King Xerxes was in high spirits at the conclusion of his 7-day banquet when he demanded that his queen, Vashti, be brought out as a possession for her beauty to be displayed to his guests. She refused and lost her place as his queen because of it. This, of course, created an opportunity for Esther to be chosen as the new queen. Alcohol, nevertheless, was responsible for the breakup of their marriage.

Leaders can’t afford to make fools of themselves,
    gulping wine and swilling beer,
Lest, hung over, they don’t know right from wrong. [Pr. 31:4]

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, keep me from influences that pervert justice and destroy what’s good.

DAILY READING: Neh. 12,13; Esther 1