The Queen is banished

The Book of Esther Chapter 1

During the reign of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia, it happened that he gave a banquet for all his princes, officials, military officers, noblemen and province officials. After the celebration he gave a special banquet for all the palace servants and officials which was held at Susa in the courtyard of the palace. It was a fabulous celebration with elaborate decorations and the king commanded that no one should be compelled to take more drink than he wanted, but those who wished could have as much as they pleased. Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women of the palace at the same time.

On the 7th day of the feast, the King was half drunk with wine and told his seven eunuch attendants to bring the Queen to him with the royal crown on her head. He wanted all the men to gaze at her beauty, but the Queen refused to come and the king was furious. He consulted with his advisors about what punishment he should give the Queen for refusing his orders. It was recommended that she be banished from the King's presence forever and that he choose a new queen more worthy than she. In this decree, husbands everywhere, whatever their rank, would receive proper respect from their wives.

The King thought this made good sense, so he followed his counsel's advice and put letters out to every part of the empire proclaiming that every man should be ruler of his home.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: It is probable that Esther lived in Persia and her parents may have been exiles among those who chose not to return to Jerusalem. The Jewish exiles in Persia had great freedom and many remained because they had established themselves there. Persia was by now a world power and its king one of the wealthiest in the world. In ancient Greek documents, the King's wife was Vashti in Greek, and though she was deposed in the 400's b.c., toward the end of Xerxes reign she was able through her son, to regain the influence she had lost. Perhaps after Esther's death.
Queen Vashti may have refused to parade before the king's all male party because it was against Persian custom for a woman to appear before a gathering of men. She chose to refuse her half-drunk husband's request. Some say she was pregnant with Artaxerxes, who was born in 483 b.c. and did not want to be seen in public in that state. Whatever the reason she refused, it was a breach of protocol that put Xerxes in a difficult position.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? This chapter reflects the type of respect between the king and his queen. Often kings did not have a close relationship with their wives because they had harems and did not see them for long periods of time. The respect that we have learned in our world comes as a mutual regard and appreciation for each other as created by God's image. Not from some legal pronouncement of a king. Look around you and try to find good examples of the respect between men and women. This bond of respect makes for a remarkable, loving relationship. We are all God's children. He loves us all.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who made it six years with cancer but may now go home with hospice in her final days.
Pray for my cousin Diane who had total mastectomy surgery for breast cancer.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.