Queens Wild

  Some people are hard to sort into any box. Hero? Villian? Victim? Vile? Maybe one of the hardest in the Bible is Queen Vashti.

  We read about her in the book of Esther. She is the queen that Esther replaces. So, what did she do so terrible as to get replaced?

  In the first chapter of Esther, we read that the King is having a party. It was a lavish affair, there was plenty of wine and everybody was free to indulge all they wanted (1:8) Queen Vashti was having her own feast alongside. As the party goes on for seven days, the King orders Vashti to come and show herself off to the guests. She was apparently quite the looker. But she refuses.

  And there is the rub.

  Was Vashti standing up for herself by refusing to be ogled by a bunch of drunk officials? Was she a rebellious wife refusing to submit to her husband and king? Was she a bastion of modesty? Was she a spoiled brat who put her own party over the needs of her people?

  I’m not sure we know. The king’s wise men sure were worried about her actions. Their concern was if she wasn’t punished that it might set a precedent for the women of the land. Were they worried because they wanted to ‘keep the women in check’ or they saw a bad behavior they didn’t want copied?

  We may not know what Vashti's actions were but we do know that those in power should behave with modesty and propriety because they are examples. Too many today live immodest and vainglorious lives without any consideration for the examples they are setting. 

  As a ring of gold in a swine's snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. 

Proverbs 11:22

  Just because you ‘got it’ doesn’t mean you should ‘flaunt it’. Just because you are in a position of power means you can do whatever you want. We may not know Vashti's heart but we do know our own. And we need to make sure it is leading others down the wrong path.