Refused to Come

Esther 1:10-12, “On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.”

The oftentimes overlooked person in the book of Esther is Queen Vashti. The king commanded her to come, so he could show off her beauty at his party, but she refused to come. She had to have known that there would be consequences for this refusal, but that did not stop her. Vashti had the nerve to stand for what she thought was right even though she had to take a stand against her own husband the king. It seemed there was no one on her side, but she still stood. Her choice resulted in her banishment from the kingdom. The Bible does not mention Vashti again after she was replaced by Esther, but we know that she took a stand that was not a popular one. She stood for what was right.

Knowing the potential consequences, Vashti still took a stand. If only Christians would determine that we would stand for what is right no matter the consequences. Too many Christians today back down at the smallest of opposition. May we become a little more Vashti and not fear to stand for what is right!