Integrity Boshemity
Esther 1:1-22
Preached at the Laurel Church of Christ
On December 15, 2002
Introduction:
I. Just in case your boss catches you asleep at your desk, be ready to blurt out one of these answers.
A. They told me at the blood bank this might happen.
B. I was working smarter – not harder
C. Whew! I must have left the top off the whiteout.
D. I was testing the keyboard for drool resistance.
E. The coffee machine is broken…
F. This is in exchange for the six hours last night when I dreamed about work!
II. What has happened to the value of a person’s word?
A. Today it is common for someone to have a lot of excuses.
B. It is even still more common that people do not take responsibility for their actions.
C. What we are seeing is loss of integrity and morality around us.
Body:
I. A Man is as good as his word
A. We remember as children our grandparents speaking the words, “A Man is as good as his word.”
1. I know my grandfather would say every once in a while, “I remember when I could trust someone’s word.”
2. What is happening today when instead of having a confrontation we instead tell someone what he or she wants to hear?
B. I know on many occasions. Especially in the ministry it is not uncommon for the following to happen.
1. Brian was door knocking. He didn’t much enjoy the work, but he remembered what others had told him.
a. You keep at it and sometime soon you will find someone interested in hearing the word of God.
b. He remembered the probabilities. One out of 6 people will be at home. One out of those 6 will desire to study the Bible.
c. But they never told him that one out of ten to twenty of them really wanted to study.
2. It is painful to get your hopes up and then be turned down a week later, because the people were not at home or they canceled the study all together.
C. With Benevolence work, outreach, and basically all ministries everyone sees that our society and even some Christians have lost the value in a true and honest statement.
II. The history of Queen Vashti
A. A banquet for the nobles (1:3-4)
1. The book of Esther has as its chronological setting “the day of Ahasuerus” which in secular history is King Xerxes.
a. Who is mentioned in the book of Daniel and other places
b. Scholars who do not believe in the Bible even claim that this book clearly portrays King Xerxes.
2. During the third year of his reign, Xerxes gave a banquet for his princes, military leaders and provincial officials.
a. This was no ordinary party, but a lengthy 180 day planning party.
b. Xerxes was working on conquering some more land, and to properly plan he brought all of his advisors for war together.
3. So Xerxes was readying for one of the greatest invasions of all time to avenge his father’s defeat.
B. A banquet for citizens (1:5-9)
1. At the end of the planning period, the king provided another party for seven days that included all citizens.
a. It was held on the grounds surrounding the palace.
b. The king ordered that all men could drink as much as they pleased and the king provided all.
2. Simultaneously, Queen Vashti was hosting a party for the women
C. The summons (1:10-12)
1. On the last day, drunken Xerxes sent for Queen Vashti.
a. She was to wear the crown.
b. Traditional Jewish interpretation understands this to mean that Vashti was to appear wearing nothing but the crown.
2. The king wished to put his queen on display
3. The queen did not come because of her moral standards.
D. The Consultation (1:13-20)
1. Four descriptions of the wise men
a. They were experts in Persian laws and customs
b. They were men “who knew the times”
c. They saw the face of the king.
d. They sat in first place in the kingdom
2. The king could not allow the disobedience of Vashti
a. Memucan says that Vashti’s actions were an offense to all the princes as well as to the king.
b. The women present with her would be persuaded to do similar things.
c. Which would result in plenty of contempt and anger
3. Therefore the council recommended the following
a. Banish Vashti forever from the presence of the king.
b. Give her royal position to another
4. This punishment they reasoned would cause all other women not to follow the example of Vashti
III. God Commands Integrity
A. Leviticus 19:35 "’Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity.
B. Psalm 7:8 let the LORD judge the peoples. Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.
C. Proverbs 1:3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;
D. Proverbs 3:3-4 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
E. Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
F. Isaiah 33:15-16 He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil--this is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him.
G. 2 Corinthians 4:2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
H. Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
Conclusion:
I. A few years ago, a major multinational company was looking for a new Marketing Director.
A. After much advertising and many applications, three candidates entered the final selection process.
B. A mathematician, a statistician and a solicitor
1. The first to be invited in for the final interview was the mathematician and the managing director asked him a simple question: What is 2+2. The mathematician was surprised, though about it for a bit, wondered if it might be a trick question and then simply answered 4. The managing director looked at the board, shook his head an thanked him for coming, but he wasn’t the candidate they were looking for.
2. The statistician was the next in and and the managing director asked him too the simple question: What is 2+2? He paused, thought about it for a bit and then replied that statistically it was a number between 3 and 5. The managing director smiled and Board were quite impressed. The candidate was thanked and ushered out.
3. the last candidate, the solicitor was then invited in to the interview and the managing director asked him too the simple question: What is 2+2? Without batting an eyelid he replied: “What do you want it to be.” And was promptly hired on the spot
C. The job may ask you to give the answer they want, but that does not mean that you have to give it.
1. Each of us are commanded by God to be people of integrity
II. Queen Vashti is a historical figure that shows us that standing for principles, morals and integrity sometimes comes at a cost.
A. Are you ready to meet the cost?
B. God asks you to.
C. Are you struggling with integrity.
