Let's Meditate on Esther

[Sam Jer]

I suggest those of us who are active on puritanboard on the Lord's Day discuss the book of Esther together. Share anything you'd like about the book - thoughts you have about some portion in it, edifying quotes, questions, anything.

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Here are a few questions to get us started.

1. Is the gospel opened up before us in the book, or perhaps prefigured in it? Where? (to my shame, for all my familiarity with the book, I can't answer this very simple question).
2. What other points can we learn from the book? From each of it's ten chapters? From it's characters (Ahasuerus, Mordechai, Esther, Haman, etc.)?
3. Why did God inspire it?

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One thought I had the other day: Note how in the most vain, worldly, godless, and sexualised enviroment possible - Esther maintains a quiet and gentle spirit to the degree she can.

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. (2:15)

And also, Mordechai was being watched the moment they knew his faith. Let us remain steadfast - the world is watching:

Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. (3:4)

 

[Andrew35]

From an English Teacher's POV, Esther is masterful storytelling. The irony, the comedy, the intensity throughout the narrative, in the characterization and sequence of events, is absolutely superb. And--tipping my hand here re. some of my own theories--it doesn't need to mention God even once. Because the sophisticated storytelling techniques require the Divine back of everything to make the whole thing work, or even make sense.

Incidentally, this is why, even as a teen, I couldn't stomach George RR Martin's work, as well as what I'm hearing in some writing circles about why he can't finish his series: he deliberately wrote Providence out--and now he can't give it a satisfying ending, since it would betray the message of his own work! And why JRR Tolkien, with his subtle acknowledgement of Providence, will always be the superior author.

Perhaps Esther trains us to see the Divine in our lives too, in shaping of events and circumstances that make no sense, that have no story, without Him--the understated humor, tragedy, and joy that shines through.

 

[Poimen]

I have always appreciated this meditation from Matthew Henry on Esther 5:3:

“Esther came to a proud imperious man; we come to the God of love and grace. She was not called; we are: the Spirit says, Come, and the bride says, Come. She had a law against her; we have a promise, many a promise, in favour of us: Ask, and it shall be given you. She had no friend to introduce her, or intercede for her, while on the contrary he that was then the king's favourite was her enemy; but we have an advocate with the Father, in whom he is well pleased. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace.”

 

[Poimen]

By way of summary, Matthew Henry says that the book acts as proof or an example of Psalm 37:11,12. The 'silence' of God throughout emphasizes the need to endure when we possess the promises but not yet the fulfillment of those promises. That is we must walk by faith and not by sight.

The reader should also observe how many of these themes (below) arise in the book of Revelation. That book also stresses the fledgling nature of the church in the world, her many struggles, trials and opposition, yet ends like Esther with a great victory centered in their great one Christ.

Chapter 1 opens with the grandeur of the kingdoms of men in contrast to the kingdom of God (and in contrast to the later, quieter spirit of Esther and Mordecai). However the Lord humbles the great king in the defiance of his queen thus showing the temporality and folly of greatness as men perceive it.

Chapter 2 reminds us of the dangers and difficulties of remaining pure and unstained in this sinful world. It also points (somewhat more as a foil) to the wedding banquet and preparations of the bride of Christ.

Chapter 3 shows us how the wicked are often promoted and exalted, and how much of a threat the seed of the serpent is to the seed of the woman in this life.

Chapter 4 demonstrates the need to live by fasting and mourning which are always accompanied with prayer), especially in light of persecution. Obedience to God may place us in jeopardy (like Obadiah in Elijah's time) but events are ours, consequences are his.

Chapter 5 encourages us as Jesus' admonition, that is to be wiser than serpents and harmless as doves. It also demonstrates that the glory of the wicked is vain and short lived. The preparations unto wickedness may begin well but do not end such.

Chapter 6 reveals that God has the smallest events in his hand to do with as he wills and always for good ends as far as his people are concerned. The seed of the woman (vs. 13) will triumph at last.

Chapter 7 uncovers God's judgment for the wicked at last as the king's wrath is poured out on those who would touch his anointed.

Chapter 8 recalls the struggle of righteousness to prevail in the world, that the bride has victory which brings joy to God's people and fear upon the world (notice how the final verse is echoed in Joshua e.g. Jericho and even in Acts 2:43,5:5).

Additionally, Mordecai is type of Christ in vs. 4, as his 'kingdom' spreads throughout the land. He is also a foil in that while Mordecai became greater (cf. 10:2), the eternal Son can never be greater than he is (only in our estimation or movement towards him).

Chapter 9:1-16 proves the justice of God is unrelenting for those who harden themselves against him.

Chapter 9:17-10:3 ends in the 'eternal' recollection of God's victory, rest and feasting. N.B. Mordecai, not Esther, is finally exalted and glorified while he speaks peace to the people. Here is the "king of the Jews" in the kingdom of men, ruling over his people unto their good.

 

[LadyCalvinist]

I always thought the message of Esther is, that no matter how dire, even frightening, the world gets, GOd will protect his own and lead them home.

 

[Northern Crofter]

thoughts you have about some portion in it

Esther 4.14 has long been a source of encouragement to do things I knew I should but didn't want to: "For if thou holdest thy peace at this time, comfort and deliverance shall appear to the Jews out of another place, but thou and thy father’s house shall perish: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" For example, it helps dispel thoughts like "I don't need to witness to such-and-such a colleague when they come to me with (what they may not see as) a spiritual problem - if they are elect, God will use someone else." Yes, He will, but you will be judged, because He has providentially placed you in this situation.

I also see that the general wisdom of the end of this verse ("who knoweth whether thou art come [into such a situation] for such a time as this?") applies to daily life. There are times in life when you realize you are the only (or one of a few people) in a position to do something - if you let it go because it involves risk or discomfort, it might fall to someone else eventually, but such inaction is a form of direct rejection of God's providence and rebellion against His law: "Q. What is the general scope of the fifth commandment? A. The general scope of the fifth commandment is, the performance of those duties which we mutually owe in our several relations...." (WLC 126). Not helping others in our direct path when we are able to do so breaks the two greatest commandments at the same time: Love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and love thy neighbor as thyself.

This verse sustained me some years ago going through a situation of exposing fraud in a social-historical setting on a topic that is notoriously sensitive (a form of "stolen valor"). The fraudster came from the community I grew up in and was visiting the community I live in now (hundreds of miles away). I knew of no other historians with such connections to both communities. Had it not gone well, I would have lost my job and probably would have felt compelled to move. But I could not shake the "for such a time as this" feeling. It turned out okay - I was able to witness personally to the fraudster (who eventually recanted publicly) and give a Christian testimony to the press - but I confess it was not a duty I enjoyed. But I don't think Esther enjoyed her experience either even though it also worked okay for her and her community - which is another lesson about doing one's duty in this life: we need to focus not on the unpleasantness of our duties, but on the privilege of being in the position of carrying it out for the glory of God. It is similar to how Jesus speaks of a woman giving birth: "A woman when she travaileth hath sorrow because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world." (John 16.21)