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What do you think is the purpose of this book? Esther remains one of the most popular books of the Old Testament. Much like the book of Ruth, this book stands as one of the most skillfully written biblical books. 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This message would be particularly appropriate for a post-exilic Israel still wrestling with their covenantal relationship with the Lord, a … But God has a purpose in what He does in the lives of those He loves. It was written approximately 470 B.C. and for our good. Esther is described in all versions of the Book of Esther as the Jewish queen of a Persian king Ahasuerus. 1 On the third day, Esther put on her royal attire and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The sovereignty and faithfulness of God permeate each scene. Haman, the king’s evil second-in-command, was a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites, who were ancient enemies of God’s people (Numbers 24:7; 1 Samuel 15:8). This unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant was crowned queen of Persia and renamed Esther, meaning “star.”. The owner of the papyrus fragment revealed! And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? They seemed Purpose of Writing: The purpose of the Book of Esther is to display the providence of God, especially in regard to His chosen people, Israel. The story of Esther teaches us that God purposely guides His people’s steps even when we are not aware of it, even when things don’t make sense. is to celebrate the providence of God, especially in regard to His chosen people, Israel. Would you? The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance. But unlike those books, Esther lacks overtly pious characters and does not model a religious lifestyle. Science Corner: My Genome is my Passport. Mordecai’s words reflected his faith that God would honor His eternal covenant with Abraham and David. 1 Answer1. Jesus called us “friends” ( John 15:15), and the Spirit is our “Helper” (14:26). All rights reserved.Site by Ascendio, Esther: A Woman of Strength and Dignity, audio series, Esther: A Woman of Strength and Dignity, softcover book, Paws & Tales: The Story of Esther, A Girl Who Became Queen to Save Her People. God’s sovereignty is best summarized in Mordecai’s exhortation to Esther: “And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). Used with Permission The book of Esther is one of only two books in the Bible named for women. And if I perish, I … The story of Esther takes place in the Persian Empire during the reign of Ahasuerus, known more familiarly to us by the Greek form of his name, Xerxes I. Please contact us or click here to learn more about how to enable JavaScript on your browser. Its author is anonymous however; some believe Mordecai, (Esther’s cousin and guardian), wrote it. The book of Esther is one of the most exciting books in all the Old Testament and is nearly unique in employing a woman as its leading character. Just Released Episode 3 of “lessons in logos”! ), Review of the Lofree Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard, Having The Best Kitchen Knives for My Cooking, “And Wisdom Became Flesh” – How the Gospel of John depicts Jesus as the incarnation of Lady Wisdom, Right Texts, Wrong Prayers? It’s also a reminder that God has a purpose for our lives, and we should be willing to trust and follow God’s plans. to Judah under Zerubbabel. people, Esther was one of the very last books to be accepted into the bible, and was accepted only because of its relationship with the festival of Purim. But that is not to say that God was absent. As Chuck was talking, Christ was also talking to my heart. Although there is no formal grouping for these books in the Jewish tradition, they nevertheless share a number of distinguishing characteristics. Furthermore, it is common knowledge that Esther is the only book in the Bible in which the name of God is not mentioned and one of only a handful of Old Testament books not quoted in the New Testament. God had a special purpose in allowing Esther to become queen. Active Oldest Votes. For Esther and Mordecai, their courageous acts ended up paying off for them. But… the fix is not from Microsoft, First Volume from Green Collection Finally Announced, Our Father Abraham: The Quran on Jews and Christians. The book of Esther was written to display the providence of God! The book is named for the “star” of the story, a young Jewish girl named Hadassah who was taken from her guardian, Mordecai, and forced to compete for the affection of the king. Chuck has a way of saying it the way it is! He worked through their dark days (Esther was taken to the harem [2:1–16]), their faithful obedience (Esther risked her life before the king [5:1–3]), and their victories (Esther revealed Haman’s plot Mordecai sent a message back to her telling her that God may have made her queen for such a time as this. Using eight feasts to systematically build and resolve suspense, the author constructed the story chiastically—using a Hebrew literary device in which events mirror each other inversely. The Book of Esther records the institution of the Feast of Purim and the obligation of its perpetual observation. Listen to Chuck Swindoll’s overview of Esther in his audio message from the Classic series God’s Masterwork. . The Persian King Xerxes kicked out his wife, Queen Vashti, after she refused his demand, and fell in love with Esther at a beauty contest. Estēr (אֶסְתֵר) – Book of Esther (on Purim) Other books. Some have suggested Mordecai himself was the author, though the accolades for him found in the text suggest that another person, perhaps one of his younger contemporaries, was the author. The most popular traditions are Mordecai (a major character in the Book of Esther), Ezra and Nehemiah (who would have been familiar with Persian customs). And watch God silently weave all events Anthony DeStefano), Episode 146: Rediscovering Jonah – Part 3. Esther is a young and beautiful Jewish girl, orphaned but cared for by her The time to follow God’s plan is now. When Esther was selected as queen, it was to save the lives of the Jewish people (Esth. Esther told Mordecai she couldn't do it. On the Prayers at the Inauguaration. 2 Tim 3:16) and its focus on the preservation of God’s chosen nation Israel has implications for the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants, and therefore, for the Messiah himself. Why hasn’t discourse analysis caught on in New Testament studies? Thanks for the good work you do. . Did Jesus have a wife? Your browser does not support JavaScript. “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. The unknown author of the book of Esther was most likely a Jew very familiar with the royal Persian court. What would Elisabeth Elliot say about Valentine’s Day? It touched me, so I would recommend it to anyone. I find Esther 4:14 interesting. © 2021 Insight for Living Ministries. Updated March 06, 2021. The Book of Esther is about a Jewish girl adopted by her uncle, Mordecai, after her parents died. God was at work. She was in just the right place to save the Jewish people. Purpose. and the Jews’ destruction of their enemies [7–9]). Its purpose is to demonstrate God’s love and sovereignty in all circumstances. Assignment: Read through the entire Book of Esther as a story. In the narrative, Ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, Vashti, refuses to obey him, and Esther is chosen for her beauty. Life can be hard. Furthermore, the writer of Esther has stated the strongest case for the religious significance and survival of the Jewish people in the ethnic sense. As a Diaspora story–a story about, and presumably for, Jews in the Diaspora during the Persian period–it provides an optimistic picture of Jewish survival and success in a foreign land. for His glory . (Sword of the Spirit, Part 3), Something Pastors and Preachers Always Need to Be Reminded Of, RTL on Office 2016 Mac –Finally, Third-party RTL Keyboards and Syriac Fonts Now Work! Please note, our website requires JavaScript to be supported. Book of Esther Series: Lesson 1- God has a Plan! The book relates the story of a Hebrew woman in Persia, born as Hadassah but known as Esther, who becomes queen of Persia and thwarts a genocide of her people. Esther In The Jewish Myth : The Book Of Esther 765 Words | 4 Pages. In order to bring about their salvation, Mordecai had to be in the right place at the right time so he could hear the plot to kill the king. The feast of Purim, still celebrated by Jews today, commemorates the Jews’ deliverance from Haman’s plot (9:24–32). The Parables of Jesus in/and the Gospels: The Dialogues Continue (Part 2: Klyne Snodgrass), Biblical Languages and Bible Translations, Technical Discussion via Zoom for Amateur Radio Operators, Preliminary Report on the Tall al-Hammam Excavation Project: Field LR, on the Atlanta shootings and the “problem” of porn in the Christian church, How We Learned about Race and Racial Reconciliation (and You Can, Too): Part 2, Early Lessons about Race at Church and through Relationships, The insertion of 1 Cor 14:34-35 and Rom 15-16 into the western manuscripts. The Book of Esther, also known in Hebrew as "the Scroll", is a book in the third section of the Jewish Tanakh. On a theological level, it serves to remind the reader of God’s providence and sovereignty. This message is clear: God is sovereign even when life doesn’t make sense. Let the book of Esther encourage you that God is always present. What Jesus taught about scripture – making an argument to inerrancy, Bible Review—NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible, Coming Soon: Podcast Series on Journeying in Academic Biblical Studies, Richard Bauckham on Matthew’s Use of Luke, "Humans are also not like cats, or dogs, or even apes", Romans 8:28-9:5 From Suffering to Intercession, DeRouchie & Meyer – Proclaiming the Kingdom, Five reasons why pastors need to study a missional interpretation of the Bible. Mordecai said to Esther: “If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish” (Esther 4:14). Exodus by Nahum Sarna: Faithlife Free Book of the Month, Wisdom and Prophecy IBR Research Group Schedule, Selling Fetal Body Parts is NOT the Primary Moral Issue, Letter Carriers and the Pauline Tradition, apocalyptic genre and historicity: Matt. We must stand with courage. When events seemed out of control to Esther and Mordecai, when the king dictated ruin for their people, when evil was poised to triumph . Besides the three poetic books and the five scrolls, the remaining books in Ketuvim are Daniel, Ezra–Nehemiah and Chronicles. Understanding What You Read. The book is set during the period after the Babylonian exile in which the nation of Persia (present day Iran) ruled Judah. Some would dispute this purpose since the book is not overtly religious. He cast the lot, called “pur,” in order to determine the day that the Jews would be exterminated (Esther 3:7–9). 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