Nothing But the Crown?

Last night was a great Bible Study on Esther.  We enjoyed sharing about women issues. Specifically in relation to the decision of Queen Vashti to not submit to her husband's, King Xerxes, request of her to attend his party, wearing nothing but her crown!  This idea of her having to appear in the buff is founded in some commentaries of this scripture.  So our class chose to discuss this concept as "one" of the many reasons Queen Vashti refused her husband's request.  

Please read the first chapter of Esther in the Bible to capture the scene and for further background. I am telling you, girlfriends, the world's juiciest novels can't compare to God's word.  There is some intriguing stories in God's word...and it is truth and with God's hand on it...a life lesson with it.  Briefly and very much insufficient to the complete chapter in Esther, King Xerxes, hosts a huge party for dignitaries, etc.  They become very drunk.  The king has displayed all his wealth and prestige with this party with the exception to his wife.  She is very beautiful.  He requests for her to leave her party (she is hostessing the women of these men).  He requests she come wearing her crown so he could show her off.  She refuses.  For the rest of the story, girlfriends, break out your Bible.

Let's concentrate on why Queen Vashti refused.  Many reasons were shared last night, but one stood out to me.  Her dignity.  She didn't want to be among these drunken men.  She didn't want to be on display.  She was not going to be humiliated.  She was not going to compromise her right to her privacy.  She is not someone's trophy.  Ladies, in the end, her stand for her dignity cost her something very valuable.  Was it worth it?  This is the question I posed to the ladies at Bible Study last night.

Queen Vashti was in a situation where she was divided.  Her husband was King.  She had a loyalty to him.  She was to be subject to him.  Her husband was in the presence of many leaders, dignitaries, and influential people.  He was trying to win them over to support him in his war efforts.  She had to consider her position.  However, she was first a woman.  Her beauty and her body were personal and private.  She had dignity.  She would not be used for display. Girlfriends, as the study revealed, she was in a "lose-lose" situation.   She chose dignity.

Ladies, we are in positions in our lives where we may fall under the authority of others.  We have bosses, husbands, parents, government and even professionals like doctors - "doctors orders" who we respect and are subject to.   We are sometimes put into situations where compromise is posed...compromise of spiritual, moral, or even loyalty values.  Some are serious and some are "just little white lies".  Do you compromise to keep on the good side of that person?  Do you fear for jeopardizing the relationship - lose a job?  These are serious considerations.  "I don't want to offend my mother."  "I need my job."  "I have to submit to my man,  it's Biblical."  

I am the first to admit I have compromised in my lifetime. My motivations may have been fear, people pleasings, and/or outright rebellion.   You see this is not about being insubmissive to our husbands.  I don't condone any behavior of such.  I would hope our husbands would not ask us to compromise our dignity or go against the word of God.  What I am trying to get across is, ladies, look at your life and watch out for compromise.  Weigh the costs.  Is it worth it?  

It's not just about authority and other huge impressive compromises. What about daily life?  If you are trying to lose weight,  is eating that extra slice of pizza, worth it?  If you are aiming to add more Bible Study in your daily routine, is the extra hour spent searching on the internet, worth it?  If you want to have an organized clean home, is going out for lunch or shopping for the 3rd time this week, worth it?  It may be for you, worth it. Queen Vashit loss big, but girlfriends, it was worth it for her....she kept her dignity.  She stood for her convictions.  How do I feel personally about it?  Well, I wouldn't of done it either.  I would of took the consequences.  Yet, and thats a big YET, I would expect the burden of not submitting and the cost to my husband and the kingdom's inhabitants would haunt me...assuming I was alive!  Drop the novel and read the story of Esther, ladies.  It's good!!

Let's talk trophy for a minute, girlfriends.  I know many of you wouldn't dare think like this.  You are very comfortable with yourself and are very spiritually grounded.  You don't ever diet, or do beauty treatments.  You are very content.  I am jealous of you.  However, if any of you are like me, think about this.  How would you like to be a trophy wife for just maybe "one minute"?  I think it must be such an ego boost to think that your husband thinks your body is so perfect and so beautiful that hey why not show you off to my friends...in the nude!  Of course you wouldn't do it!!! But, just think, you are perfectly proportioned, scarless, stretchless, fatless, perfectly toned, and nothing sags!!!  I think it's funny how uncomfortable some of you must be feeling reading this now.  Anna, you are crazy!  That is ridiculous.  We are ashamed to want to be beautiful physically.  It is not a sin ladies.  It is when it is idolized and comes before your witness of our Lord Jesus.  Being beautiful physically isn't a noble goal.  I realize the beauty of God shines through us and that is genuinely beautiful.  I am just posing an alternative thought to Queen Vashti's story.  Lighten up, girlfriends.  I have a grip on reality.  I am sitting here feeling like 500 pounds.  I get it.  I can dream "trophy".  

Here's some scripture we heard last night at Bible Study.  They are great for reassurance in our quest to be beautiful women.  I do love you dearly.  Thank you for "blogging" in.

Colossians 2:10 (New American Standard Bible)
10and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

Psalm 90:17 (New King James Version)
17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.

Song of Solomon 7:10 (New American Standard Bible)
The Union of Love
10"I am my beloved's,
And his desire is for me.