Vashti Means, “Best” or “Beloved”
One of the Jewish Targums says that the king’s request was for her to wear ONLY her crown.
(Jewish Targum is translation of the Jewish Torah into Aramaic)
Xerxes Anger was Legendary
Once while on a campaign against Greece, a bridge was built across a body of water. A storm came and destroyed the bridge. Xerxes had his attendants beat the water 300 times with a whip and throw a set of chains into the water. Also, he had the builders of that bridge beheaded.
Ephesians 5:18
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
Effects of Excessive Alcohol Use
1 in 3 people will be involved in an alcohol related crash (doesn’t necessarily mean 1 in 3 are the drinkers)
43% of fatally injured drivers tested positive for drugs or alcohol
13,384 people killed in 2021 by drunk drivers
Of those 13, 384 killed, about 4300 were under the age of 21.
According to the CDC…
1 in 6 adults binge drink
140,000 people will die because of excessive drinking (shortening lifespans by and average of 26 yrs)
1 in 5 death is caused Excessive drinking among young adults 20-49
Possible Immediate Effects Excessive Drinking
Injuries, Violence, Poisonings,
The “Alls”
All the nobles
The people of ALL the provinces
ALL the women will know what she did
Then…
All these women will respond to ALL the king’s nobles in this way. There will be no end to the disrespect and discord.
You cannot force people to respect you.
You can force them to pretend to respect you. But real honest respect is earned.
When you’re influenced by anything other than the HS,
your actions and decisions will reflect that whatever that influence is.
Vashti’s, “no,” then, this edict, the king’s poor behavior and decision making are all the beginning of God fulfilling the promise made through Jeremiah that we read in the beginning of this message.
Ephesians 5:18-20
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“We are commanded to empty our lives
of not just excess wine…
but anything that would hold us under its influence.”
-Bryan Chappell
