Daily Devotionals

Queen of Hearts Week 1: Monday

"He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman. But when they conveyed the king’s order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come. This made the king furious, and he burned with anger." Esther 1:11b-12

What comes to mind when you think of integrity? Do you immediately think about the definition of the word? Does a person you know who has integrity come to mind? I think of the word "uncompromising" when I think about integrity. I think about how those with integrity hold to what they believe in all situations, even when doing this has a cost. People with integrity understand that compromising their integrity is far costlier than any price they may have to pay for keeping their integrity intact. Today we will look at the story of a queen who held on to her integrity even when it cost her. 

Queen Vashti found herself in a difficult situation in Esther 1. Her husband, King Xerxes, had been holding a month's-long, over-the-top banquet to display his power and wealth. After a time of opulent celebration, he sent for his wife. He wanted her to come to the banquet so that all noblemen at the banquet could admire her beauty (verse 11). Vashti quickly brought this plan to a halt. She decided not to obey and come. The Bible does not tell us exactly why she did not obey, but based on the situation, we can conclude that parading before these noblemen probably went against her values and morals. This act of disobeying the king, and refusing to come, was very dangerous. She must have known that the king would respond angrily and expected to face the consequences. The king was so angry that he had her publicly banished from his presence forever (verse 19).  

Vashti's example is a reminder to all of us. Nothing is worth compromising our integrity. Even when we face negative consequences, holding on to our integrity is always worth it. Nothing is worth trading our integrity for. So, may we commit to being people of integrity in every situation, even when it costs us. 

Moving toward action

Evaluate your own life for a moment. Are you living a lifestyle of integrity? Is there anything threatening to compromise your integrity? Maybe you feel pressured by friends or family to make a decision you know goes against what God wants for you. Maybe you have been asked to take a step at work that goes against your values as a follower of Christ. Identify that area and bring it to God. Ask Him to help give you the boldness and courage to hold on to your integrity. Maybe you cannot think of a situation. Ask God to continue to develop you into a person of integrity who does not compromise.

Going Deeper

 Esther 1:1-22 (NLT)

"These events happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. 2 At that time Xerxes ruled his empire from his royal throne at the fortress of Susa. 3 In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media as well as the princes and nobles of the provinces. 4 The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty.

5 When it was all over, the king gave a banquet for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were in the fortress of Susa. It lasted for seven days and was held in the courtyard of the palace garden. 6 The courtyard was beautifully decorated with white cotton curtains and blue hangings, which were fastened with white linen cords and purple ribbons to silver rings embedded in marble pillars. Gold and silver couches stood on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

7 Drinks were served in gold goblets of many designs, and there was an abundance of royal wine, reflecting the king’s generosity. 8 By edict of the king, no limits were placed on the drinking, for the king had instructed all his palace officials to serve each man as much as he wanted.

9 At the same time, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

10 On the seventh day of the feast, when King Xerxes was in high spirits because of the wine, he told the seven eunuchs who attended him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas— 11 to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown on her head. He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman. 12 But when they conveyed the king’s order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come. This made the king furious, and he burned with anger.

13 He immediately consulted with his wise advisers, who knew all the Persian laws and customs, for he always asked their advice. 14 The names of these men were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan—seven nobles of Persia and Media. They met with the king regularly and held the highest positions in the empire.

15 “What must be done to Queen Vashti?” the king demanded. “What penalty does the law provide for a queen who refuses to obey the king’s orders, properly sent through his eunuchs?”

16 Memucan answered the king and his nobles, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also every noble and citizen throughout your empire. 17 Women everywhere will begin to despise their husbands when they learn that Queen Vashti has refused to appear before the king. 18 Before this day is out, the wives of all the king’s nobles throughout Persia and Media will hear what the queen did and will start treating their husbands the same way. There will be no end to their contempt and anger.

19 “So if it please the king, we suggest that you issue a written decree, a law of the Persians and Medes that cannot be revoked. It should order that Queen Vashti be forever banished from the presence of King Xerxes, and that the king should choose another queen more worthy than she. 20 When this decree is published throughout the king’s vast empire, husbands everywhere, whatever their rank, will receive proper respect from their wives!”

21 The king and his nobles thought this made good sense, so he followed Memucan’s counsel. 22 He sent letters to all parts of the empire, to each province in its own script and language, proclaiming that every man should be the ruler of his own home and should say whatever he pleases."