This post is Day 4 in a series of studies about “Esther”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).


Esther – Day 4

Esther 1:12 & 15

But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.
“According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” He asked.

The Thought

It would be so helpful here if the writer had included the reason why Vashti refused to obey her husband, and join him at his party.

Was she enjoying her own event too much to leave?

Had she drunk too much wine at her own celebration?

Was she too involved in conversation with the foreign ladies she hadn’t met before?

Was she feeling defiant?

Or was she just tired? Party giving can be exhausting!

Interestingly it took another 7 men to decide on what to do about the queen’s rebellion (Esther 1:13). This time they were “wise men” or astrologers. These men were worried about the queen’s attitude taking hold on all the families in the land! (Maybe worried for their own marriages!)

In verse 17 we read For the Queen’s conduct will become known to the women and so they will despise their husbands and say, “King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come”.

The solution was suggested a few verses later; Vashti’s reign was over and another queen must be found.

Action

Imagine the things we are not told.

Imagine Vashti at her own party, do you think she just flatly refused to see the king?

Maybe she said she would go later? She could have used the opportunity to show what an obedient wife must do!

What do you see as Vashti’s reason for not responding as the king had hoped?

What do you think about Ephesians 5:22-24?

Ask yourself today if you respond as others expect whether at home, in the extended family, or at work or church.

Do you have a “position” that must be protected?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *