It makes me think of some lessons about family.

It makes me think of some lessons about family.

 

 

 

 

King Ahasuerus became so angry and could not bear it when Queen Vashti refused to come at his command.  So he asked his advisers, who were experts in the law, “What should we do in this case?  What does the law say?”  One of the advisers, Memucan, responded, "Queen Vashti has not wronged the king only, but also every noble and citizen in all the provinces of the king’s realm.  What she has done will become known to all the women, and they will look down on their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) commanded Queen Vashti to come, but she refused.’  Today the Persian and Median women of the royal provinces will hear about the queen's conduct, and they will despise their husbands and say such things, and the husbands will be filled with anger.  Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written into the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before the king, and let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.  When the king’s decree is proclaimed throughout his vast realm, all women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest."

 

The king and his advisers liked this idea, so he followed Memucan’s advice and issued a decree in the languages of all the peoples, commanding that every husband should rule over his household with authority (Esther 1:12-21, Korean Modern Bible).  As I reflect on this passage, I think about several lessons regarding the family:

 

1. Wives should submit to their husbands in the Lord.
2. Wives should not disrespect or despise their husbands.
3. Rather, wives should honor their husbands.
4. Every husband should govern his household with authority as the head of the family.