“Also Vashti, the queen, made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus. On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, to bring Vashti, the queen, before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty, for she was fair to look upon. But the queen refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains. Therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. Then the king said to the wise men which knew the times.... what shall we do unto the Queen Vashti according to the law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the King Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? And Memucan answered before the king and princes, Vashti, the queen, hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes and to all the people that are in the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.... If it pleases the king let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she...And the 'saying pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan; for he sent letters into all the provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language" (Esther 1:9-229Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. 10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 11To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. 12But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. 13Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment: 14And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;) 15What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? 16And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. 17For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. 18Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. 19If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. 20And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honor, both to great and small. 21And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: 22For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people. (Esther 1:9‑22)).
In the feast which Ahasuerus, the king, made, which the Holy Spirit has set forth in a few sentences, as provided with such splendor and glory, we have opened to our gaze the riches of God's grace. It was for the display of the glory of His kingdom; and this is the meaning of God's waiting now, and the purpose is to bless those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Him, to the praise of the glory of His grace. (Eph. 1:3-63Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:3‑6)).
What a wonderful dignity and grandeur of meaning does this give to the gospel which He takes such pains to send forth to all! The scene of the glory is nothing less than heaven, the measure of it nothing short of His own fullness and joy; and this for nothing! He wants His glory, His happiness, His love, His Son, Himself, seen and known and enjoyed thoroughly! They who have entered in and dwelt with Him in these joys, even while here on earth, are wont to say, "We rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of the glory," (1 Peter 1:88Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:8)). "We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God; and not only so, but we glory in tribulations also. And not only so, but we joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation!" (Rom. 5:2, 3, 112By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (Romans 5:2‑3)
11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:11)).
In the spirit of the queen of Sheba, who came from the uttermost parts of the earth to see and hear the wisdom of Solomon, they having been with the greater than Solomon, are accustomed to cry out, "The half was not told me." And it never can be told. God has put forth all His wisdom and power and love, reserved till He should raise up His well-beloved Son, in the preparation of this feast, which shall endure as long as He endures; for in His presence is fullness of joy; at His right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psa. 16:1111Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)).
And the invitation and welcome are as cordial as the feast is rich. In the great supper of Luke 14:16-24,16Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. (Luke 14:16‑24) the last word we hear from the servants sent is, "Yet there is room!" and the responsive word of the lord of the feast is, "That my house may be full!" This tells it all. God has a place in His heart to be filled, a place that none can fill but the lost sinner! What a deception has Satan practiced on poor lost men in making them think God is unkind and grudging in His offers, that He is exacting from them instead of giving freely, to display His own riches!
This was the nature of the invitation to Vashti, to come and grace the feast; "to show the people and the princes her beauty." So we read in Eph. 2:7,7That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7) "That in the ages to come He (God) might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us through Christ Jesus." The redeemed are to take that place by reason of the beauty which He bestows, the wonders of His own grace.
But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command. And we learn the same thing in Luke 14:18-2018And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. (Luke 14:18‑20). They that were laden refused! It is a sad comment upon man's hardness of heart and obduracy of will, that none came, and none ever come now to partake of salvation simply because they are bidden. They will not accept the invitation of God. "There is none that seeketh after God; they are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is no fear of God before their eyes." (Rom. 3 it, 12, 18). The Scriptures testify of ME, said Christ, "And ye will not come unto me that ye might have life" (John 5:4040And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5:40)). How well He knows our hearts!
And what was the cause of Vashti's refusal? She had a feast of her own! She was occupied apart from her king, and so, disobedient to his command. It is the commandment of God that we should be saved. "This commandment have I received from my Father," said Christ, when speaking of laying down His life for us. And then the message of love going out to men lost and blind and willful, is coupled with the command to repent, that is, know and take our condition as needy and ruined in God's sight, and accept His provision. So wonderful is His desire for our salvation, that to be saved is the only obedience the sinner can render; not doing some great service, but having all done for him.
The sad spectacle is exhibited every day, of men letting that which is connected with their own social arrangements imperil their salvation. God is put off with civility and what seems reasonable! "I pray thee have me excused, I have bought a piece of ground, or a yoke of oxen," or "I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come;"—the course of this world and the circumstances in connection with it Man's willfulness is shown by his every day life; he leaves out God. All is taken up apart froth Him, as if God had made the earth and was to have no part in it! As if He had meant man to occupy it away from Him! That God is not in all his thoughts is fearfully manifest. Is God to arrange the world for blessing in His own way, or shall man who has become vile and gone out from the presence of God (Gen. 4:77If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. (Genesis 4:7)), improve it by his powers? As long as man stands to the latter, anything, however innocent it may seem, becomes a hindrance to his entering into the feast and having God's joy. It is a sad thing that to be as we are, as men in sin, and to go on, is to refuse salvation. In Eph. 2:1,1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (Ephesians 2:1) the Gentile condition spiritually is spoken of as "walking according to the course of this world." There we are dead in trespasses and sins, enemies in our minds, having no hope, without God in the world.
All that is sweet and gracious, and rich and glorious in God is now offered man, including pardon, life Sonship, joy in God and communion with Him forever; and is refused on the ground of man's satisfaction with himself. The "field" and the "oxen" were the things that pertained to Israel in their land, the very token of their blessings, and these kept them from God and His salvation. So does the religion of man interfere with his salvation; for he will not take the ground of need as a lost sinner. Just so Vashti lost all by having a feast of her own, a something apart from him.
And oh, beloved reader, the dreadful delusion of your own heart is, that you have enough without God. Think of it. Are you looking to go to heaven? and is your heaven to be without God? This is the meaning of your rejection of His offers.
Now, ponder this, that the rejected offer is met by banishment. An unalterable decree settled the case forever for poor Vashti. The word of the Lord of the feast (Luke 14) was "none of those men who were bidden shall taste of my supper!" And the word to you is, "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish; for I work a work in your day which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you" (Acts 13:4141Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. (Acts 13:41)). Yes, He is doing this wondrous work now, saving the vile for nothing, saving on His own account and for His Son's sake all who believe. But he that believeth not shall be judged—condemned! The loss is imminent in your case. Let me give you the solemn word of God on this matter in 2 Thess. 1:7-9,7And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑9) "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shell be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power." Then read 2 Thess. 2:12,12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:12) "That they might all be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Let not the word of invitation, backed by its fearful warning, be unheeded. In this book, doubtless, the message sent to Vashti, and the refusal, are a figure of the offer to the Jews, first, of the grace of God through Jesus Christ, and so with those who were invited in Luke 14, the rejection of them leaving room for the greater display of the exceeding riches of God's grace towards the outcast, the lost, the Gentiles.
And this we may consider next.