23 January
QUEEN VASHTI WAS SINCERELY WRONG
“On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.”
(Esther 1:10 – 12)
Below is a poetic rendition of the events surrounding our Scripture text for today. (See Esther 1 and 2 for the full narration).
1 “Bring my queen, her crown is mine
Show off my beauty, her beauty is mine”
Here come the eunuchs
Marching into the majestic chambers
“Why do you come? What do you want?
The queen is dancing, the ladies are drinking
Swaying from drink but empty of Holy Spirit,”
The servant girls swaying sweetly sing;
3 “No,” says the queen, “my crown is mine
“Not for display, my beauty is mine!”
Sad go the eunuchs
Dragging into the banquet chambers
“Where is my queen, where is my beauty?”
“The queen is hers, her beauty is hers
Servants she has but cannot serve,”
The eunuchs bending coarsely say
2 “Come our queen, your crown is the king’s
Show off your beauty, your beauty is the king’s,”
Thus say the eunuchs
Marching into the majestic chambers
“Why do you come? What do you want?
The queen is hers, her beauty is hers
Riches she has but neither joy nor peace,”
The servant girls swaying crossly sing;
4 “Cast off the queen, her crown another take
Her law she obeys not, Her king she honours not”
Here come the eunuchs
Combing through the kingdom of Persia
“Where is the queen, who is God’s favoured?
God’s crown is hers, her beauty is God’s
The law she obeys, the King of kings she honours,”
The wise men, swaying confidently, sing.
ACTION: What do you boast about that are actually God’s gifts to you?
PRAYER: Father God, please make me more like Jesus, to increase daily in wisdom and stature, and in favour with you and men. May I see my gifts as truly yours. May I never make mistakes that are irreversible, no matter how sincere I may be. Amen.