How does Esther 1:5 connect to other biblical teachings on community and fellowship? Setting the table in Susa Esther 1:5: “And when the days were completed, the king held for all the people present in the citadel of Susa, from greatest to least, a banquet lasting seven days in the courtyard of the garden of the king’s palace.” • A royal feast, open to “all the people … from greatest to least.” • A lavish, week-long celebration in a beautiful garden—communal, public, joyful. An invitation for everyone • “Greatest to least” anticipates God’s heart for an inclusive community. • Echoes Proverbs 22:2—“Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all.” • Mirrors Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 12:13—no division in Christ’s body. • Reinforces James 2:1–9: fellowship must reject favoritism. Feasting as worship in the Law • Exodus 12; Deuteronomy 16: Passover, Weeks, Tabernacles—whole nation gathers, eats, rejoices before the LORD. • Deuteronomy 16:14–15: “You shall rejoice … you, your son and daughter, your male and female servants, the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow.” • God ties remembrance of salvation to shared meals that bind the community together. Meals and fellowship in the life of Jesus • Luke 5:29–32—Levi’s banquet welcomes outcasts; Jesus eats with sinners. • Luke 14:15–24—parable of the great banquet: invite “the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” • John 6:1–13—feeding the 5,000 models provision for a multitude gathered around Christ. • Table fellowship becomes a place of teaching, restoration, and unity under the Messiah. The early church pattern • “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” • Daily meals “with gladness and sincerity of heart,” praising God, enjoying favor with all people. • Practical sharing—community grows through visible, tangible love. Guarding unity and equity • 1 Corinthians 11:17–34—Paul rebukes Corinth for divisions at the Lord’s Supper; the meal must express, not fracture, unity. • 1 Corinthians 12:24–26—God gives “greater honor to the parts that lacked it.” • Hebrews 10:24–25—“not neglecting to meet together,” but encouraging one another toward love and good deeds. Looking ahead to the ultimate banquet Revelation 19:9—“Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” • Earthly feasts hint at the perfect, eternal fellowship believers will enjoy with Christ. • Esther’s seven-day celebration foreshadows the joy and inclusivity of that final gathering. Takeaways for today • Celebrate God’s goodness in community—meals create space for testimony and joy. • Keep fellowship open to “greatest and least”; intentional inclusion reflects the gospel. • Use hospitality to break down barriers (Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9). • Let shared tables remind us of our future seat at the Lamb’s supper, motivating faithful love now. |
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