I’ve just reread the book of Esther and was really surprised by a few things which I had never paid attention to before.
For example, king Ahasuerus had only been in power for less than 3 years when he decided to give a feast for all his officials and servants: the feast lasted six months!!! Then, he went for another seven days feast for the rest of the people present in the Capital. This reveals different things:
- He loved his people and wanted them to partake in the wealth of the kingdom as well. Even drinking was without compulsion; but as each man desired. This is rather rare and curious, isn’t it?
- He was extraordinarily bounteous.
- He was lazy: the Ecclesiast warns: “Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!” (Eccl 10:16)
The last day of the feast, he wanted to honour his queen (and perhaps also to please the people) and called for her to come in her royal attire, so he could flaunt her around. You know it's not every day one can see the queen or the first lady closely. This was perhaps the only time most of his guests would see her. Only, I don’t know if it was out of condescendence vis-à-vis those in front of whom she was supposed to parade or if it was because she was busy with her own group of people, but Vashti refused to come. This was a triple abomination. It was insubordination vis-à-vis the king, insubordination vis-à-vis her husband, and a public insult. In case of impunity, anyone could have also refused to obey the king afterwards. Indeed, because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil (Eccl 8:11).
Ahasuerus was also a wise king: all the affairs of his kingdom were treated before those who were verse in law and judgment. If only we could also treat all our matters in the same way; we have the Bible, a unique collection of wisdom and laws; but we do not use it enough, we trust people who know jack – as my pastor likes to say ;-). Anyway, that was just a digression. The king summoned the wise men and asked them how to react to the queen’s affront. In a way, they advised him to banish her and grant her title to another who would be better than her. So, Vashti's dismissal was decided in a council of elders; and the Bible says that the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way (KJV: a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment, Eccl 8.5). Those who judged her had the intelligence of times. Vashti ‘s time was over: Esther’s time had come. This story reminds me of the parable Jesus told about a king who gave a wedding feast for his son (Mat 22). When those who had been invited to the wedding refused to honour the king with their presence, he sent for even the street beggars and bestowed on them the grace and privileges which should have normally fallen to others.
What happened to Vashti should serve as warning to us. There will always be a day when God will ask us to display the gifts, talents and benefits that we have received from Him. If we refuse to comply, we run the risk of losing everything and being driven away from His presence. The gifts of God, the Lord's blessings, are not meant to sleep in the garage. They are given to bless others; if not, they will be given to those who want to multiply them (Mat 25:28). God will take the position and the title, and He will give to someone else. Thus, Mordecai will later warn Esther: “if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish.” (Est 4:14a) God had blessed Vashti with beauty; but the day she was asked to use it to serve the people, she rebelled. Another one who had the same gift of beauty and who was better than her (as we will later see) was crowned at her place.
"Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." (Rom 11.19)
God is Good and Jesus is on the throne: there is no need to worry!
Have a great week and God bless you.
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