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!