The Hidden Spirits within Vashti

The Hidden Spirits within Vashti

 The Book of Esther

A few months ago, and now during the 13 days of fasting, as I was reading the book of Esther, the Holy Spirit ministered to me about the life of Vashti. I pondered as to what possessed her to behave the way she did that caused her to loose her royalty and the abundance that came with it. As I continued to read the whole chapter 1, not once, not twice but several times my spirit was moved and I knew God was trying to show me what Vashti was hiding from everyone but that ONLY God saw.  God has a way to reveal many things that we also hide from the world, but not to harm or cause us shame, but to release us from bondage that keeps us from being the Esther he intended for us to be.  The more I went back to read chapter 1, the more revelation I received by the Holy Spirit. As I pictured her life, I imaged that she also had to go through a process of beautification, the bible speaks that she was beautiful, pleasant to the eyes of men and even women. She was given power and authority to rule over the maidservants and over all who served in the palace, she played an important role – she was The Queen, the First Lady. I imagined she was envied by many women who had wished to be in her position. I imagined her constantly being praised and honored, commented about her outer beauty, her clothes, her jewelry, her royal crown.  {Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, Proverbs 31:30} Everyone was in a her beg and call, what ever Queen Vashti wanted, Queen Vashti received.   

I want to add in my own opinion; Vashti was not only beautiful but was also very good in hiding her past. I could imagine that she wanted to start a new life and leave her past behind and maybe her intentions were pure and wanted to bring hope to other women who must have been where she was in her past before becoming a Queen, but she lost herself in all this attention and being in the spotlight and that was what cost her, her downfall.  

My point of view as I understand it, Queen Vashti became conceited, arrogant, self-seeker, self-centered {adds up to}  The Spirit of PRIDE – {Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace} following along the spirit of pride was The Spirit of DISOBEDIENT-  {See how each of you is following the stubbornness of his evil heart instead of obeying me. Jeremiah 16:12} she was rebellious and refused to respect and obey the kings orders and refuse to submit to authority and also added The Spirit of DIVISION, { Proverbs 6:19 A false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. }she caused strife and gossip among the women she associated with.  It seems to me that Vashti was a very bitter woman, she must of carried a lot of anger from her past that eventually exposed itself and rejected the role that was expected from her, unfortunately for her the outcome of her decisions caused her to be replaced and banned from every coming in front of the king. 

Reflecting on the decisions that caused the lost of Vashti role as a queen, I saw that very reflection in my life, the things that were hidden within Vashti was also hidden within me and God was exposing  those very things that kept me in bondage.  He needed me to understand that he could not use me until I was set free from the very bondage that made Vashti loose her royal place in the kingdom. Not everyone would admit to this because of shame and being judge, but in order to be fully set free, the lies and hidden ugliness has to be exposed, for then true freedom will manifest the beauty within.  

Each of us as woman has had and will have to face the consequences of our decisions and those actions that come with hidden intentions.  To me, all these hidden agendas almost cost me my marriage, my family and friends, I was removed from ministry, lost the trust of my spiritual parents, but I thank God that I had to go through this painful journey in order for God to bring me to a place of submission to Him and to those under authority and with true obedience and most of all become a GOD pleaser, not a people pleaser. {We must obey God rather than men! Acts 5:29} This wakeup call taught me to surrender, accept, repent and live with transparency with everyone.{ Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. (Revelation 3:3 } Preparing and keeping myself always under the full armor of GOD, praying and interceding at all time, equipping myself with the Word of God to discern what is and what is not of GOD.  Feeding my spirit, protecting and guarding what has been deposited in me by God and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me into the front lines of this spiritual warfare that is going on right now in the spiritual realms, knowing that at any given time, the enemy will come and vomit his unpleasant lies and will distort the Word of God and use it against the purpose of God in my life, my marriage, my children and to the ministry I will soon serve in.  I thank God for his Grace, his Love, and his Mercy. I now can say I am walking in true Freedom, and in order for me to continue to walk in true freedom, I have to keep myself under the mantle of humility and continue to keep God the Center of my Life.  {Proverbs 22:4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.}

Heavenly Father, I thank you for Your Good News, which has freed me from the bondage of sin and ignorance. Let Your constant Word be the sword and armor in my life. Amen.

Written on 1/16/2013
by Maribel Castillo