“So if it please the king, we suggest that you issue a written decree, a law of the Persians and Medes that cannot be revoked. It should order that Queen Vashti be forever banished from the presence of King Xerxes, and that the king should choose another queen more worthy than she.” Esther 1:19 NLT
Prior to this verse, King Xerxes ordered for Queen Vashti to come join him and the nobles, so they could all admire her beauty, for “she was lovely to look at.” (Verse 11) As we read the chapter, we find that Queen Vashti refuses to obey the King’s order, which infuriates him and causes him to burn with anger.
It seemed rather quick to lose the position of Queen from one refusal to obey a command, so I read some commentary’s and found this by Matthew Henry: We may suppose that before they proceeded to this extremity they sent to Vashti to know if she would submit, cry Peccavi – I have done wrong, and ask the king’s pardon, and that, if she had done so, the mischief of her example would have been effectually prevented, and process would have been stayed; but likely she continued obstinate, and insisted upon it as her prerogative to do as she pleased, whether it pleased the king or no, and therefore they gave this judgment against her
Having read chapter 1 and knowing the next Queen, it is interesting for us to realize God’s design in how Esther would be brought into position to further His plan. Though Vashti had most likely been ‘on display’ in the past for others to see her beauty, now for some reason she refuses this request. The choice to disregard the King’s command causes him to burn with anger, so he seeks advice from his experts. The advice provided is for Vashti to be replaced, never to be in the presence of the King again.
Acts 15:18 reminds us that, “Known to God from eternity are all His works.” God serves His purpose even by the sins and foolishness of men, as He did in today’s chapter. May this encourage us to know that where we are, is right where we should be. For God’s providence made way for Esther to the crown and also paves the way for us today. Let us rejoice that our Lord reigns, and overrules the madness and foolishness of mankind in order to promote His own glory!
Lock Your Wings 
It is interesting to consider why Vashti refused. It made me wonder if she was expected to do more than parade her beauty and this commentary suggested that may have been the case: https://www.angelpenn.com/when-god-seems-absent/
Or at least requested to appear with only the crown, or too tired from recently becoming a mom, or just deliberately choosing to ignore the request of the king.
I realize that Vashti’s departure allowed Esther to be in the place of influence but I always feel sorry for Vashti and admire her stance for disobedience in the male dominated society.
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