What strikes me here is Xerxes' focus on his own little world. Early in this chapter, great lengths are taken to describe how vast Xerxes' rule is and how splendorous his wealth is:
1 This is what happened during the time of Xerxes,[a] the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush[b]: 2 At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3 and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.
4 For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. 56 The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones. 7 Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality. 8 By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished. When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa.
Yet for all of the vastness of Xerxes' rule and the splendor of his wealth, it of course does not compare with the majesty of Our Lord:
`1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
Is there anything more vast than the heavens and the earth? No. Is there anything more splendorous than the heavens and the earth? No again!
Yet here is Xerxes in all his glory with a focus on his own greatness - failing to comprehend how his greatness is NOTHING compared to God.
My Prayer: Lord, your works and your splendor is indeed great! Yet you find time to love me, to seek me out and of course you died for me! How great is that! I feel that I am not worthy because of my uncleanliness and my sin. In particular, I focus on myself far too often and I neglect you and for that I am truly sorry. I do pray Lord that you will purify me of my sin, that you will transform my heart and my life so that I can truly focus solely on you.
