little and so on. It was only supposed to take three days to get from the bondage of Egypt(the world) to the Land of Promise(Kingdom of God), but . . . it took forty years back in Moses’ day for the children of God to make it!

 

Mordecai was a man who had been saved from earlier sun-worship influences in his life. The meaning of his name reveals this as it means ‘dedicated to Mars’. However he was a Benjamite in descent, which is a type of the overcomers, and as such one would expect to find him in the palace setting submissive to the King’s ways.

God had sovereignly ordered his circumstances (nothing ‘just happens’!) in getting him to be in ‘the right place at the right time’. His journey to the King’s palace was orchestrated through being taken into captivity — thus put in a very restricted place.

He was right ‘there’ when Hadassah was orphaned and he took her ‘under his wing’. Mordecai’s testimony was like an extension of Esther’s. They moved in the same spirit and expectation because they had heard the command of the King. Mordecai was now restricted to a certain course — in fact it could be called ‘his duty’! No longer was he free to go off ministering just because there was an ‘open door’! When one has ‘dedicated’ in their name (nature), our King will be looking for a 100% obedience . . . that is if we have thus dedicated ourselves to Him.

Mordecai was the older cousin and male so his calling was to protect, provide and generally care for this beautiful young lady — he displayed the spirit of sonship.

The word of the King went forth . . . was heard by Hadassah and Mordecai and they decided to act upon what they heard and , of course, believed. Hadassah, which means myrtle tree, was given a Babylonish name of Esther which meaning ‘the planet Venus’. She willingly submitted to the King’s word and came to the palace with all its restrictions (compared to where she had come from!). She placed herself under the authority of Hegai.

Just how much of our lives do we allow the Spirit to be Lord over? Billy Graham once said, ‘God will reward you a thousandfold when you surrender 100% to Him; but don’t expect any five-hundredfold rewards for 50% surrenders!’

Hegai (The Holy Spirit to us) . . .He would be the one who would show her what was needed and to teach her all the aspects of the palace life as well as the desires of the King.

Esther’s attitude and ways pleased Hegai and the blessings increased.Esther knew why she was there and deep within her was a vision and a hope that she would attain unto the high calling. She had faith that all things were indeed working together for good. For what she had already witnessed gave her great confidence for what lay ahead.

She received speedily what Hegai knew she needed — she did not have to plead, beg or repeatedly ask for these things! They were available to her along with (7) maidens to help her ‘get ready’. Her testimony was such that she received encouragements and was made aware that her faith was growing. rurun run their course. There has been (and still is) the same full term of cleansing and restoring expected of us . . . the same that Esther completed.

These dealings have certainly not been easy! Separated from her own choices, she has been bombarded with new standards for her life, for her walk and her demeanour. Myrrh is sweet smelling but O so bitter to the natural taste. It speaks of suffering especially to the flesh as it is brought to a place of full submission to the Spirit.

We are also being called to put the fleshly, carnal, human dictator (our mind) out of the place of authority in our lives. We do this by submitting to the authority of the Spirit, of the anointing, of the mind of Christ knowing that each victory will be followed by the adding to us of the longed-for spices. When we are thus renewed, the second stage of our preparation will see added faith, love, joy . . . infact all the fruit of the Spirit in full measure . . . no longer She also had a burden for her people who were at that time under much restraint and very much in captivity as she was. She also knew in her spirit that the effect of her accomplishment would result in seeing her people set free. She did not concentrate on that possibility because the happenings of the present time required all of her attention. It was very comforting to have the seven attending her continuously. The (7) maidens can refer, not only to the aforesaid seven spirits of God, but to other groups of ‘7’ blessings.

Even as the Church-at-large is very much in a place of restraint and even in a place of captivity, God has desired that a Bride come into the full image of Christ and thus into that place of union with Him. Much sun-worship festivals and symbols are still in the programs of some churches and, we might add, are still defended vigorously when liberating truth is placed alongside such. The true overcoming Bride of Christ — as Esther — has a burden to see all the people of God fully set free to move and have their being in Him.

 

Chapter 2, verse 9 tells us that Hegai ‘preferred’ — or better translated, changed — Esther unto the best place in this arena of preparation necessary for coming into experiencing union with the King. As we make progress with the word that we have received, we will be lifted to a higher place where new and further steps/instructions will be heard. Those who refuse the early words of revelation of what is required in this hour, will usually stay just where they are in the spirit. To fail to grow is not bad; growth is progressive — and when one grows, one changes! It is progressing from one level of glory to the next and that is what the Lord desires (II Cor.3:18).

The ‘called-out one’ called Esther, in a wonderful way, did not have to give an account of passed activities, beliefs and where she had come from.

The activities that are to bring one to perfection, maturity and holiness have (for us . . . almost) run their course. There has been (and still is) the same full term of cleansing and restoring expected of us . . . the same that Esther completed.

These dealings have certainly not been easy! Separated from her own choices, she has been bombarded with new standards for her life, for her walk and her demeanour. Myrrh is sweet smelling but O so bitter to the natural taste. It speaks of suffering especially to the flesh as it is brought to a place of full submission to the Spirit.

We are also being called to put the fleshly, carnal, human dictator (our mind) out of the place of authority in our lives. We do this by submitting to the authority of the Spirit, of the anointing, of the mind of Christ knowing that each victory will be followed by the adding to us of the longed-for spices. When we are thus renewed, the second stage of our preparation will see added faith, love, joy . . . infact all the fruit of the Spirit in full measure . . . no longer in part, but in fullness. The Spirit then is able to release any and every characteristic of Himself at any time!

Ready (at last!) to be joined to the King and to experience that divine oneness. Such a vision that we are encouraged to press towards will come only from the Lord; it will be received by revelation not perspiration!

 

We saw that the King’s edict was made on the 187th. day referring to the Day of Atonement; now we find Esther twelve months later, at the same time of the year, ready to go in. She entered in the 7th. year of His reign which is another pointer in the spirit to the feast of the 7th. month, the Feast of Tabernacles.

Each virgin had her opportunity to prepare aright and now each one is put to the test. It would begin a new day, a new era in each life. Like the others Esther was called to go in at the end of one day, come through the midnight hour, and pass into the new day.

We could possibly make such a comment and mean it. We probably know some saints who we would readily identify with Esther and know that they experience the intimate relationship that one can have with the King . . . and we sought of envy them? We commend them and rejoice with them but deep down inside of us there just might be a glimmer of a thought that we might miss it! "Well done Esther!" Whatever any of us have experienced to date, we are reminded by Esther that there is yet a fuller expression for us to press towards. Prior to the 187th. day we are still in the Holy Place — but after, we are found to be in the Holiest of All where all things are new. Let us learn from those ahead of us . . . let us follow Esther’s example and be encouraged by her achievement through grace and watch that we don’t subconsciously ‘give up’ by placing ourselves in a different place. We should remain under the Lordship of Christ and receive from Him those things which He has provided freely so taht we can ‘make it’.

 

The King was delighted with Esther in every respect. She was promoted and received the mark of the high calling, namely, the royal crown upon her head. Being now one with the King — one mind, His! — her life and His life --- a single expression of this would now be exercised as they rule and reign together. Esther would no longer go some place without the King’s direction: she would stop trying to increase her possessions, increase her ‘security! Seeing where she was, what could she possibly need? If the word ‘’ was ever in her vocabulary, it would be deleted. Yes, she had certainly ‘stepped out in faith’ like "putting all her eggs in one basket!"

Haman now enters onto the scene. He represents Christians who are so steeped in traditional teachings and ways that they are afraid of those who are pressing towards the mark for the high- calling of God in Christ-Jesus . . . that of conforming to His mage. They will build their ‘letter-word’ scaffolding with the purpose of hanging would-be overcomers. They will even believe that what they do is of the Lord. . . hence a fifty cubit structure (50=anointing/ Holy Spirit).

Haman has always been around but on the circumference of the palace activities. Very sincere — he gets recognition and advancement and becomes well-known and established. What ‘Haman’ stands for and promotes, the ‘Mordecai-overcomers’ cannot accept.

God’s sovereign timing (being God, He is Lord of ALL) brought forth His plan out of what looked disastrous. The ‘Haman-resistance’ to the present truth ceased when his flesh was put to death on the very ‘letter-word’ structure that he had so studiously put together. Even the letter word in the end will bring forth the purposes of God!

Esther had the calling from God to be the instrument that would see the whole of God’s people set free from every bondage. For today, that could be seeing believers set free from manipulation, intimidation and limitation put on by the Pharisaical leaders of lifeless ‘law’ Churches.

 

The account of Esther climaxes in chapter 5, verse 3 when she is in the King’s presence and receives HALF OF HIS KINGDOM. Half of the kingdom equates with being JOINT HEIRS with the King who had the kingdom all along.

 

In the book of Esther, the pattern of God’s plan for this hour, we see the liberation of God’s people take place. What a glorious triumphant conclusion! The vision and the fulfillment has been kept alive over the years in THE FEAST OF PURIM that celebrates what happened ‘back then’ and focusses the same vision for us ‘today’. We need to have the same vision — to see all of God’s people, nay more than that, to see all of His creation set fully free from carnal-adamic controls to embrace Him, the Author and Finisher of His plan for the ages. §

 

A recap! We started with the feast of the 3rd.

year/month which we know to be the Feast of Pentecost. We associate the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with that feast being our personal ‘Pentecost’. Let us look at a further aspect of this doorway into things of the Spirit.

The evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, when received in the palace, will be seen in many ways. We are all familiar with ‘speaking in tongues’ as the evidence accepted in many fellowships. This is the first major evidence of the mind of Christ being release from within one. . . the words NOT coming from our own minds. Knowing that words spoken must come from a mind, we conclude that they come from the mind of Christ — the Spirit gives the utterance!

There is a further and equally important evidence that the Spirit releases when we are baptized in the Spirit, it is a receiving of revelation from the word. Like a brand new window into the word. What had previously been ‘blank’ to one’s understanding is now illumined and we can say, ‘I was blind, but now I see.’

"Peace be unto you for I have called you and placed you in my care because I have faith in you, says your lord. I have separated you unto myself and I know you are coming into me."

 

A ‘word’ was recently shared that ‘the Lord saw us (and no doubt, still does!) as Esther at the time when the sweet spices were being added to change her.’

 

The Day of Atonement in 1999, that 187th. day of the pattern account, is fast approaching. . . Sept/Oct. Many feel that this coming Feast Day in the natural will be the Lord’s timing in the Spirit for the fulfillment’s release. We encourage each reader to seek the Lord as to what He will say to you. As Mary said to the servants at the wedding in Cana, "Whatever He says to you, do it!"