Friday, September 20, 2013

Lessons from Esther: Meet the Queen

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. 10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. Esther 1:9-12

Today we are introduced to a new person, Vashti the queen. Vashti was hosting a party for the women. Women of the East did not mingle with men in public (Adam Clark). While the men met together in the court yard the women met in the house.

As the festivity was going on, seven men appear to bring Vashi before the king. Have you ever thought of this, why were seven men sent to bring one woman to the king, her husband? What could have been in his mind?

“He was merry with wine”, he obviously was not thinking straight. He wanted the queen to come before all the men with her crown and unveil her face, which was taboo (John Courson). He had bragged on all his possessions now he wanted to “show off” his wife in all her beauty.

Vashti was in her “right mind” and refused to go before the king and humiliate herself. The king was not in his “right mind” but he was intoxicated with wine, which was impairing his judgment.

I have seen the devastation of what alcohol can do to someone as well as to their family. As you reflect on these scriptures, name one good thing about alcohol?

Have a blessed day,
Donna

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