Wisdom: The Real Beauty

In the book of Esther, Queen Vashti is described as a very beautiful woman. She was married to King Xerxes who organized a banquet in the third year of his reign. This means Queen Vashti also had only been queen for about three years too. She too gave a banquet for the women at the palace to celebrate the third year anniversary.
While in this celebratory mood, the King ordered Queen Vashti to come dressed in her royal apparel with her crown to ‘show case’ her beauty. But the Queen refused.
My initial conclusion when thinking about this singular action of Queen Vashti was that she was full of pride. But on a closer look, I began to see her action from a different angle – the Queen may have been trying to ‘caution’ the King on his excesses. Remember that the King had earlier shown off his riches, his kingdom in all its glory, and the honor of his excellent majesty during the celebration. In fact, the King displayed his vast wealth over 180 days, one of the longest displays of wealth described in the Bible.
In fairness to the Queen, (1) she could have been stressed out (2) she may have been uncomfortable with the arrogance being displaced by her husband (3) she may have been busy with the women in the palace whom she was hosting at her own banquet and (4) she may have felt embarrassed or angered that seven eunuchs were sent to bring her.
Upon a closer look, Queen Vashti had some level of freedom given to her by her husband. She was the women leader and was granted access to the kingdom’s resources.
Dear sister, any woman whose husband supports and gives her the freedom to be who God wants her to be, who also has access to her husband’s resources – time and money – is highly favored.
Wisdom has built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.
For the purpose of this write up, I will like to outline two lessons I learnt from the ‘home’ of Queen Vashti.
1. There is no excuse that can justify disobeying, correcting, confronting and embarrassing one’s husband in public. Imagine if Queen Esther had publicly confronted the King about Haman’s plan just because she was under pressure, or because of the urgency the matter required.
Instead, she wisely sought a private moment with the King by inviting him and Haman to a private banquet. A wise woman discusses issues with her husband in private.

2. It is important to dress beautifully for your husband. The same royal robes that Queen Vashti refused to wear following her husband’s orders were worn by Esther but she achieved a different result. Perhaps the King would have given Vashti an open check if she had worn her royal robes. Let us put on our royal robes, sisters.

Hmm, the two women were described as beauty to behold but what made the difference was WISDOM! I pray that we will embrace wisdom in dealing with our husbands, in Jesus name.