When Your Bubble Gets Busted

WHEN YOUR BUBBLE GET’S BUSTED

ESTHER 1:1-12

INTRO. ANGER, MALICE, DEPRESSION, DESPONDACY, AND RETAIATION, ARE OFTEN THE RESULTS OF HAVING OUR BUBBLES BUSTED. YES MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, IF WE ARE HONEST, WE CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD OUR BUBBLES BUSTED AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. WE PLANNED PLANS THAT DID NOT COME TO FRUITION. WE’VE HAD SOMEONE HOLD OUR HOPES HOSTAGE. OUR ANTICIPATION OF A PROMOTION ON OUR JOB THAT FELL BY THE WAYSIDE, OR WENT TO SOMEONE ELSE, PUT A MAJOR HOLE IN OUR BUBBLE OF ADVANCEMENT. SPOUSES FIND OUT THAT INFIDELITY HAS CREPT INTO THEIR MARRIAGE, AND AS A CONSEQUENCE, A CHILD IS BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK, LEADING THE HUSBAND AND WIFE INTO DIVORCE COURT. WHEN OUR BUBBLES GET BUSTED, WE SOMETIMES BECOME CONSPIRITORS OF EVIL THINKING AND EVIL ACTIONS. IF YOU DON’T BELIVE THAT WE CAN GET NASTY WHEN OUR BUBBLES GET BUSTED, JUST ASK SOME SISTER WHO HAS BEEN KICKED TO THE CURB BY A BROTHER SHE HAS INVESTED HERSELF IN. JUST ASK SOME BROTHER, WHO HAS BEEN TOLD BY HIS GIRL THAT SHE DOES NOT FEEL LIKE GOING OUT, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT SHE IS OUT WITH HIS BEST FRIEND. JUST ASK THAT POLITICIAN WHO THOUGHT HE WON THE ELECTION, ONLY TO HIS DISMAY THAT THE BALLOTS HAVE BEEN SWITCHED. WHAT DO WE DO WHEN OUR BUBBLES GET BUSTED?

I. TEXT

THE BOOK OF ESTHER IS AN EXCITING STORY THAT IS A LIVING ILLUSTRATION OF THE UNSEEN HAND OF GOD’S PROVIDENCE AND HIS SOVEREIGNTY. WHILE THE NAME GOD NEVER APPEARS IN THE NARRATIVE, HIS OVERRULING PRESENCE IS SEEN IN EVERY EVENT.

KING UH-HAZ-YOO-EE-RUS DECIDED TO THROW A LAVIOUS FEAST. ANYBODY WHO WAS ANYBODY WAS THERE ALONG WITH THE COMMONERS OF HIS KINGDOM. HE FLAUNTED THE WEALTH OF HIS KINGDOM FOR 180 DAYS, CLIMAXED BY A SEVEN-DAY FEAST. HIS KINGDOM INCLUDED 127 PROVINCES. HE EXCELLED ALL THE KINGS THAT CAME BEFORE HIM. THIS KING WAS SOMEBODY.

IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS THE KING SENT FOR HIS WIFE VASHTI. VASHTI WAS THROWING A FEAST FOR THE WOMEN BECAUSE IT WAS AGAINST PERSIAN CUSTOM FOR HONORABLE WOMEN TO BE SEEN IN PUBLIC.

UPON HEARING THE REQUEST OF THE DRUNKEN KING, VASHTI REFUSED TO COME INTO HIS PRESENCE. JOSEPHUS SAYS THAT THE KING SENT FOR HER TIME AND TIME AGAIN, BUT HER ANSWER WAS STILL NO. SEVERAL SCHOLARS CONSENT THAT THE KING WANTED TO MAKE FUN OF HIS WIFE BY HAVING HER APPEAR NUDE, WEARING ONLY HER CROWN. HARLOTS AND CONCUBINES WERE TREATED THIS WAY. ALLOW ME TO MOCK TIME MOMENTARILY AND TELL YOU SISTERS, DON’T LET NO MAN MAKE DEMANDS OF YOU THAT WILL CAUSE YOU TO DISHONOR YOURSELF AND YOUR GOD.

UPON HEARING THE NEWS THAT VASHTI WAS NOT COMING, HE REALIZED THAT HIS BUBBLE HAD JUST BEEN BUSTED. HE WAS EMBARRASSED, HE WAS HUMILIATED, AND HE WAS FILLED WITH RAGE. HERE WAS A MAN THAT RULE 127 PROVIDENCES, BUT COULD NOT RULE HIS WIFE. CONSEQUENTLY THEY HAD VASHTI DEPOSED AS QUEEN. THEY MADE A LAW, SEALED THE LAW, REGISTERED THE LAW, ONCE THIS WAS DONE, IT COULD NOT BE UNDONE.

II. BUBBLES/CONCLUSION

HIS BUBBLES WAS BUSTED. THE THRILL WAS GONE. HIS EGO CRIPPLED. WHENEVER WE ALLOW OUR PRIDE AND OUR EGOS TO GET TOO INFLATED, WE ARE DESTINED TO HAVE OUR EGOS POPPED.

THREE POINTS; ONE, THE KING WAS CONTROLLED BY PRIDE, PSALMS 10:4, “the wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after god: god is not in all his thoughts.” PROVERBS 8:13, “the fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” 14:3,” in the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride.” 29:23, “a man’s pride shall bring him low.” TWO, HE ALLOWED A DRUNKEN STUPOR TO MAKE HIM ACT OUT OF CHARACTER, ISAIAH 5:11, “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!” PROVERBS 20:1, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” THREE, HE WAS CONSUMED BY INFLAMED ANGER, ECCLESIATES 7:9, Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN OUR BIBBLES GET BUSTED? TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART AND LEAN NOT TO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS. HAVE FAITH IN HIM, FOR MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL OUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS. HAVE A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS; HE WILL MAKE IT ALL RIGHT.