阅读经文 

今天这段记载在以斯帖记的经文，领我们来到被掳的以色列民在异国君王亚哈随鲁统治下生活的日子。亚哈随鲁王统治当时世界上最大的帝国，他拥有极大的权力和财富，但大部分都是用来自我炫耀的；他得不到家人的尊重，他很容易便听信他宠爱的臣仆。他为人简直有几分荒唐。

以色列民如何在这样的王的统治下生活呢？他们怎样面对亚哈随鲁王的王权？抗拒？适应？绝望？在这些事情发生时，神在哪里呢？当邪恶的领导人取得王权、属世的作风以各种诱惑来引诱人时，神岂能仍然作王呢？

我们也同样活在一个只着重外表的时代，有些领导我们的人表露出的虚荣，多过健全的品格和智慧。然而，在以斯帖记的故事中，神表明祂正在准备有所行动；神的工作往往是在幕后进行和微妙的，祂很快便会显明，财富是远远比不上真正的光辉和荣耀的。

揭露肤浅的君王和恢复和平公正或许很费时，然而我们确信神是在掌管的。神会显明祂自己是历史之主，而祂也呼召祂的子民忠心渡日和等候祂的拯救。

Today's reading in the book of Esther brings us to a time when Israel's people lived in exile under the rule of a foreign king, Xerxes. He ruled over the largest empire in the world at that time. He had tremendous power and wealth, but most of that was just for show. In his own family he had no respect, and he was a pushover for any adviser who had his ear. He was kind of a joke.

How would God's people live under such a king? How would they react to Xerxes' reign? Resist? Accommodate? Despair? And where was God in all this? When godless rulers fill the seats of power, and worldly ways seduce many with their allure, how is God still King?

We too live in a superficial age. And some of our leaders exhibit more vainglory than sound character and wisdom. But God showed that he was up to something in the story of Esther. God's work was often behind the scenes and subtle, but God would soon show that real splendor and glory are about far more than wealth.

Exposing shallow kings and restoring peace and justice may take time, but we can be assured that God is in control. God will show himself to be the Lord of history, and he calls his people to walk faithfully and wait for his deliverance.