Xerxes is an early example of a world ruler exerting power for selfish purposes rather than choosing to lead his people as an act of service. I don’t want to speak in extremes as though Xerxes was the worst of the worst; his empire was vast: this Persian monarch must have been an effective leader in some ways. But he does represent for us some features of poor leadership.
Reacting Out of Anger
Here’s where the second chapter starts: “when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti” (2:1).
We don’t know how long it took for the king’s anger to subside, but I think of these words from Proverbs 14:29, “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”
Paul wrote that the Philippian disciples should “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
Ahasuerus reacted to Vashti angrily, which is not a wise state from which to make a decision. “Queen” is an exalted title, and he dismissed her without a lot of thought. Vashti was a descendant of royalty, possibly Nebuchadnezzar; she was “royalty” in her own right.
While I agree that the queen of any country is a figurehead who should take her role seriously, and it was unwise for Vashti to humiliate the king, Esther 2:1 reminds us that one should make decisions rationally.
Xerxes called for his queen with no thought to her as a person — her dignity or her position. He thought a lot about his dignity, though, about the empire of his own desires.
Contrast this scene with Christ’s anger at the temple, where he drove out the moneychangers. “Both the Gospel of John and the Gospel of Mark depict not a sudden rash outburst, but something carefully planned. In Mark 11:11-19, Jesus visits the temple but waits until the next day to do anything. In John’s version, Jesus actually takes the time to make a whip from cords.”
James F. McGrath explains that Jesus was cool-headed, and his anger had a purpose, which can be traced back through Scripture to God’s purposes for the temple. Jesus was righteously angry in defense of the Father’s glory.
And then there’s hot-headed Xerxes. Some commentators assert that Xerxes was known for his unpredictable temper. He treated Vashti with contempt, blocked her, canceled her, all to punish her for not doing what he wanted, and what he wanted might have been debauched, we don’t know for sure.
A leader guides his people into discipline aimed at correction; he doesn’t dismiss people for making mistakes. When a leader punishes or dismisses someone for not fulfilling their role for the good of the kingdom, that’s one thing: but for not fulfilling a selfish whim?
That’s childish. And then, when emotions calm down, it’s time to take a close look at the consequences of that decision.
A Note on Vashti
A friend pointed out to me that we don’t know what the king expected Vashti to do when he summoned her. All we know is that she was expected to come when called. He might have planned on offering her in some kind of public sexual ritual.
He might have simply wanted her by his side. But after half a year of partying, who knows what the king had in mind? She was right to be wary.
But was she right to reject the king? I don’t know. In the cultural context, her submission to Xerxes would have been expected. Then again, he would also have been expected to show more respect to a descendant of royal lineage. Vashti appeared to be rude. Then again, she might have been afraid of Xerxes’ drunken plans, and rightly so.
What it all boils down to is this: Vashti’s situation was unenviable. The whole debacle could have been avoided if Xerxes had treated her with dignity and respect.
Vashti might have retained her position by consulting wiser women than herself to find a way to respectfully avoid fulfilling Xerxes’ demands. Certainly, had she been clever, Vashti might have responded more coolly, while also avoiding trouble and staying away from the king.
The Final Cut
God knew what the outcome of each “what-if” would have been. Everything worked out according to his plan, though, which was to save the Israelite people from annihilation imagined and orchestrated by Haman but condoned by a king who wasn’t paying very close attention to the life-and-death needs of his people.
Xerxes was easily distracted by his immediate desires, which included discovering a wife who fit the mold he had created. His hot temper worked to Esther’s (and the Jews’) advantage in the long run: God used it for good; that is, in seeing Haman removed from the picture. Vashti was silenced by that same anger, but Haman was utterly destroyed; him and his household.
A Calm Perspective
We’re not yet at the place where Esther hears of Haman’s plot, but we can pause to look at the difference between hasty decision-making and a prayerful response. There will be times when the Lord wants us to act out of obedience in a moment.
This is why we want to be soaked in his Word and seek his face all the time. But sometimes, we just need to stop and pray. What is the best decision when so much is on the line? Esther prayed and fasted. She did not react; she responded.
When we seek God’s face, by the power of Christ indwelling us by his Spirit, we are better situated to make God-glorifying decisions. Maybe the moral contrast between one direction and the other isn’t as cut-and-dry as it is here; perhaps no one will die.
Maybe it’s just a matter of saving face or preserving someone else’s dignity. But even in small matters, when we reach a fork in the road, standing before our Father with the question “what do you want me to do” is always a good idea. You can’t ever go wrong by asking the Lord for guidance.
For further reading:
Esther's First Connection to the Gospel
Esther's Second Connection to the Gospel
What Strength Did Queen Vashti and Queen Esther Show?
Why Was Vashti so Important in Esther’s Story?
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