May 2nd

May 2nd -- Esther 1 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%201&version=NLT)

The king's banquet ; Queen Vashti deposed

Now king Xerxes is in power. He ruled over 127 provinces out of a fort in Susa. During the third year of his reign, he threw a huge banquet for all his nobles and officials, as well as military officers and foreign princes and nobles. The celebration lasted 180 days and showed the extreme wealth of the king. (see the passage for details on the wealth) After this huge banquet, the king threw another banquet, lasting a week and open to all the people who were in the fortress of Susa. As he held a banquet for the men, Queen Vashti held a banquet for the women in the royal palace.

On the last day of the banquet, Xerxes was drunk and told his attendants to bring him Vashti, wearing her crown, basically to show her off the all the men, as she was quite beautiful. However, Vashti refused to come when she heard the orders, and the king became furious. He consulted his advisors, asking what must be done to her for what she had done. The advisors said she had wronged him, and it would cause rebellion of all wives against their husbands, as they would see that she had done it and try it themselves. They suggest he banish her and pick a new queen, better than her. Plus then all husbands will be respected by their wives. The king and nobles felt this made sense and listened to the advice. The king sent letters all over the country proclaiming that every man should be the ruler of his house and may say what he wants.

There is just a LOT wrong with this. I mean A LOT. Sure he's the king, but he DEMANDS that his wife be brought out to let a bunch of men look at her, and he gets mad when she refuses? Nowadays isn't the bigger idea to keep them to yourself, because you worry if they flaunt themselves somebody else will take them away? Well, Xerxes lost her anyway. Also, he made this decision while drunk. That right there just shows a good reason why NOT to make decisions when you are drunk. These decisions tend to be very foolish ones.
Now, as a note on the "every man should be the ruler of his own home and should say whatever he pleases." For a woman, listening to her husband went from choice of love to command by law. Yes, Biblically women are supposed to respect their husbands as the head of the household. Yet, husbands are also called to be godly heads of the house, and to respect their wife. See, people are still equal. Men and women are equal because that is how God created us. NOBODY, though, short of God has ANY right to command anyone, wife or husband, in that manner. People are constantly assuming authority for whatever reasons. Some people think they should be in higher power because of their gender, skin color, first language, or cultural background. All wrong. God does appoint certain people to higher levels of authority, such as parents over children or a husband over his wife. However, He does so commanding those in higher authority to respect that (speaking of the passage about Nehemiah as ruler from a few days ago...). He also wishes for us to remember He is ALWAYS the final authority. If you know something is wrong, but someone in authority over you tells you to do it, you don't have to - God is the final authority, so He has final say when He says it is wrong. Just always remember to respect authority, and God especially so.

That's all for today! God bless! Shalom!