ESTHER

This book was written about 460 BC and centres on the reign of Ahasuerus ( known to us as Xerxes) 486-465 BC. Esther was raised up by God's Providence to be instrumental in preserving his church in the Persian Empire ( formerly the Babylonian Empire ).

CHAPTER 1  A Queen puts  a King to shame.

Vs.1-11. A drunken king.

Many of God's people still lived in Babylon. Ahasuerus was a proud, vain monarch who liked to show off. He had a busy social life, lots of feasts and drinking sessions. A threat was rising against God's people in that country ; unseen by men but God knew. God was about to bring Esther into the court, overruling man's sin to do it. One day at a drunken feast the king sent for his wife, he wanted to display her to his guests,  as in a public market place.

Vs.12-22. A brave queen.

This was a disgraceful and humiliating command from a husband and the queen was right to disobey. He had no right to parade his wife in front of other men. Normally such an act would be frowned upon in eastern countries, but he was drunk, and there is no telling what a drunk will do ! When the king sobered up he realized that he had made a fool of himself, but rather than accept responsibility for his foolishness, he blamed his wife for his public upset. His nobles, afraid of him, agreed. Vashti the queen was thus deposed (19).

Vs.19- ch.2:4. The search for a new queen.

The queen was now divorced and the search began for a replacement. Contrary to what the court believed (20), a wife does not honour her husband by supporting his sinful acts. However, they knew that flattery would please the king, a man who thought he was infallible, and it worked (21). So they prepared the way by slandering Vashti, as if she was to blame for all ! (22). They encouraged the now lonely king to search for a new queen throughout the provinces. This led to a kind of beauty parade at the palace. Women were enforced to appear before the king, one of whom was Esther. It is sad when women are not treated as women, but as property.

We see in this chapter the dangers of drunkenness and pride, the courage of Vashti, and the mysterious, unexpected ways in which God preserves His church.God is unseen, but God is in control of all events ( Ps.76:10 ). It is God who governs the nations, every other government is under His ( Ps.22:28).

CHAPTER  2  In the King's Palace.

Vs.5-11. Esther, by respect and kindness, makes a friend inside the palace.

Esther had been an orphan and was brought up by her uncle Mordecai. She was also beautiful and so was ' arrested ' for the king's beauty parade. Mordecai advised her to be quiet regarding her nationality ; in her background she would be regarded as one of the 'captives ' from Israel. Esther was helped by Hegai, the man in charge of the women ; there was mutual respect and kindness. We must be careful we do not repel people by our religion, but seek to please God by it.

Vs.12-20. The king chooses Esther.

Hegai gave Esther friendly advice, and the king actually came to love her, a poor Jewish girl. He determined to marry her and held a proper feast this time to celebrate. Esther thus became the new queen, She still followed Mordecai's advice and hid her religious beliefs - but perhaps she was wrong to do this.

Vs.21-23. Mordecai discovers a plot to kill the king.

Mordecai may have been one of the guards at the palace gate. One day he overheard two of the king's nobles planning revenge against the king. He reported this to Esther who informed the king, and the men were arrested. Thus Mordecai saved the king's life, and this was written down in the history book of the kingdom. We are to love our neighbour and preserve life ; this does include our enemies sometimes. Was it wrong for Mordecai and Esther to hide their witness to the Messiah, to Christ ? We have to be careful about how much we ' blend in ' with pagan society, and be distinct  in our witness. A distinctive testimony may not get us promotion, but it will glorify God, which is more important. Paul was a prisoner in Caesar's palace, but what a witness ! - and everyone there knew it. ( Philipp.1:13)

CHAPTER 3  An old enemy gets power.

Vs.1-7. Haman is offended.

The king promoted the wealthy Haman to be the new Prime Minister. Haman was an Agagite, a descendant of the Amalekites, old enemies of the Jews  ( Exodus 17:8-16. Number 24:20. Deut.25:17-19). Whenever they met, Mordecai would therefore not bow down to Haman, his enemy,as others did. He said nothing, but his silent protest made Haman angry ( vs.3,5). Sometimes it is enough to show our identity with God by not doing what the world does. Haman was angry, and wanted revenge against all the Jews in Babylon, and not just Mordecai. He was a superstitious pagan, and ' rolled the dice '. The result was " 12 ", so he planned to attack the Jews on the twelfth month, which was called ' Pur.' Pride and superstition are a nasty combination.

Vs.8-15.  Haman plans his revenge.

Instead of being honest and giving his true reasons for hating the Jews, Haman twists the facts to make the king think that the Jews are a threat to his kingdom (8). The king had recently been defeated by the Greek army and navy, and needed money. Taking it from the Jews seemed a good plan therefore. Haman offered to get it for him. Slander, anger, ambition and greed were the basis of doing wrong ; we should watch out for this - human nature has not changed. Haman, in the king's name, now sent out letters to the provincial authorities, commanding them to rise up against the Jews in the twelfth month ; this gave 11 months to prepare (7) for this atrocity. However, God saw all this coming, and His people saw it too. The city of Shushan, where the king's palace was, was shocked at this barbaric plan for genocide (15), but no-one spoke against it ! They feared the king more than they feared God - this was wrong. There is always a choice made in how we respond to sin, and God will always either or disapprove of the choices we make. Moses said to the people, " I have set before you life and death, choose life ! "

CHAPTER 4  Esther is in a position to change things.

Vs.1-9. Esther hears of Mordecai's distress.

When Mordecai heard of the king's decree, at Haman's instigation, he tore his clothes, wore sackcloth and put ashes on his head. This was the traditional sign of mourning ( just as people wear black clothes nowadays). A report came to Esther of his sorrow. Mordecai sent her a message ; she was to go to the king and persuade him against killing the Jews in the empire.

Vs.10-17. Facing a serious difficulty.

Esther had not seen the king for 30 days, and no-one could see him unless invited. To come in uninvited meant the death penalty. The king had the power to pardon this ' crime' by extending his golden sceptre to the ' trespasser '. Mordecai reminded Esther that as a Jewish woman she would also die in the intended massacre. If she failed to act, God would help His people in some other way, said Mordecai, and reminded her that her position at court was part of God's purpose (14). There are risks ( Acts 21;13), but has not everything been leading up to this moment ?

Esther trusted in God as her only hope, but there must be prayer before action (16). She must now come forward as a witness for God, this could not be hidden any longer. What is the motive for our actions, is it self preservation or love to Christ ? Esther had the character of a faithful follower of Christ, there could be no ambiguity now. God can use individuals for His cause - what about you ? " She has done what she could." is a fitting epitaph for God's people.

CHAPTER 5   ESTHER'S PETITION TO THE KING.

Vs.1-8.  Esther's unexpected request.

Esther prepared prayerfully for this risky entrance to the king. Doubtless she prayed for wisdom, but prayer is not a substitute for duty. She prayed and she went in, uninvited. She used the means prayerfully, and the king accepted her, holding out the golden sceptre to her. Christ does the same for sinners, who, though afraid, come to Him . The law denies us access, but the gospel bids us come by faith, assuring us of acceptance this way. (Rom. 5:1,2).Esther did not immediately ask for her people to be delivered, but invited the king and Haman to a banquet. Both came and the king was keen to know what Esther desired from him. In response, she invited them both to another banquet on the next day.

Vs.9-14. Haman is mistakenly pleased with Providence. He thought all was going well for him, when it wasn't ! Providence is no safe guide. God was indeed working, but working against him ( Prov.19:21). Often the wicked seem to prosper, but it will not last. God is good to all, even to His enemies, but goodness is not grace, and final destruction awaits them. ( Prov. 5:21-23. 16:18. 29:23).

Haman's joy is interrupted when he Mordecai again, and he still refuses to bow. His family congratulated him on his successful rise to power, and advised him to build a high gallows on which to hang Mordecai, but he was unwittingly building his own gallows ! Haman had a plan, everyone has a plan, but God also has a plan, and His is the only one that shall come to pass. The plan of salvation is clear for sinners in the Bible. A spectator would have thought God's people in Babylon were doomed, but we cannot fully understand God's intentions until the end comes( John 13:7). Esther trusted God for her future, and so must we (Ps.34:22).

CHAPTER 6.  A shocking reversal for God's enemies.

Vs.1-3. A sleepless night.

As part of His plan to deliver His people, God kept the king awake that night. To pass the time the king had someone read to him the history of his kingdom. He now heard that Mordecai had saved his life but had not been rewarded. This disturbed him, and he purposed to reward Mordecai publicly. Unlike this king, our King will always remember what we have done in His service ( Heb.6:10). We do not seek public honour, to serve and honour Him is our delight ( Philipp.2:10,11).

Vs.4-9. Enter Haman.

Just when Haman wants to interview the king, the king asks Haman how a good servant should be honoured. Haman mistakenly thinks he is the one to be honoured, and suggests a grand public display of honour. Selfishness makes a man look at himself as the centre of God's Providence.

Vs.10-14. Haman, in shock, must obey the king.

Haman suddenly realizes that he is to honour Mordecai publicly, and he is to take a lower position than Mordecai, who is to be on horseback while he himself walked. Not a good day for Haman, but it was about to get worse. Now he had to obey the queen and attend her banquet. He came hoping he could influence the king and yet repair his prospects. But the trap was closing around Haman. Things were not what they seemed, God's people were being protected. The enemies  made the same mistake when they thought that crucifying Christ would get rid of Him ; that plan backfired also.

CHAPTER  7   THE SECRET DISCIPLE REVEALS HERSELF.

Vs.1-4.  Esther's confession and request.

Esther had been silent until now about her beliefs. Perhaps, if she had spoken up, the king might have restrained Haman. Sometimes it takes a crisis in a secret disciple's life to make him or her speak out for Christ ( eg. Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea). Notice how things became better for Esther after she declared her faith.

Vs.5-10. The sudden downfall of Haman.

In one day Haman's threat is gone and himself also. What a powerful demonstration of the Power and sovereignty of God ! Those who made gloomy predictions before this day were too quick to judge. The king was angry that Haman had told him half-truths and had deceived him. the apostle Paul believed in declaring ' the whole counsel of God," ( Acts 20 ) ; no truths should be withheld.A half gospel is no gospel at all. Haman wanted mercy but he received as much he was prepared to give the Jews - none ! We shall not find mercy beyond the grave, nor in fallen human nature, but God gives it through Christ ( alone ). Many die suddenly, and unprepared for what lies beyond death, like Haman.

CHAPTER  8  From sadness to gladness.

Vs.1-9. The king's new decree.

Haman was gone but the evil he had produced was already set in motion. The king wanted to help but his previous words were a barrier, government decrees he could not change. He gave Mordecai his ring, his authority to add another decree, to give the Jews the right to defend themselves when the attacks came. Men might be able to change circumstances, but only God can change a person's nature. The king is an example of how people can be troubled in the future by what they have said or done in the past. However, the Christian is optimistic because he knows that God can change things.

Vs.10-17. The right to self defence.

Happily, in God's Providence, there were still 9 months to go before the planned massacre. The empire was duly informed that if the Jews were attacked on the day appointed they had the right to fight back (11,13). Some of the people pretended to become Jews in order to escape suffering( 17) ; this would save them from men, but it was not enough to save them from God ;i t was not a ' new birth.' Conformity is not the same as being ' born again.'

Some enemies are not revealed until the day appointed. Like the devil, they work unseen for now. Heaven is described by Job," There the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest."

CHAPTER 9 - 10:3.    Purim and Providence.

PURIM. The day of Pur turned out, in God's Providence, to be a day of victory, and not of destruction, as the enemies had planned. The Jews were also granted an extra day to defeat the rebels (13). Afterwards ( vs. 20,21), Mordecai ( not God) appointed the feast of Purim to remember this victory. The Jews celebrate it to this day. The New Testament church does not celebrate it - we have a greater deliverance to remember, at a  greater Feast

(1 Corinth.5:8), the Lord's Supper.

PROVIDENCE. " God is the invisible Mover behind the deliverance of His people." ( K. Jobes - who has the best Commentary on Esther ). We must not limit God's working ( or the devil's ) to what we can see or understand. We see in the Book of Esther the sovereignty of God, and also how He uses unlikely and ordinary people to carry out His purpose. The trouble in Persia was beyond man's control, but not beyond God's. " He preserves and governs all His creatures and all their actions." ( Sh. Catechism). The devil is behind all evil, he brought it into this world, and death behind it.

From this Book we also learn the need for patience when things ' appear ' to be  bad, and to wait prayerfully to see what God will do, and what door God will open for us to act. Esther was an orphan but was adopted by God through faith in the Christ ( Galat.3:26). God will look after His own, ' Let us not cast away our confidence in Him ' ( Heb.10:35).