Lessons from Esther: The King’s decree

And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. 18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. 19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small. 21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: lo; 22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.  Esther 1:16-22

Vashti has refused the king. The king is furious, so angry, he cannot think straight.

Anger is a choice. Unfortunately a choice too many Christians make, anger can destroy friendships; marriages; as well as work places. Here are a few verses on anger to help with making good choices.

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Proverbs 22:24

An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression. Proverbs 29:22

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:9

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:  Ephesians 4:26

Ahasuerus called all his “wise” men to help him make a decision. What should he do to the queen who disobeyed?

Memucan, one of the wise man spoke and said Vashti had not just offended the king but all the people in the provinces. Remember he was over 127 provinces; also remember this was before TV, newspaper or other public medium. How was this news to travel to all the lands?

Memucan was appealing to the pride of Ahasuerus. “O King remember how great you are and no one should dare offend you, not even your wife. Something must be done and the sooner the better.”

After a brief time the decision was made. Vashti would be “dethroned”, not just dethroned but a royal commandment; a written law would go into effect. Verse nineteen explains the purpose of the written law, “so it be not altered”. Once a law was made by the king and written down, nothing could change it.

The law was twofold, Vashti would no longer be the queen and all the wives would give their husbands honor and the man would be the ruler of his house.

John Gill’s explanation: “for so it was, that when a law was made, and signed, and sealed, and registered among the laws of the kingdom, it remained unalterable, this precaution Memucan took for his own safety; for had the king acted upon his advice, without passing it into a law in such form, he might change his mind, and recall Vashti, who would not fail of venting her wrath upon the counsellor, and so he be in danger of losing his life for it:”

The king had letters sent, all over his provinces, written in the languages of each area. There would be no excuse, everyone would know the law.

The next step, “let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she” would now begin.

Join me the next time as the “search” begins.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from Esther: What shall we do?

Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment: 14  And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;) 15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? Esther 1:13-15

Have you ever been so angry you wanted to “tear your hair out”? This is exactly how I picture Ahasuerus. He was so angry that the queen would not obey him. How dare she!

Even though the request was wrong, even though the request was made in a drunken stupor, the king would never admit his wrong in the situation. Have you ever acted this way?

He gathered all the “wise men” to ask their advise. He was not going to make the decision alone; he needed others to confirm that he was right in getting angry. An interesting thing is said in verse 14, they “saw the king’s face”. Does this mean that they could “read” his face and then give him the answer by saying what they knew he wanted said?

What should we do when faced with a hard decision? Do we talk to everyone and anyone about the problem? Do we get godly advise from people who know God’s word? Do we go to the Bible and see what God has to say about the situation?

Join me the next time to find out “the decision”.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

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

Lessons from Esther: The Party Continues

And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace; 6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble. 7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. 8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.  Esther 1:5-8

Ahasuerus had a great feast for 180 days. When the feast ended, he immediately made another feast for “the common people”. All were invited to come to the court of the palace. As before, I’m sure there were not many “regrets”.  This feast lasted for seven days.

The people who attended not only had a feast to fill their stomachs but they had a feast for their eyes. The palace was “dressed to the nines” with beautiful hangings of marvelous colors. Everything was of the best quality; the materials were spectacular, gold, marble, reds, blues, greens a real “feast for the eyes”.

The people were amazed at the surroundings and if that was not enough they were served the best of wine in gold goblets. The wine was flowing and was free for the taking.

As we learn from history (Greek historian Herodotus), the feasting and gathering of people was probably for Ahasuerus (Xerxes) to discuss an invasion on Greece. Whatever the reason for the feast, many attended and the food and wine was abundant and free for the taking.

Do you think the partying is over? What happens when people have too much to drink? Join me the next time to find out.

Verses to ponder:

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 

Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! Isaiah 5:11 

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Ephesians 5:18  

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from Esther: A Great Feast

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:) 2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, 3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him: 4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. Esther 1:1-4

Esther is a wonderful book with a beautiful story. Esther is one of two books named after a woman. It is also one of two books in the Bible that does not mention God’s name. As we will see, as the story progresses, God’s name is not mentioned, but one can see the “presence of God” throughout the entire book.

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3

Background info:

Writer: Unknown

Time: 486-464 B.C.

Place:  Persia

The story begins “in the days of Ahasuerus” (Xerxes his Greek name). The king reigned from India to Ethiopia and ruled over 127 provinces, a huge kingdom, to rule and reign. There were about 60 nations that were under the reign of Ahasuerus (A. Barnes).

This king was extremely powerful and when he spoke people listened and obeyed. In his third year, Ahasuerus decides to have a great feast for all his princes, nobles and servants. I’m sure all the RSVPs came back with “will attend”.

It appears that the reason for the feast was to “show off” all his great and wonderful possessions. The “brag” fest lasted for 180 days. Can you imagine hosting a party for 180 days? Can you image the cost of hosting a party for 180 days which included food, drink and lodging?

The king was full of pride. His main concern was for his welfare. It was all about him. He obviously did not know the verse, Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Pride is an attribute we should not try to attain. When we are prideful it is all about us, nothing absolutely nothing matters but what we want. A prideful person does not care about anyone else.

Take a few minutes to do a study on pride. Here are a few verse to get you started:

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Psalm 73:6 

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. Psalm 10:4 

A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Proverbs 29:23 

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:16 

Join me the next time to find out what else the king is planning. Until then,

 Have a blessed day, 

Donna