We all know the story of Esther, also known as Hadassah. Every Christian woman knows her well; many aspire to be as brave as she. But she is not the only woman in her story. Before her was another; Queen Vashti.
Now, why is Vashti important? What lessons can we learn from this woman?
At the time of her story, Vashti's husband was hosting a banquet. Basically a huge party. He instructed his male guests to drink as much wine as they would like and to do what pleased them. After some time, King Xerxes called for his wife, Vashti, to join him. He wished to show her off to his guests. Now imagine this scene, if you will. These men have been drinking for days, and are allowed to do whatever they please. There are no doubt men passed out on the floor, drunkily stumbling around; and King Xerxes wishes to bring his beautiful wife in to this scene to show her off to the drunken crowd. Is Vashti really in the wrong for disobeying her husband in this situation?
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Excepts from an interveiw with John & Staci Eldridge, co-authors of ''Captivating''
You say that Satan focused on Eve because she was beautiful-she reflected God's glory and she gave light. What are the pitfalls-what kind of evils out there are women vulnerable to?
JE: Unless you interpret your life as a woman as involving a villain who hates you and doesn't want you to have rich relationship and doesn't want you to have a meaningful career and doesn't want you to have children that love you-
SE: -and doesn't want you to believe that you're beautiful and doesn't want you to know that you have something of incredible value to offer.
JE: Then you will just think it's your inability to get your life together.
So you have to realize there's an enemy out there?
JE: You have to.
SE: It's not all you. JE: Otherwise you just live with shame. And this enemy is the devil? Or society or...?
JE: Absolutely. [Now] it's the devil. He uses people, right?
SE: Absolutely. JE: And society has done terrible things to women. But what we're trying to help them see is the source behind them. Because if you try and fix the blame on a man or men or culture, you'll miss what's really driving evil.
SE: And we know, women know. Open a newspaper, about what's happening in any country. The brunt of war is falling on women and children. The sexual assault against women-the statistics are horrible, and yet it's so underreported. It's much worse. So we know we're living in a dangerous world, but we have to realize that it's not just what's coming against us physically; it's what's coming against us spiritually.
JE: Especially against your hearts, what you live under: the accusations, guilt, condemnation, shame, reproach, fear.
JE: Unless you interpret your life as a woman as involving a villain who hates you and doesn't want you to have rich relationship and doesn't want you to have a meaningful career and doesn't want you to have children that love you-
SE: -and doesn't want you to believe that you're beautiful and doesn't want you to know that you have something of incredible value to offer.
JE: Then you will just think it's your inability to get your life together.
So you have to realize there's an enemy out there?
JE: You have to.
SE: It's not all you. JE: Otherwise you just live with shame. And this enemy is the devil? Or society or...?
JE: Absolutely. [Now] it's the devil. He uses people, right?
SE: Absolutely. JE: And society has done terrible things to women. But what we're trying to help them see is the source behind them. Because if you try and fix the blame on a man or men or culture, you'll miss what's really driving evil.
SE: And we know, women know. Open a newspaper, about what's happening in any country. The brunt of war is falling on women and children. The sexual assault against women-the statistics are horrible, and yet it's so underreported. It's much worse. So we know we're living in a dangerous world, but we have to realize that it's not just what's coming against us physically; it's what's coming against us spiritually.
JE: Especially against your hearts, what you live under: the accusations, guilt, condemnation, shame, reproach, fear.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 (New Life Version)
9 "I also want woman to wear clothes that are right for them. They should dress with respect and right thinking. They should not use fancy braids or gold or pearls or expensive clothes to make themselves beautiful.
10 But they should make themselves beautiful by doing good deeds. Woman should make themselves beautiful in that way."
10 But they should make themselves beautiful by doing good deeds. Woman should make themselves beautiful in that way."
1 Timothy 3:11 (New Life Version)
"They must not be woman who repeat evil gossip about other people. They must have self-control and be woman who can be trusted with everything."
Proverbs 31:10-31 (New Life Version)
10 Who can find a good wife? For she is worth far more than rubies that make one rich.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never stop getting good things.
12 She does him good and not bad all the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
14 She is like ships that trade. She brings her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night and makes food for all those in her house. She gives work for the young women to do.
16 She gives careful thought to a field and buys it. She plants grape-vines from what she has earned.
17 She makes herself ready with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18 She sees that what she has earned is good. Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the wheel to make cloth.
20 She opens her hand to the poor, and holds out her hands to those in need.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for those in her house, for all of them are dressed in red.
22 She makes coverings for herself. Her clothes are linen cloth and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the leaders of the land.
24 She makes linen clothes and sells them. She brings belts to those who trade.
25 Her clothes are strength and honor. She is full of joy about the future.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom. The teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of those in her house, and does not eat the bread of doing nothing.
28 Her children rise up and honor her. Her husband does also, and he praises her, saying:
29 "Many daughters have done well, but you have done better than all of them."
30 Pleasing ways lie and beauty comes to nothing, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never stop getting good things.
12 She does him good and not bad all the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
14 She is like ships that trade. She brings her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night and makes food for all those in her house. She gives work for the young women to do.
16 She gives careful thought to a field and buys it. She plants grape-vines from what she has earned.
17 She makes herself ready with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18 She sees that what she has earned is good. Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the wheel to make cloth.
20 She opens her hand to the poor, and holds out her hands to those in need.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for those in her house, for all of them are dressed in red.
22 She makes coverings for herself. Her clothes are linen cloth and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the leaders of the land.
24 She makes linen clothes and sells them. She brings belts to those who trade.
25 Her clothes are strength and honor. She is full of joy about the future.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom. The teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of those in her house, and does not eat the bread of doing nothing.
28 Her children rise up and honor her. Her husband does also, and he praises her, saying:
29 "Many daughters have done well, but you have done better than all of them."
30 Pleasing ways lie and beauty comes to nothing, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
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