23.014 | An Insult | Esther 1:10-22 | God's Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

AN INSULT

At the seventh day of merriment, the king having been drunk, demanded from his eunuchs to bring Queen Vashti. This was “in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at” (v.11). However, Queen Vashti refused to come before the king and his men; “then the king became furious and burned with anger” (v.12).

Why did Vashti refuse to appear? A variety of theories have emerged. According to verse 11, Queen Vashti was told to appear “wearing her royal crown,” and one rabbinical tradition suggests this as the king’s instruction to wear only her royal crown. In other words, she has to appear in the nude. According to this tradition, Queen Vashti refused because she did not want to be put on display before a group of salacious, drunken men. However, this view is not found in the biblical text, nor can it be supported by history.

While nothing more specific is conclusive, the context, particularly the reference to her beauty has indicated that her attendance at the feast was sought to entertain the men in some way. It is likely that she refused to appear for she would be humiliated in some way. The king and his men had been feasting and drinking for seven days. Thus, they did not have noble intentions in calling her to the party.

Her refusal had cost her crown. One of the king’s wise men, named Memucan, saw a dangerous precedent being set: “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. For the queen’s conduct will become known to all 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.’ This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord” (v.16–18). Such a bad example as Queen Vashti had set must be dealt with harshly, according to Memucan. Xerxes agreed with his adviser’s appraisal, and the result was that Vashti was never again to come before the king. Her royal position as queen was to be given to another “who is better than she” (v.19) This better queen happened to be Esther.

The feeling of insult is rooted in a proud spirit, is it not? The king and his leaders felt their authority was trampled upon. How different is our Lord Jesus who came as a meek lamb. He yielded his authority and right in order to die at the cross. “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”[1 Pet 2:22-24]Otherwise, there would never be salvation.

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