Esther 1:13 – 14 “Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times and were closest to the king – Carshena, Shetar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.”
Queen Vashti had put her husband in a difficult position, and he wasn’t quite sure what to do about it. As the king of Persia, his word was law, and his command could never be reversed – not even by himself. (This is important information for later in the story, so tuck it away.) Besides that, he was accustomed to getting his way.
Apparently, no one had ever disobeyed Xerxes’ order before. Or perhaps as queen, Vashti had the right to refuse her husband’s drunken request. But for whatever reason, Xerxes had to scramble to find a suitable punishment for his wife. He needed to save face, and he wanted to make sure that nothing like this ever happened again.
He could have entered into a drunken rage, and punished her without thought. But even in his drunken state, he had enough sense to know that important decisions should not be made without seeking wise counsel. So he gathered his wise guys together, and they had a pow-wow about what to do with Vashti.
Now, I’m not sure exactly how wise any of them were at that moment. My impression is that they were all drunk. Still, I must commend Xerxes for not acting on impulse. He wanted to make a wise decision, so he sought wise counsel.
Quite often in our daily lives, we must make important decisions. Many times, these decisions affect not only ourselves, but our families and friends. If we want to make wise choices, we must always seek wise counsel.
That’s why it is so important to surround ourselves with godly people, who walk daily with the Lord. Quite often, their wisdom and insight will keep us from doing something rash, or from foolishly messing up our lives and the lives of others. Of course, the most important way we can seek wisdom is through prayer, and studying God’s Word. But often, God will use His faithful servants to direct us in the right path.
Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Dear Father, Thank You for the wise, godly people in my life. Please help me to seek their counsel and Yours, before making important decisions.
Amen
Hey girl….I had to read several devotionals to catch up this week. The story of Esther is one of my favorites (my other favorite is Ruth, by the way I’m praying for God to send me a Boaz, but on the other hand a rich King wouldn”t be a bad thing LOL). I’m so excited about this series you are doing, your insight is great!
God Bless the Good Work,
Jana
In my experience, drunken wise guys are the last people you need to be consulting when you’ve got a big decision to make! Personally, I don’t make a move without consulting God!
Jana! My long lost friend – How about we pray for God to send you a rich Boaz, who treats you like a queen? 😉
I really like Esther, too. It’s like a Hollywood movie. Oh, wait, it IS a Hollywood movie! Thanks for stopping by, my friend!
And Jackie, you’re right. He didn’t make the best choices in his consultants. But the principle is still a good one, I think. I agree – consulting with God is always the best.
Good Morning, Sweet Lady, I am so blessed to have you for a friend. Colton and I look forward to spending time not only with God each morning but with you.
Hello Lesa! So glad to “see” you, and to know you are joining me each morning! I’ll be sure to pour an extra mug for you. 😉 But I’ll make hot chocolate for Colton . . .
If only all “wise ” men would seek wise counsel. I am a true believer that two heads and hearts are better than one. This really makes a case for not “flying off the handle”. It is amazing that even drunken wise guys make better decisions than sober men and women sometimes. Dear Lord, help me to always slow down and wait and listen to you. Renae, I think you have a very wise “counsel/council” in these precious young friends who read your blog. Thanks and Blessings to you and all of them.
Hey, ya’ll, I think my mom just called us all “young!” Isn’t she awesome????
Mom, you are right. When we are wise in our own eyes, we often make rash decisions that are hurtful to ourselves and others – even when we are sober! It’s always better to take a little time, seek advice, pray, and then make our decisions.
Ha ha, Renae! I’m with you in appreciating being called “young” every chance I can get! We do prison ministry with our friend who is over 80, and when he calls us “the kids,” we just have to crack up! Some of “the kids” are even grandparents!
I like Proverbs 15:22 — Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
I am really enjoying these devotionals and learning from them, too. I always appreciate the slightly different slant you give, as it takes my thoughts off my beaten path!
Thanks, Jeanette. I’ve always been sort of a creative thinker (AKA scatterbrain), so it’s good to know those “off the beaten path” thoughts are being used for something constructive! 🙂
That is one of my favorite verses, too. I think I’ll go back and add that at the end of the post. Thanks!
I’m a little late in commenting because I just returned from a second trip and just got my computer back. I am so thankful for all the godly women God has put in my life, and you’re one of them! Thanks for being grounded in the Truth and showering me with encouragement.
Right back atcha, Alyssa! I’m so glad we are friends. I just wish you lived a little closer . . . 😉