The story of Esther starts in the emperor’s palace. Ahasuerus, most closely identified with Xerxes is described in terms of power and wealth. He is described as ruling over an empire from Africa to India (1:1-2). He throws a party to show off his wealth and opulence (1:4-8). This wasn’t just a knees up and feast but an opportunity to display his wealth and power with military parades included. His Queen, Vashti also throws a parallel party for the women (1:9).
Then Ahasuerus missteps. He is “in high spirits from wine” says the NIV euphemistically, it’s seven days in and he summons his wife, to come in, wearing her crown, so that the partygoers can look on and be dazzled by her beauty but she refuses (1:10-12).
The king is embarrassed and enraged. He calls a council of his advisors and they agree with him that something needs to be done. Not only has the Queen shamed him, with the risk that involved to his power and authority in the kingdom but she has also set an example for other wives around the kingdom (1:13-18).
The advice of the king’s counsellors is followed. A decree is made removing Vashti from her position so that she can be replaced by a more worthy queen. Not only that but Ahasuerus insists that husbands are to be obeyed in their own homes (1:19-22).
So, what are we to make of the story so far? Well, first of all, we surely will have some sympathy with Vashti. Modern feminists will see her as striking a blow against patriarchal oppression. Whether or not we take a feminist position, we will tend to side with her standing up to a drunken husband who seems to see her as no more than a trophy wife, someone to objectify, to use for his own purposes and to allow others to gawp at. This is no way for a loving husband to act towards his wife and so our sympathies will lie with Vashti and her refusal to comply.
At the same time, we will notice that Vashti isn’t being set up as the heroine of the story. In fact, her role is fairly incidental. Actually this is really just setting the scene for the greater story to come. Esther is best understood when read all the way through and applied as a whole story. Indeed, an important lesson from Esther 1 is that events that may not make immediate sense may well form part of God’s providential plans and provision to prepare for unseen dangers to come.
There are two things to consider here. First of all, that whilst the circumstances were not good, the idea of a wife that reflects and displays the glory of her husband seems to be a positive image throughout Scripture. God’s people Israel in the Old Testament are presented as his beautiful bride, just as the church is seen as the bride of Christ in the New Testament. God’s people are called together, rescued, redeemed, purified and made beautiful as a display of his glory.
If anything, the immediate focus is on the Persian king who for all his power and glory is something g of a laughingstock here. He may have ruled over the known world but he could not rule over his household. The king cannot rival Yahweh’s power and glory. But then, God is nothing like the drunken despot and if Christ’s bride displays his glory it’s not in the context of shame and humiliation but in the context of his sacrificial love for her. She displays his glory not by being demeaned but by being loved.
The church can be a better bride than Vashti because she serves a better husband.
Faithroots 