Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Esther 1 and Psalm 26

The historical events of the Book of Esther occurred during the time of Ezra and about 40 years before Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem. Xerxes was Emperor of Persia and ruled over a vast Empire covering modern-day Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel; and parts of modern-day Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and Arabia. As a matter of interest, at the same time, the city of Athens was in its classical glory and that year it hosted the 79th Olympic Games.

The Book opens with a great feast being thrown in the fortified Persian citadel of Susa. After 180 days of displaying his vast wealth, Xerxes sent out a city-wide invitation to a banquet, with food and drink for all – as much as anyone wanted! After seven days, virtually everyone was in a state of alcohol-induced “very high spirits”. In that context, Queen Vashti appears to have had a lot of common sense and decency. She wisely invited the women of the city to a separate venue for their banquet (v.9)

Jewish tradition says that the drunken nobles were arguing about which province had the most beautiful women, and this is what motivated King Xerxes to order Queen Vashti to be brought out before the noblemen. She was no doubt intended to be displayed for the leering, lustful assessment of a horde of drunken, power-hungry men. Her self-respect would not allow this and she refused to submit to the order.

To say that this released a storm of drunken indignation and bruised egos would be a vast understatement. Every eye was on the king to see what he would do. His advisors warned him that he could not leave Vashti’s disobedience unpunished or it would inspire all the women of the Empire to similarly resist their husbands and there would be “no end of disrespect and discord” (v.18). So the king issued an order that Vashti was stripped of her royal status and forever banished from his presence as punishment for her rebellion. Furthermore a royal decree was also issued, strengthening the husbands’ position in their homes and “proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household” (v.22).

The Emperor is definitely not presented as worthy of honour and respect in Esther 1. Because he did not live in an honourable way and thereby “command respect”, he resorted to coercion and demanding respect through a display of power. Of course, in truth, respect can never be demanded but only earned. Frankly, in this chapter, only Vashti appears worthy of respect. She respected herself and her own body; she respected the other women of Susa; and she bravely stood up against her husband the Emperor when he acted disrespectfully. She certainly earned my respect.

LORD, You have made us all in Your own image. Help me to honour that image in others, and to live respectfully towards them today. Help me to be more focussed on given honour and respect to others and much less focussed on receiving it for myself. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.