A Pageant in Persia-The Story of Esther

A Pageant in Persia
by Pamela Stephens

Our prolific parable opens at the palace, where a party has been planned for the Princes of Persia. Power and pride prevailed at this plush affair! The King proposed that the pretty Queen present herself so praise and applause would be his. BUT the Queen, prim and proper, preferred not to…it was her PEROGATIVE!

Those Princes in attendance pondered this problem and had a plan for the King: Produce a new Queen for Persia! So, a Pageant was proposed and all pubescent beauties from far and wide planned to be there. Esther, a pretty Jewess was one of them..much perfuming, primping and preening was perpetuated upon them so they could parade before the pagan King. Esther pleased him profusely and the pearl-seeded tiara was placed upon her head….it was PERFECT!

It was purported that a plot to replace the King was afoot and it was perpetrated by a cast of perilous evil-doers. The guilty pair was painfully disposed of by the powers that be! Put into a place of political power was a proud, prejudicial person named Haman! He prescribed that people should prostrate themselves before him…profusely…it was PROTOCOL!

This perplexing prospect put panic and palpitations into Mordecai’s pumper! He was a person with principles….it was a PRECARIOUS PREDICAMENT!

Haman persuaded the King with plunder aplenty to pass a proclamation persecuting the Jews, which sent pandemonium to this population. Haman was a parasite, but also a pillar of persuasion….oh, POOH!

At this particular pause in our story, the Patriarch Mordecai appeals to our pathos. He’s publicly pleading and pulling on his apparel…He’s upset and….it was PATHETIC!

Esther has pity on him and permits a messenger to prevail upon him to: Perk up, Patch up, and Pull up his Poise and quit this PESSIMISM! But when this Pollyanna teen Queen hears of the perverse plan put into perspective by her paternal cousin, Mordecai…..Esther turns PALE!

paternal cousin, Mordecai…..Esther turns PALE!
This pagan Haman plans a profit and Esther is PETRIFIED! To plead for pardon in the King’s palace could be precarious….she was a PANSY!

However, Esther, lying on her pillow upon pins and needles, ponders the perilous possibilities….paramount on her mind. This paralyzing preoccupation with fear pales when into her thinking process comes the idea that “Pleasing God is the pinnacle for which she was put there!” Thus, Peace and Patience along with Prayer became her Possessions! Providence and predestination play a big part in every person’s life!! Esther says to Patriarch Mordecai, “IF I perish, I PERISH!” It was Precious!

God’s plans pan-out because His people have purpose! He positioned people in places of power, providing a plan to procure protection by using a pair planted in the palace…..Who could’ve Predicted?

HE Preserved, they persevered and posterity penned forever the Pious celebration of PURIM… Paranoia departed, the perpetrator’s passion passed (As did Haman, I might add!)….Poor Persian!

The penitent people of Persia were peaceable and became proselytes…Praise the Lord and all Prospered! Which only goes to show you: It pays to participate in the plans of God…pity the poor person who practices pooh poohing them!

**copyrighted 1984