The
court of seven princes has been assembled before Ahasuerus the king.
The question at hand is what they should do about Queen Vashti's
refusal to obey King Ahasuerus' request that she appear with the
royal crown upon her head at the king's feast. Memucan, one of the
king's princes, has surmised that Queen Vashti's rejection would have
an influence not only upon the wives but also upon all the women
throughout the Persian kingdom. In chapter one and verse nineteen we
learn of Memucan's suggested response for the king. We read:
If
it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and
let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that
it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus;
and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better
than she.
We
read first, "If
it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and
let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that
it be not altered,..." Let
us first notice the yielding manners with which Memucan shares this
judgment, "If it please the king". Memucan was wise enough
to know that although his advice might be correct, it was ultimately
the king's choice as to what should happen. The princes' role was to
counsel and give advice to the king, and not to make the final
decree. However, there was protocol for the king's final judgment.
First, "let there go a royal commandment from him". Second,
"and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and
Medes". There was a reason why this procedure must be followed:
"that it not be altered." Once there was a decree from a
king of Persia and Media, it was to be written into their law, and
once it was written in their law, not even the king could change it.
The
verse continues with what this decree should be, "That
Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her
royal estate unto another that is better than she."
Vashti was never to appear before the king again. Banishment from the
throne forever was the judgment suggested. In addition, Queen
Vashti's royal estate was to be given to another woman whom Memucan
deemed "better than she". In other words King Ahasuerus was
to divorce Queen Vashti, remove all of her royal power,reign and
kingdom and give it to another woman. Can we imagine the impact this
judgment would have?
When
we think about how drastic this judgment was, we may be inclined to
think that it was a bit harsh. However Memucan and the other princes
deemed what Vashti did as detrimental to every home throughout
Persia. There must be a harsh reaction or otherwise chaos would
occur, and no home throughout the kingdom would be safe. We must keep
in mind how God Almighty continues to govern over all these events.
As the workings of man unfold, so will the plan of God. We shall see
in the coming verses just how God uses even this decree for His good
plans and purpose which gives us hope that he is using the decrees in
our lives for His purposes as well.
Next
time we shall see what Memucan's decree will mean throughout the
kingdom, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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