Listen, Jack, here's the deal on Esther 1. King Ahasuerus was literally throwing a party and he was showing off his wealth to all the folks. It was a big deal, no malarkey! He showed off his riches in a seven day feast and then threw a banquet for all his nobles. So, my father used to say, "You can't show off your wealth without a little wine!", and that's exactly what Ahasuerus did. He got the servants to pour out the wine in abundance and I'm not joking, folks, it was the best wine in all of the land.

But then Queen Vashti decided she didn't want any part of it. See here, Jack, she refused to come and show off her beauty in front of the king and his guests. Well, that just didn't sit well with Ahasuerus. He demanded that she show herself, but Vashti said, "Uh, no. Not gonna happen." So, the king had to make a decision. He decided to put out an edict that Vashti was never to enter his presence again.

But then Ahasuerus had to find a new queen. He chose Esther for the job and she was a real looker, if I do say so myself. What was that? Yeah, I know, some of you are thinking, "But Joe, Esther was a Jew!" Well, I tell you what, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. This is a story of how God used Esther to save his people, the Jews. So, excuse me, if you don't like it, but that's the way it is.