Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Reflection - Queen Vashti refuse to appear before Xerxes



Queen Vashti Refused to Appear Before King Ahasuerus
PHOTO: Queen Vashti Refused to Appear Before King Ahasuerus
Queen Vashti was brave and courage. She wasn’t afraid to refuse the king, even though it may cost her life. She was a good example of a person with inner beauty. Vanity and showing off are all sin of pride. We must always dress modestly and not show off to people. We must always be humble in all our ways. If you are humble, God will exalt you. If you are arrogant and prideful, God will bring you down to a lower place.

Favour is deceitful (Charm is deceptive - NIV), and beauty is vain (conceited): but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30 KJV).
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way (Psalm 119:37 KJV).
And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life (Jeremiah 4:30 KJV).
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7 KJV).
for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8 KJV).
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud (Proverbs 16:18-19 KJV).
Posted by lector on October 14, 2013
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http://biblestudyoutlines.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/queen-vashti2.jpg
http://biblestudyoutlines.org/bible-study-outlines/bible-study-outline-on-queen-vashti/


Why did Queen Vashti refuse to appear before Xerxes?
The book of Esther begins with a description of King Xerxes (or Ahasuerus) of Persia celebrating with the leading men of his kingdom. At the conclusion of seven days of feasting, the king called Queen Vashti to appear before him. We are told this was "in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at" (Esther 1:11). However, Queen Vashti refused to come before the king and his men; "then the king became furious and burned with anger" (verse 12).


King Xerxes (also known as Ahasuerus) was the most powerful man in the world.


PHOTO: King Xerxes (also known as Ahasuerus) was the most powerful man in the world. In the third year of his reign he invited the nobles and princes to a feast, which lasted 180 days.
Picture posted by Free Bible images
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http://media.freebibleimages.org/stories/FB_Esther_Part_1/overview_images/001-esther-1.jpg?1436947670
http://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/esther-1/

 After the feast the King invited everyone at his palace in Susa (Shushan) to another feast which lasted 7 days.


PHOTO: After the feast the King invited everyone at his palace in Susa (Shushan) to another feast which lasted 7 days. At the end of the 7 days the King, who was drunk, ordered his 7 servants to fetch Queen Vashti so he could show off her beauty (wear only her royal crown).
Picture posted by Free Bible images
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http://media.freebibleimages.org/stories/FB_Esther_Part_1/overview_images/003-esther-1.jpg?1436947670
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 However, Queen Vashti refused to come before the king and his men


PHOTO: However, Queen Vashti refused to come before the king and his men; "then the king became furious and burned with anger" (Esther 1:12).
Picture posted by Free Bible images
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGn_SV34PHyRIuGEPKTsX88CKuBtiZw-4V3GE2vYoC7gfuApvzWCvIXHPs0qoHNw9BtW-6hU4rs_SgxmmosAnxa96tG4w6XgaJ24ON-2KBDix3zbaKGmgGrHwPPUrAduDan8qZYWXER_M/s1600/005-esther-1.jpg
http://media.freebibleimages.org/stories/FB_Esther_Part_1/overview_images/005-esther-1.jpg?1436947670
http://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/esther-1/


The text itself does not clearly address why Vashti refused to appear. A variety of theories have emerged. According to Esther 1:11, Queen Vashti was told to appear "wearing her royal crown," and one rabbinical tradition interprets this as the king’s instruction to wear only her royal crown - in other words, she was told to appear in the nude. According to that tradition, Queen Vashti refused because she did not want to be put on display before a group of salacious (indecent interest), drunken men. This view is not found in the biblical text, nor can it be supported by history.

 Queen Vashti, the wife who was banished because she was not obedient to the whim of her husband


PHOTO: Queen Vashti, the wife who was banished because she was not obedient to the whim of her husband the king. In other records, she was asked to display her beauty by dancing nude (http://heroinesofthefaith.blogspot.sg/2011/10/views-on-vashti.html).
Picture posted by tenlon 3 December 2014 at 23:43h
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http://i2.imgtong.com/1412/745852add11d9c9ac605454a09e87c58_Mh6wlOvMOcDJzC3.jpg
http://tcafeaa.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=c_jjalbang&wr_id=1081652

 According to that tradition, Queen Vashti refused because she did not want to be put on display before a group of salacious (indecent interest), drunken men.


PHOTO: According to that tradition, Queen Vashti refused because she did not want to be put on display before a group of salacious (indecent interest), drunken men. This view is not found in the biblical text, nor can it be supported by history.
Picture posted by TVTropes
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh07MF43XSdvG-ZNITZNi3DGY4BYH2nFWGcleSkDMNlCIIZNaJTidqebVhcKfcglJDlUFh_y2NhFrGzDP8iTgOL8FKcBTZKTR8sQ6Lm10bDhUgBNc-2WWoxYc_w53vStqETsQzLa2tvdI/s1600/Liliyn+Tashman+Ziegfeld+girl.jpg
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http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DiamondsintheBuff#!


However, it is likely that Vashti refused to appear because she would have been humiliated in some way. The king and his men had been feasting and drinking for seven days. It is almost assured that they did not have noble intentions in calling her to the party. While nothing more specific is noted, the context - especially the reference to her beauty - indicates that her attendance at the feast was sought to entertain the men in some way.


It is likely that Vashti refused to appear because she would have been humiliated in some way.


PHOTO: It is likely that Vashti refused to appear because she would have been humiliated in some way. The king and his men had been feasting and drinking for seven days. It is almost assured that they did not have noble intentions in calling her to the party. Especially the reference to her beauty - indicates that her attendance at the feast was sought to entertain the men in some way.
Painting by Ernest Normand - White Slave (Odalisque)
Picture posted by Chris Burgess Melbourne Australia
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http://www.femme-classic-art.com/Odalisque-01/White-Slave-(Odalisque)-Ernest-Normand-provocative-racy-risque-seductive-Femme-Classic-Art-large.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/86/ef/bb/86efbb012b399f8558f1b3b43d9139fa.jpg


Queen Vashti likely knew the potential consequences of refusing the king, but refuse she did. One of the king's wise men, named Memucan, saw a dangerous precedent being set: "Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, 'King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.' This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen's conduct will respond to all the king's nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord" (Esther 1:16-18). Such a bad example as Queen Vashti had set must be dealt with harshly, according to Memucan.


One of the king's wise men, named Memucan, saw a dangerous precedent being set.


PHOTO: One of the king's wise men, named Memucan, saw a dangerous precedent being set.  Memucan advised the Persian emperor Xerxes that such a bad example as Queen Vashti had set must be dealt with harshly or there will be no end of disrespect and discord.
Picture posted by Rodrigo Capelo on 03 October 2014 at 11:57h
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http://s2.glbimg.com/ooPi1fAVtqreH-7s8XTs7iPm5Ho=/smart/e.glbimg.com/og/ed/f/original/2014/03/10/xerxes-300.jpg
http://gq.globo.com/Cultura/noticia/2014/03/300-ascensao-do-imperio-fatura-us-132-milhoes-na-estreia.html


Xerxes agreed with his advisor's appraisal, and the result was that Vashti was never again to come before the king. Her royal position as queen was to be given to another "who is better than she" (Esther 1:19). Queen Vashti's removal from the throne opened a vacancy in the Persian kingdom. Chapter 1 thus sets the stage for the introduction of Esther, an unlikely candidate for queen, since she was an orphaned Jewess raised by a cousin.


Xerxes agreed with his advisor's appraisal


PHOTO: Xerxes agreed with his advisor's appraisal, and the result was that Vashti was never again to come before the king. Her royal position as queen was to be given to another "who is better than she" (Esther 1:19).
Anguished Portrait of Vashti
The Court was famous for its excess, and the men were at the height of their drunken revelry when they decided to send a messenger to Queen Vashti. She was to dance before the court naked wearing only her crown. When Vashti received the summons from her king, she excused herself and retired to her chambers. She was distraught and agonized over what she had been ordered to do. She would have to humiliate and degrade herself. She would lose all dignity. The entire court would see that though she may be queen, ultimately she is nothing more that the King's chattel (a personal possession).
Picture posted by Nieustraszona on 27 October 2015 at 19:43h
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http://data.whicdn.com/images/92194739/large.jpg
http://character-image.blogspot.sg/2015/10/cansu-dere.html


However "unlikely" Esther may have been, God chose her to perform a great work in protecting the Jewish people from genocide. Still today, Jews around the world commemorate Esther and the deliverance she wrought (beaten out) with the Feast of Purim. Many scholars believe this is the same feast that was observed by Jesus in John 5:1.


However 'unlikely' Esther may have been, God chose her to perform a great work in protecting the Jewish people from genocide.


PHOTO: However "unlikely" Esther may have been, God chose her to perform a great work in protecting the Jewish people from genocide.
Picture posted by.cntw.org on 9 November 2014 at 10:50:40
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http://image11.m1905.cn/uploadfile/2013/1230/20131230092025718086.jpg
http://news.cntw.org/liebiao/2014-11-09/78923.html

 Queen Esther (Actress Tiffany Dupont)


PHOTO: Queen Esther (Actress Tiffany Dupont)
Now the king (Xerxes) was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality (Esther 2:17-18).
Photographs Pictures from "One Night With The King", posted by Grace untold on 6 August 2015
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https://graceuntold.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/esther-queen.png
https://graceuntold.wordpress.com/2015/08/06/handling-tough-times-1-uncle-mordecai/


Dear Lord, We pray that we learn from Proverbs 16:18-19, . . .
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, We pray that we learn from Proverbs 16:18-19, that
'Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.'

We also to learn from Queen Vashti and Proverbs 31:30 that
'Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.'
Amen!"
Picture posted by Michael Mühldorfer on 25 June 2013
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https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pfnA1ROlHeM/Uci4HgEuu_I/AAAAAAAAAL8/tMhjQhQcM7Q/w1000-h822/harem_flower.jpg
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Reflection - Queen Vashti refuse to appear before Xerxes
By Got Questions Ministries
Recommended Resource: Esther, NIV Application Commentary by Karen Jobes,



Reference
[1] Esther, NIV Application Commentary by Karen Jobes, http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1011693&item_no=06723

New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

1 Samuel 16:7 KJV - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+16%3A7&version=KJV

1 Timothy 4:8 KJV - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+4%3A8&version=KJV

Esther 1:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+1%3A11&version=NIV

Esther 1:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+1%3A12&version=NIV

Esther 1:16-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+1%3A16-18&version=NIV

Esther 1:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+1%3A19&version=NIV

Esther 2:17-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+2%3A17-18&version=NIV

Jeremiah 4:30 KJV - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+4%3A30&version=KJV

John 5:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+5%3A1&version=NIV

Proverbs 16:18-19 KJV - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+16%3A18-19&version=KJV
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