Esther 2:1

New International Version

Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her.

For Meditation

The man loved his wife. She was lovely and beautiful, with brains to instruct her in critical situations (Esther 1:11-12). A Persian version of Abigail of Carmel (1 Samuel 25:3), she delighted the king. No one could tear Queen Vashti from King Xerxes, and nothing could separate them on an ordinary day. But yesterday was not an ordinary day for the royal couple.

Everything does not go perfectly normal with a 180-day celebration where wine is abundant and served with a king’s liberality. What good behavior could anybody expect when a royal edict encourages drinking without restriction? That was the genesis of the Xerxes and Vashti debacle (Esther 9-22) when darkness ruled. Tragically, there is always the day after.

The sun always rises majestically to dispel the shadows for people to see and evaluate yesterday. When the cobwebs disentangle, revelers get stunned by what they see and hear. Regret writes a horrible script for each one to hang on their walls.

It vexed Jacob that his uncle deceived him with Leah instead of Rachel on his wedding night (Genesis 29:25). Nabal suffered a massive heart attack when Abigail told him about the events of yesterday and David’s fury (1 Samuel 25:37). Now, it was the turn of King Xerxes. He awoke to the reality of his yesterday when his fury subsided (Esther 2:1). He remembered Vashti and his punny behavior towards her when wine and the crowd did their number on him, and his heart sank. No one could revoke a Persian decree—not even Xerxes, with all his authority over 17 provinces. He had sealed the deal, and the day after was payback time.

The account of yesterday cannot end without examining the effect a crowd has on a personal decision when a person looks feeble in their eyes. The world knows about Will Smith and his infamous slapping of Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars. Almost everybody has their own story about the day they had to defend their “dignity” before people. I am sure King Xerxes knew he had fallen victim to the show of bravado when Vashti turned down his request in front of his guests and nobles. The counsel he received from Memukan was self-serving (Esther 1:16-18) and a slippery slope for all when people push us to stand up to defend our dignity for once.

So, who is urging you to stand up and be a man or woman in something you could have ignored in a secret space? Husband, why disgrace your wife to satisfy your ego in public? Wife, why put up a show before people to prove you are not a doormat? Why do we behave differently in public when we get along well when no other person is around?

Strength under control! That is what you need at such times, and it comes only from the Holy Spirit.