Summary
In this first chapter of Esther, King Ahasuerus hosts a feast for all his officials and servants. Primarily to show off all the riches and splendor of his great kingdom and majesty. All the men are allowed to drink as much wine as they please. Now, this lasted 6 months!
Right after that one, the king then has a second feast that only lasted seven days. On the last day of the second feast, King Ahasuerus, drunk on wine, is bragging on the beauty of his wife, Queen Vashti. He gets the idea of showing her off to all the men at the feast.
Now, Queen Vashti was in a separate palace hosing a feast she had put on for the women. The king sent seven of his trusted men to go and bring the queen before him. He wanted her to wear her crown for all the crowd to see and admire her beauty. And keep in mind, they were all intoxicated with wine. There are many debates about if he called her in just her crown or in her modest attire, along with her crown. I don’t believe anyone is quite sure on the full extent of the request.
In any manner, she refuses.
Naturally, this embarrassed the king and made him mad. Consequently, leading he and his men to meet and plot on what to do about her behavior. Ultimately they decide to rid of and make an example out of her to all the wives in the land.
Indeed, Queen Vashti was dethroned, never allowed to come before the king again, and was replaced with someone “better” or “more worthy”. Also, they wrote decrees to all the wives throughout the land. The decree stated that all wives are to honor their husbands, both great and small.
Take Away
In short, King Ahasuerus operated out of an altered mindset and tried to use his powers to get what he wanted. Queen Vashti stood up for herself. She stood up for what was right, respecting her body and her name. And ended up punished and divorced from the king.
Now, we do not know if Queen Vashti did this out of disobedience or out of moral respect to herself. But I personally feel that she was being a good example to the women under her influence at that moment and that she was not in the wrong, if, of course, it was honoring her modesty and morals.
We know that the Bible tells us that wives are to submit to their husbands (Eph. 5:22), but it doesn’t say that we are to obey them when we know it is morally wrong or unpleasing to God. It also says that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the Church (Eph. 5:25), respecting and honoring her. And he is to protect and cover her, and this was not doing either. What was he thinking, bringing his beautiful wife in front of a bunch of drunk men? Not sure we will ever know.
Nevertheless, we also know that God allows things to happen so that His plans and ways can come to pass. Ultimately, there had to be a way for Esther to become queen and to fulfill the assignment that God needed her to fulfill, save His people. I believe that the Lord dealt with the king accordingly for his actions towards Vashti, but the removal had to take place to be sure that God’s will was completed.
Personal Reflection
Do you think that Queen Vashti was in the wrong or justified for her decision to refuse the king’s request? Thinking about your beliefs and morals, what made you come to the answer that you did?
Has there been a time where you were rebuked or rejected for doing the right thing? How did this make you feel? Have you surrendered it to the Lord so you can move past it to fulfill His will for your life?
Finally, what have you seen the Lord do in or remove from your life to make room for the bigger purpose He has for you?
Prayer
Lord, we thank You that You are good. That You give us instructions on how to live right and pleasing to You. That You give us wisdom and discernment to use to do the right thing when we are in a situation that is pulling us to do what seems right verses what is actually right.
Lord, we thank You that You are removing every obstacle from our lives and paths that hinders us from getting closer to You and Your will and call for our lives. Lord, we trust You and we desire to obey You and You only. We ask that You continue to guide us, lead us, and use us as a good and righteous example to those around us, for Your name’s sake. We thank Your for honoring our obedience and for dealing justly with the ones who do us wrong for doing Your will. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
