The book of Esther describes 3 people who put their own interests and safety aside to courageously stand for truth and/or help others in need. In Esther Chapter one, we are introduced to Queen Vashti.
Vashti was queen to the great Persian Emperor Ahasuerus. (better known as Xerxes in Greek) There was a banquet with unlimited drinking for all the great men (and their wives) of the kingdoms. The banquet lasted for seven days and then the king called for Queen Vashti to come in and parade her beauty to all these men that had been freely drinking for a week.
5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the agarden of the king’s palace;7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.8 And the adrinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s bpleasure.9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.10 ¶On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, aHarbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very awroth, and his anger burned in him.15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
In a time when women were subservient to men, Queen Vashti showed an independence of spirt and a self- respecting dignity that would not allow her to be paraded before a bunch of drunken men. As a result she lost her position as Queen. The other great men in the kingdom feared Vashti’s example would cause many of the women to also stand up for their dignity. They pushed the king to make a law to forbid such a thing and to remove Vashti as the queen. The king later regretted the laws his wrath had brought and missed her, but it was too late. To take her back in any form would do harm to the kingdom.
C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch explained why that edict was important: “An edict issued by the king, entered among the laws of the Persians and Medes, and sealed with the royal signet [Esther 8:8], does not pass away, i.e. remains in force, is irrevocable [compare Daniel 6:9]. The counsellors press for the issue of such an edict, for the purpose of making it impossible to the king to take Vashti again into favour, lest they should experience her vengeance on the restoration of her influence.” (Commentary on the Old Testament, 3:3:331.)(Old Testament Institute Manual-Esther)
This experience with Vashti opened the way for Esther (a beautiful Hebrew woman) to become queen. We also learn of Mordecai, who is Esther’s uncle. (Esther 2:5–8) Esther’s parents had died so she was brought up by her uncle. Mordecai learned of the kings desire to find a new queen and encouraged Esther to present herself but not to share her lineage.
Adam Clarke noted that “the most beautiful of all the young virgins of all the provinces of Babylon were to be selected; and these were taken out of all classes of the people, indiscriminately; consequently there must have been many who were brought up in low life.” (The Holy Bible … with a Commentary and Critical Notes, 2:810.) An extended period of beautification and preparation of these women would be required to prepare them for presentation to the king. (Old Testament Institute Manual-Esther)
By keeping her lineage quiet, Esther was not discriminated against. She won favor with the King even before she was presented.
Esther 2:9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
Not long after Esther became queen, Mordecai heard of a plot to kill the king and sent message with Esther to warn him.
Esther 2:21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, aBigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to blay hand on the king Ahasuerus.22 And the thing was known to aMordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree.
One of the king’s men Haman wanted to be worshiped and got angry at Mordecai when he would not worship him because of his commitment to only worship God. Haman made plans to get rid of all the Jews because of this. Esther 3:1–6 Haman influenced the king and the king gave Haman the power to do what he wanted. A decree was sent out to have all the Jews killed on a certain day.
Esther 3:8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.
Lots were cast to determine the date of the execution and the Lord influenced the choice in date giving almost a year before they would carry out the genocide. This gave time for the Jews to avert the destruction.
When Mordecai found out, he asked Esther to use her influence with the King.
Esther 4:8 Also he (Mordecai) gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.10 ¶Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;11 All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner acourt, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to bdeath, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden csceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.12 And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there aenlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a btime as this?
This request put Esther into double danger. The Jews had some time, but if the king did not accept her when she went into the court, she would have been put to death. She asked Mordecai to have the people fast and pray for her. This experience shows the faith and courage of both Mordecai and Esther. Mordecai knew the Lord enough to know that he can plan solutions for these kinds of experiences long before they happen. This is evidenced in Mordecai’s statement to Esther, “who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a btime as this?”
Esther’s response shows her faith:
Esther 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and afast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
Esther was successful in how she presented her plea to the king, Haman was hanged on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai and Mordecai was rewarded and given power by the king to allow the Jews to defend themselves against any who carried out the former decree.
We can learn much from these 3 people. From Vashti, we learn how important it is have self-respect and dignity even if it means the loss of position or a husband. Mordecai also stood up for his beliefs and ended up putting not only his own life but the lives of his people at risk for it. His stance was a righteous one and the Lord had prepared a way to save his people. We need to learn to trust in the Lord as Mordecai did, and not be bullied into worshiping a false God. For us, those false Gods may be money or accepting popular opinion that goes against the commandments of God. Esther was the one that was in the most immediate risk for her life. Sometimes, we are placed in positions where our choice could have a tremendous impact over many people’s lives. We need to stand strong and trust the Lord and do the right thing even at our own personal risk. Our outcome may not always turn out as well as Esther and Mordecai. We may sometimes end up like Vashti. Making the choice anyway will show our true character and how much we really trust the Lord and value our integrity.
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