Welcome to the wonderful book of Esther! I advise that you read it through once or twice at one sitting using as many translations as you have. It is a fast paced, exciting story. 1. Take special note that the Name of God does not appear in the book. This makes it unique among the books of the Bible. As you read, you will realize that although His name does not appear, He is at work on every page. In a pagan environment, with no public acknowledgment of the true God and in a situation where His Name is never mentioned, He is still there working out His purposes. God does not work only among believers! People do not have to agree with God to be used unwittingly by Him! He is God in all places – even where you work! 2. Notice the word “favor” in this book. Esther stands out as the favored one. As god favors us, pointing His grace finger at us, others feel a strange, inexplicable desire to favor us too. 3. This book is a running commentary on Romans 8:28. Every detail is under His control, being worked according to His purpose. We who love Him are active participators in all things working for good.
AUTHOR OF THE BOOK
We do not know the name of the person who wrote the book. It was obviously a Jew who was well acquainted with the details of the reign of Ahasuerus and the palace of Shushan.
THE TIME
The events of the book cover a ten year period, approximately 483-473 BC, during the reign of Ahasuerus, which is the Hebrew form of Xerxes I. The whole book of Esther fits between chapters 5 and 7 of the book of Ezra. While Ezra took place in Jerusalem, this was taking place in the court of Shushan.
OUTLINE OF ESTHER
I. BEGINNINGS OF PERSECUTION 1:1-3:15
VASHTI DIVORCED 1:1-22 It should be noted that in the society of that day the wife was the property of the husband and in total submission to him. She was expected to mindlessly obey him at all times; and was not allowed to approach his room without an invitation. When the queen refused her husband’s order, it was suicidal, and she was fortunate to escape with her life. ESTHER CHOSEN 2:1-20 An unknown foreign girl, descendant of captives, rises to be the most powerful woman in the Empire. Note the number of times she receives favor on her rise the place of power. God gave her the favor, causing everyone to look at her as He did. THE KING SAVED 2:21-23 At this point in the story the event is small. The fact is the Mordecai, coming to know of the plot against the king’s life, was God’s favor, as the story will show later on. Many small coincidences in our lives are really God’s favor being laid up for days to come. HAMAN’S PLOT #:1-25 There is great significance to Mordecai’s refusal to bow, and Haman’s insane hatred of the man and all his kindred. Read Exodus 17:14 and I Samuel 15. Amalek were the first and continual haters of God and His people. God declared war on the Amalek from the beginning. They became small but were still consumed by a passion to wipe out God’s people. The battle was joined under King Agag, and Saul, King of Israel, was commanded to wipe out these God haters once and for all. Instead, he had sympathy for Agag and freed him. Generations later a descendant of Agag, Haman, is in the palace of Shushan seeking to fulfill the pursuit of all his people since Moses; to wipe out the Jews. If Saul had obeyed God, the lives of His people would not have been in jeopardy centuries later.
II. ESTHER’S INTERVENTION 4:1-5:14
MORDECAI’S APPEAL TO ESTHER 4:1-17 For Esther to go into the king was suicide. Remember, he had replaced a queen who did not know or keep her place! the second one to make a fool of the king would not get off so lightly! Mordecai forces her to face the fact that God had favored her for just such a moment as this (vs. 14). Esther calls the people to fast, which was a statement of her sense of helplessness. Although, even in this context, the name of God is not mentioned, it is obviously a fast unto God. Fasting does not impress God! It is the biblical way we can express our helplessness in ourselves, and our expectant dependency upon Him. ESTHER AND THE KING 5:1-8 The king more than accepts her unheard of, uninvited entrance to his room. He positively welcomes her and promises her anything she wants. The only reason for such a response is given in verse two – she found favor. Notice how God gives her wisdom to prepare both the king and Haman for her exposure of the true nature of the plot against the Jews. HAMAN AND MORDECAI 5:9-14 The arrogant Haman, not realizing that God is drawing the net around him, seethes in rage at Mordecai. He prepares gallows to hang the man the following morning. All this sounds like political intrigue set in court two and a half millennia ago. In all the politics, God is silently at work bringing to pass His purpose.
III. THE DELIVERANCE OF GOD’S PEOPLE 6:1-10:3
THE DEFEAT OF HAMAN 6:1-7:10 Humiliation: God silently at work causes the king to lay awake on his bed; further causes him to choose the right book to read, and turns him to the right paragraph where he reads of how Mordecai saved his life. Haman plays right into God’s hands and, for a morning, becomes the servant of the man whom Haman had hoped the king would execute. God is fantastic! Executed: At the second dinner party, Esther exposes Haman and he is hanged on the gallows he had prepared twenty-four hours before for Mordecai. THE NEW DECREE 8;1-17 A decree sealed with the king’s ring could never be revoked. This meant that the order to kill the Jews could not be withdrawn, but the king gives his ring to Mordecai and tells him to send out a decree that will counteract the one in existence. DEFEAT OF ALL ENEMIES 9:1-19 INSTITUTION OF THE FEAST OF PURIM 9:20-32 This is still celebrated to this day. MORDECAI’S FAME 10:1-3 Note that the book that has traced God’s favor ends with a statement of God’s continuing favor in the life of this man. Be sure to note how God was at work in the most ordinary situations and, as He brought His purpose quietly to pass, He favored me, His child. It gave me faith in the “Silent God.” Take the dare to walk out and act on God when He isn’t making a great noise of His Presence, knowing that you were born for such a day as this. You and I were born for this day. He is at work all around you today. Open your eyes and dare to walk in step with God, even when no one else can see or hear!