Vashti deposed (1)
Theme Verse
"And let the king give her royal position to someone who is better than she." (1:19b)
Goal
Even in the mundane and events seemingly unrelated to the Kingdom and spiritual matters, God is ordering all things for the benefit of His Kingdom.What's Going on Here?
Xerxes, king of Persia, gave, in the 3rd year of his reign, a banquet for the nobles, as well as the political and military leaders of his empire at the citadel of Susa. On the 7th day of the feast held for the residents of Susa, when his heart was buoyed by wine, the king required that his queen, Vashti, appear before his guests and show her beauty. When she refused to come at the king's command, she was divorced, at the proposal of his counselors. This divorce was published by edict through the realm, lest the example of the queen should have aripple effect upon the obedience of others wives to their husbands.
Searching the Scriptures
1. The narrator supplies a wealth of detail concerning Xerxes' kingdom. Why note that Xerxes reigns from his throne over the provinces? What possible contrast might the narrator intend with these words?
2. In the story of Esther, it has been noted that there are ten banquets (1:3-4; 1:5-8; 1:9; 2:18; 3:15; 5:1-8; 7:7-10; 8:17; 9:17; 9:18-32), often occurring in pairs. What might be the possible significance of explicating events around banquets?
3. What do we learn about Xerxes from his reaction to Vashti's refusal? What seems to be the concern of his counselors in their advice to Xerxes? How can this be established from how the edict was published?
4. What standard shall be used to judge if another is better than Vashti? How might this statement foreshadow plot development?
5. In this initial chapter from whose perspective is the story told? What kind of characters are the people of chapter 1: round (fully described), type (single trait), or agent (a foil for the plot)?
The Word for us
1. What is the modern judgment on Xerxes' demand that his queen Vashti display her beauty? Is the king's reaction set forth as something to be emulated? If the narrator does not evaluate Xerxes' attitude, how should
we approach this issue? Out of what does a wife's respect for her husband originate?
2. Comment on this: Public sin public rebuke, private sin private rebuke. What does Matthew 18:15ff. say to this?
3. How can the sentence handed to Vashti be related to God's holiness, man's sinfulness, and the Aaronic benediction? Read 2 Samuel 14:23-24,32-33 and Luke 18:9-14 for examples.
Closing
