JULY 13 - VASHTI THE QUEEN
READ Esther 1
Because Vashti refuses to dance for King Ahasuerus, she is removed as queen.
INSIGHT
In Ezra and Nehemiah, we learn how God watches over the Jews who return from captivity. Esther tells us how those who remain in exile—scattered through the East—are marvelously preserved. Though the name of God does not appear in the book, His hand is clearly manifest throughout. The significance of the “narrow escapes” cannot be dismissed as coincidental. Ahasuerus demands that his queen appear before the party. She refuses. The stage is now set for God´s miraculous plan of deliverance for His people.
PRAYER
Take comfort in the sovereignty of God, and praise Him for His faithfulness:
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
Bring an offering and enter his courts.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
Let the sea and all that fills it resound
(Psalm 96:5-8, 11).
As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
“I deserted you for a brief moment,
But I will take you back with abundant compassion.
In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment,
But I will have compassion on you with everlasting love,”
Says the Lord your Redeemer (Isaiah 54:7-8).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
My sheep hear my voice,
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life,
And they will never perish.
No one will snatch them out of my hand
(John 10:27-28).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Now may the God
Who gives endurance and encouragement
Grant you to live in harmony with one another,
According to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
With one mind and one voice (Romans 15:5-6).
Because Vashti refuses to dance for King Ahasuerus, she is removed as queen.
INSIGHT
In Ezra and Nehemiah, we learn how God watches over the Jews who return from captivity. Esther tells us how those who remain in exile—scattered through the East—are marvelously preserved. Though the name of God does not appear in the book, His hand is clearly manifest throughout. The significance of the “narrow escapes” cannot be dismissed as coincidental. Ahasuerus demands that his queen appear before the party. She refuses. The stage is now set for God´s miraculous plan of deliverance for His people.
PRAYER
Take comfort in the sovereignty of God, and praise Him for His faithfulness:
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
Bring an offering and enter his courts.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
Let the sea and all that fills it resound
(Psalm 96:5-8, 11).
As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
“I deserted you for a brief moment,
But I will take you back with abundant compassion.
In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment,
But I will have compassion on you with everlasting love,”
Says the Lord your Redeemer (Isaiah 54:7-8).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
My sheep hear my voice,
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life,
And they will never perish.
No one will snatch them out of my hand
(John 10:27-28).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
- Greater commitment to the Lord
- Specific Christian ministries
- Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Now may the God
Who gives endurance and encouragement
Grant you to live in harmony with one another,
According to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
With one mind and one voice (Romans 15:5-6).