If a wife: do I honor and respect my husband?
If a husband: am I honorable and respectable?
Week 1 DAY 4 & 5
Week 1 Esther 1:10-12
Today and Tomorrow
We will:
- Continue LOOKING at Esther Chapter 1.
- LEARN ‘how‘ to incorporate GODcha’s tools along the way.
- LISTEN to God speak to us as we focus on GODcha’s LEARN/LIVE question –
Open GODcha to the Book of Esther
You Can Open GODcha and GODchats together
NOTE:
If you don’t have GODcha Get It>
Or, use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this week’s posts and put in a notebook!
Do you remember. . .
What is the Purpose of Esther? 
Understand, everything written in Esther points back to the purpose.
Esther was written to tell how the Jews in exile were delivered from annihilation.
Let’s Begin With Prayer
And Continue With an Attitude of Prayer
Perhaps. . .
Oh Lord, thank you for preserving this book of Esther. As we come to Your Word today, quiet our hearts and open our eyes to see and understand what You are saying and why. Help us to understand how we are to think and live. Please help us live according to Your Word. Thank you Lord, (Psa 119:169).
If you get STUCK at any point in your discovery, stop, and pray!
GOD, your Creator, loves you and desires to reveal much to you.
We Need To Consider CONTEXT
CONTEXT is the setting that Rules Interpretation.
What happened in verses 1-9?
Do you remember the king threw a party with an open bar for 180 days?
Then increased the guest list for another 7 days?
Now…
Today: A Queen Refuses to Obey
Take a LOOK 
Remember: Begin LOOKING By READING
READ Taking Small Bites.
READ the Next Paragraph, Esther 1:10-12, and reflect on what God is saying.
This isn’t hard, but it does take time to develop this skill, which by the way is the most important skill any of us could learn to accurately see God’s Word.
1. Notice the ‘when‘.
2. ‘Who‘ now comes on the scene?
3. ‘What‘ does the king want and do?
4. ‘What‘ happens?
Reflect on the events that demonstrate God’s hidden hand.
Let’s see what led up to the Queen’s disobedience.
LOOK
For Key Words
Like a KEY – they ‘unlock’ the meaning to what God is saying.
Queen Vashti is key.
According to the Aggadah (or Haggadah), a book of Jewish tradition and folklore, Vashti was the daughter of the Babylonian king Belshazzar, the grand-daughter of King Nebuchadnezzer. The night that Belshazzar was killed in Dan 5, Vashti was captured by the conquering Persians and given to Xerxes as a wife.
Understand: Vashti was forced into a marriage, a marriage not created in love.
As you can see, it would be helpful to understand what a eunuch is?
For the Meaning
Tap on ‘eunuch‘ in your Bible.
Do you see the definition pop open?
EUNUCH, sariys; Derived from an Assyrian phrase meaning one who is the head or chief, this word can refer to someone with a high-ranking military or political status (Gen. 40:2, 7; 1 Sam. 8:15). The term eunuch comes from the custom of placing castrated males in certain key government positions.
DON’T STOP THERE!
NOTE: Take what you have learned back to the text, to see what it means in its CONTEXT.
“…the seven eunuchs (castrated males, in government positions) who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,”
TIP: I would encourage you to note this in your hardbound Bibles.
Now THINK
Why castrate the males? This might be a question to ask the Lord. He will reveal and grant us more understanding a bit later.
Today: A Queen Refuses to Obey
Keep LOOKING At
The King Was Merry With Wine
READ verses 10-12 again.
There is no substitute for reading and re-reading.
Try reading aloud.
Hearing repeated readings will help store the Word in your memory.
Focus on verses 10-11.
Why did the Queen disobey her husband?
LOOK
For More Key Words
Let’s scope out wine.
WINE, yayin; The juice of the grapevine and its fruits, a common drink for refreshment in the Old Testament. It, along with grain and oil, were three great blessings to Israel in the Promised Land. It was used as a tonic (Prov. 31:6); a valuable commercial item (Neh. 13:15; Ezek. 27:18). Used properly, it made people’s hearts glad (2 Sam. 13:28; Zech. 9:15). In moderation, it was used in the worship of the Lord (Deut. 14:26). It was forbidden to Nazarites (Num. 6:3). Wise persons, especially kings, had no need of it for it might distort their powers of judgment (Prov. 31:4). It could intoxicate a person (Gen. 9:21, 24; 1 Sam. 1:14; Prov. 21:17). God did not approve of heavy drinkers (Prov. 23:20).
LOOK
At Some Cross References (aka CR)
About Wine
Find GODcha’s Picks
Remember: as you read – ask the 5W’s and H questions.
As you see, the king was merry with wine, basically drunk? What does God say about wine, strong drink, drunkenness?
1. What is wine and strong drink? What is true of one who is intoxicated?
Pro 20:1; 31:4-5
2. What does wine do?
Psa 104:14–15
3. What group of people were explicitly told not to drink wine?
Num 6:1-4
4. At the wedding in Cana when the wine ran out, what did Jesus do?
Joh 2:1-11
5. What is wine good for?
1Ti 5:23
5. What is the concern when it comes to drinking wine?
Rom 14:21
6. What is the command? What is prohibited?
Eph 5:18
Gal 5:21
What Did You LEARN 
If you need help
Check Out GODcha’s #5 LEARN Question(s)
#5. In this kingdom, 7 eunuchs served the king.
-What is a eunuch?
-After 6 mths, and then 7 days of feasting and drinking, what did the king command (demand) the eunuchs to do on the 7th day?
-What did the king want to display? (v10-11)
SUM It Up!
We LEARN:
A Eunuch is a castrated male in certain key government positions.
We LEARN:
The king was merry with wine, this is basically telling us he is drunk.
Thus, after some digging. . .
We Discovered:
Whoever is intoxicated is not wise. Drinking doesn’t make us smarter.
Wine will cause a king to forget what they have decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. Drinking can result in bad decisions.
Wine is something to delight in and makes a heart glad.
The Nazarites were never to drink wine/alcohol.
Jesus did not take the Nazarite vow, and his 1st miracle was to turn water to wine at the wedding in Cana. Jesus drank wine, showing us He did not condemn drinking wine.
Wine was good for the stomach.
We must not do anything that would cause a brother to stumble.
The command is not against drinking wine.
The command is against overconsumption – drunkenness.
If getting drunk is a habit of one’s life, then they will not inherit the kingdom of God.
LISTEN to God Speak
And LIVE it out!
Perhaps. . .
- Do I drink wine? If so, am I addicted to it?
- Have I overindulged, been drunk from wine or alcohol? What happened?
- Is drunkenness and carousing a habit of my life? If so, do I realize this will prohibit me from entering the kingdom of God?
- Or, is the habit of my life being filled (controlled) by the Spirit?
- Am I careful not to cause a brother or sister to stumble?
Do you remember the the #4 LIVE Question from yesterday?
4. Do I have a problem with alcohol?
If so, is it harming my body; enslaving me; damaging others?
What will I do?
Respond to God. . . LIVE it out!
God’s Word is alive and active and sharper than a two edged sword, Heb 4:12.
It is just simple Truth, that God speaks and when we truly listen and hear it, it pierces and does a supernatural work in our hearts and minds, and a transformation begins to take place, Rom 12:1-2.
Let the renewing and transformation take place.
Maybe STOP here, and come back tomorrow.
Today: A Queen Refuses to Obey
LOOK
Now Refocus On
What the King Wanted to Display
READ verses 10-11 again.
What did the king want to display? And why?
Now THINK and REASON!
The king is drunk, everyone is drunk, and now the king wants to parade his wife in front of all these drunk people, (mostly men) because Vashti is beautiful.
LISTEN to the Holy Spirit
Every time you read a verse, God is speaking. We need to learn to listen.
1. Men, are you guilty of parading your wife around so others will be impressed?
2. Men and women, what is your yardstick for beauty? Do you compare your spouse to others?
3. Is your spouse your best friend?
4. What kind of an example are you to your children in this area?
Do Some Cross Referencing (aka CR)
About Husbands
In light of this scene, how are husbands to treat their wives?
Eph 5:25-27, 33
1Pe 3:7-8
LISTEN to God Speak
And LIVE it out!
Check out GODcha’s #5 LIVE Question(s).
#5. Men:
a. If single: How do I view and treat women? How do I view and treat women if/when drunk?
b. If a husband: How am I treating my wife? Do I love her as myself? Or, do I display her as a trophy?
Do you see how you read, see, and hear what God says?
Then – dig a bit more by searching out other truths.
And in the midst of it all this – a conversation begins as you talk to God about what He is showing you and wants from you.
Respond to God. . . LIVE it out!
God is waiting!
Today: A Queen Refuses to Obey
Next LOOK At
The Queen’s Response
READ verse 12 asking the 5W’s and H questions.
1. How did the queen respond to the king’s command?
2. What was the result?
Now the debate is did Queen Vashti do a good thing, or a bad thing?
According to various legends, Vashti’s refusal to appear before the king was due to:
- Modesty (she might have been pregnant and was told to appear nude),
- Fear for her husband’s life (she figured she would be mobbed by the drunken crowd and the king would be killed),
- Loathing for her husband (whom she considered to have non-royal blood),
- That she had leprosy.
Do Some Cross Referencing (CR)
About Wives
1. What is the command to wives?
What do you learn about husbands?
Eph 5:22-24, 33
1Pe 3:1-6
Don’t get your undies in a bunch ladies.
Did you check out ‘subject‘?
What Does Subject Mean
Go to Eph 5:22-23 in your Bibles in GODcha.
Tap on ‘subject‘ and voila see the Greek definition open up.
SUBJECT, hupotássō; God has made one woman to become a wife to one man, and she is so constituted by God Himself. But this is not due to her being inferior to her husband, for they are both equal before God. It is a willing personal subjection demonstrated in Eph. 5:21, “submitting yourselves [hupotassómenoi] one to another in the fear of God.”
We are all equal before God and the laws of society, and yet we have varying functions and responsibilities. If we accept certain functions under a fellow-human, we must subject ourselves to that individual to accomplish a common goal. So, it is with a wife placing herself in the proper and divinely–fitted position under her husband. Only a wife can bear children, and to do this she must subject (hupotássetai) herself to her husband. The functions are equally important although different. And they are different not because we want them to be, but because God made them to be so.
Understand: Men and women are equal before God, with different responsibilities.
Now let’s try something else.
Find the GRAMMAR CODES. Learn more>
SUBJECT is a present imperative, meaning this is a command. This is not optional.
THINK and REASON:
Yes, everything in the Bible is to be obeyed, right?
So women we are to submit to our husbands, we are to honor and respect them.
BUT, we must look at the whole counsel of the Word of God.
And we have seen husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. And how did Christ love the church? Sacrificially. Husbands are to honor their wives, obey the Lord.
Understand: If husbands do their part by obeying the Lord, then it only makes sense that it is very easy for we women to do our part – to submit and honor and respect our husbands.
2. So what does a woman do when her husband, and/or boyfriend want her to do something that goes against the Lord?
Exo 1:16-17, 20
Dan 3:16-18
Act 4:19; 5:29
THINK and REASON
Women, if a husband, or a boyfriend, ask you to do something that is disobeying the Lord, the Lord is your ultimate authority, and ‘no’ is the answer.
3. Who are we not to hang with?
Pro 23:20
4. What does God do for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose?
Rom 8:28
What Did You LEARN
SUM It UP!
We LEARN:
Husbands and wives are equal before God, with different functions and responsibilities.
Husbands are to love their wives sacrificially as Christ loved the church.
Wives are to submit to their husbands.
Wives are to respect their husbands.
We LEARN:
Like the midwives, whether husband or wife, we are to fear the LORD.
Like Daniel’s 3 friends, we are not to serve or worship other gods.
Like John and Peter, we must do what is right in God’s eyes; we must obey God rather than men.
We LEARN:
We are not to be with heavy drinkers or glutenous eaters.
We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Now after all you have learned
Go to GODcha’s #6 LEARN Question(s).
#6. How did Queen Vashti respond to her husband’s drunken request, CR? So, was the Queen being:
– Disrespectful to her husband?
– Or, wise and courageous in refusing her husband, staying separated from a bunch of drunken men? (v12)
LISTEN to God Speak
And LIVE it out!
Check out GODcha’s #6 LIVE Question(s).
#6. Women:
a. If single:
– How do I dress, act and talk around men?
b. If a wife:
– Do I submit to my husband as to the Lord, respecting my husband, especially in public?
– When/why have I refused to submit to my husband, and/or others in authority, in order to be obedient to the Lord?
Respond to God. . . LIVE it out!
Oh, don’t be in a hurry, slow down and discover this sweet communion with God, your Loving, Almighty, Powerful Creator!
Today: A Queen Refuses to Obey
Let’s LOOK At One Last Thing
How Did the King Respond?
(GODcha’s #7 LEARN Question)
Check Out The Cross References
About Anger
Angry! The king was humiliated in front of everyone! Have you ever been humiliated? Angry? What do you learn about ‘anger‘?
Pro 14:17
Ecc 7:9
Mat 5:22
Eph 4:26
Jam 1:20
GODcha has a fantastic tool for you to search any word – 
the Word Search.
Try searching out one word at a time. Try ‘anger‘, then try ‘angry‘.
Every Scripture verse that anger or angry is used in will pop up.
See what all God has to say.
LISTEN to God Speak
And LIVE it out!
Perhaps. . .
Do I have a quick temper? What have been some foolish actions as a result of my quick temper?
Do I realize if I am angry with a brother or sister, I am guilty before the court and deserve fiery hell?
Do I understand that my anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God?
What must I do to control my anger, and not let the sun go down on it?
Check out GODcha’s #7 LIVE Question(s).
#7. Do I get angry when people refuse my requests?
a. How has my anger impacted others?
b. Or, when/why have I been on the receiving end of someone else’s anger? How did I deal with it?
Respond to Him. . . LIVE it out!
Think, Reason, Hear and Respond
Are you beginning to understand that there is so much more to reading God’s Word,
that is alive and sharper than a two-edged sword,
that pierces,
divides and
shows us the intents of our heart, Heb 4:12?
Oh, I so pray you are!
Are you not in awe of how much God can speak to your heart when you are willing to take the time?
Why would you miss out on such sweet communion with God the Father, and your Lord and Savior who died for you?
Let’s Call It a Day!
You have just been introduced to the Inductive Method of Study!
Do you see how much time you spend LOOKING?
- Take and read a verse;
2. LOOK for what is Key to that verse; and
3. Investigate what is Key by checking the Word Meanings; and
4. Other Scripture References for better understanding.
It is so easy! And all at your fingertips!
Reflect on all God has said to you today about the Queen who refused to obey.
God wants you to “consider what He is saying and let Him give you understanding in everything,” (2Ti 2:7).
Meditate on all God is teaching you.
Let His Truth set you free and comfort you, bringing encouragement and security to you today!
“Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; As for me, I shall be glad in the LORD,” (Psalm 104:34).
Remember
NOTE Your Discovery!
Today: A Queen Refuses to Obey
Video Tutorial> Notes Tutorial >
Put the Definitions and Cross References (CR) in your Notes.
Don’t forget to jot it all down in your Hardbound Bibles.
Include how God has stirred your heart.
Let’s Bow Before the Father
FATHER GOD, how wonderful to learn to slow down and hear You speak Truths that can make such a difference in our lives. I so pray You would take what You made known to us today, such sweet Truths about wine, and being drunk; and how we as a society should be treating women, especially how husbands should be treating their wives, and vice versa; and lastly a good look at anger and how we are to deal with anger. Oh as you confront us with these Truths may we share our struggles and concerns with You. May we be willing to confess and repent of our sins Lord, knowing You will cleanse us and forgive us. May we meditate and talk with You all day long on all these things. Oh may we be transformed as a result of sitting at Your feet. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Next: We’ll look at Esther 1:13-22.
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