Read ESTHER 1:13–18

The Supreme Court was first assembled in 1790 as the highest court in the United States of America and initially was composed of one chief justice and five associate justices. Members of the court are appointed by the president and approved by the Senate. In 1869, the number of justices increased to nine. Their purpose at the Supreme Court is to interpret legislation to see whether it is consistent with the U.S. Constitution.

How would King Xerxes handle the direct and very public defiance of his queen? He decided to convene his own so-called Supreme Court to help him determine the most appropriate punishment. He selected seven nobles of Persia who were given special access to the king and held in high esteem (vv. 13, 14).

Their judgment of the facts of the case was simple: Vashti had clearly broken the law. No matter how sympathetic we might be to her decision, she had not obeyed the command of the king. Their judgment of the needed penalty was quick: The court of nobles agreed that her actions needed to be punished. If her act of public disobedience were left unchecked, it would undermine the king’s authority (vv. 16, 17).

But notice how their own self-interest influenced their judgment of Vashti. She should have upheld a standard for other wives to follow, and therefore she should be punished not only to maintain the king’s honor but also to keep their own wives from challenging them at home (v. 18). Their interpretation of the law was as much about preserving their own sphere of power as it was about adjudicating fairly.

The law was necessary to retain control and order, they said. King Xerxes had no choice, they said. He had to punish Vashti or else endure no end of “disrespect and discord” (v. 18).

APPLY THE WORD

Human laws are necessary for governance, but only the law of the Lord is perfect (Ps. 19:7). God’s Word reveals our sins of pride and temptations to pursue power, and it also offers us freedom from sin though accepting the forgiveness available in Christ. Spend time in confession before God today, and thank Him for His perfect law that restores us.

http://www.todayintheword.org