Esther 1:1-22 KJV
1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;
6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.
8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
10 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,
11 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.
12 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.
13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
19 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.
20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.

Social customs of ungodly king produces disguising behaviors of even the king. The king wanted to show off his wife wearing her crown. Yet the queen disobeyed her husband not just in front of him but the rest of his companions at his banquet he was having. A new law was written to correct the queen because to many women would of know here disrespect to the king and would do like wise to their husbands. Social justice of the law was to enforce the kings power and control not only over his men but the women of the nobility as well as the queen. Every leader is worthy to be obeyed but a woman should never feel like a trinket, a toy and object to be ogled at. The king that does that had no respect for any woman.

Esther became the kings second wife and Haman wanted to kill all jews not knowing the queen was a Jew. Mordecai her uncle came to her with a quest to petition the king to save their people. Esther sent a note back that she was do so, but to prayer because she would be going before him at a time, he was not to be bothered. She would go the inner court and be granted to come and speak to the king. The king honored his wife that day. Had he learn about respect with this first wife, did he learn the price he paid by his request of his first wife, the world will never know, but as Esther bowed the king extended his sceptra to her and did not have her killed for disobedience to his decree.

Several things when looking at scripture one must ask is it culture, are these men and women of God. It does not mean God's people did not sin for that was what would cause Israel to be exiled. The queen Vashti wealth only taken for her crime as well as her crown. Yet did she have respect that day. Women would live in fear and refuse to speak back to their men. Ladies if we truly are equals in the world we live in to the men in our life, they are worthy respect, but to be treat as equal is to respect when a woman says no for whatever reason not to think it was disrespecting the man, but she may of had legitim excuse. We talking about kings not normal every day people here, the ones the work for the king. His power had to be displayed.

In the kings anger he act irresponsible and lost his first wife and his anger continue to be until he found a second wife. It tells us something important that the folly of man in scripture is they allow their argonance rule what they do not understand. Respect is not the coming with an order, it the compassion and respect to one another. Did he gain this with Esther perhaps.

How did Christ treat women while he walked the earth even if there was sin involved in their action. The woman caught in adultery he said go and sin no more. The woman who touch him at the hem of his garment, he let her go with your faith has healed you. Christ respected women though they often served him, he treated them with love and respect even with martha grumbling over waiting on tables wanting Mary to help. Jesus spoke up for Mary because she desire to worship and learn from him.

Respect is something all women desire. They want their children to hear them and obey, they want their friends respect and admiration in equality with each other. King and his friends were drunk, Not a good scenerio for a woman to be parade among drunk men. He had given his men permission to do whatever they like and so when Vashti refuse to come, they were afraid their wives would dishonor them the same way. It was perhaps a call of self preservation. What is your cross for speaking out for standing strong and obeying what God has said to do in your life. To stay away from the things that are corrupt in your life even if it means bearing a cross that hard to bear? Vashti was only disobeyed the king at a cost and yet though she lost everything she did not loose her dignitity or her self worth.

Dear Heavenly Father remind your people that value of women and their worthy that it is better to loose it all then to face the a leader in his sicken state of drunkness before his friends. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Esther Esther 4:15-17 5:1-3 KJV
15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.