Esther and the Promise of Deliverance
For Meditation
In our final week of this summer series, we are looking at the exciting story of Esther. Similar to the book of Daniel, Esther takes place in the exilic period of the life of Israel, about 100 years after the Babylonian invasion. Some Jewish people have migrated back to Jerusalem by this point, but many still live in scattered lands. Esther and her uncle Mordecai, the heroes of this story, are living in Persia in the capital city of Susa.
Esther is a wonderfully entertaining self-contained story about a near genocide of the Jewish people. It is a story that is full of dramatic reversals, ironic twists, and crazy coincidences. It is also one of the only books of the Bible that never mentions God. But while God is not mentioned, it's obvious that God is on the mind of the story teller. The book is an invitation to notice God's activity in the daily movements of life, and to recognize the way God is at work bringing about his deliverance.
The book of Esther invites us to trust in God's providence, even when we cannot see God working. It points to the big story of the Gospel by reminding us of God's faithful working throughout history to bring about his ultimate deliverance.
In preparation for worship this week, consider reading the whole book of Esther or listening to it on an audio Bible app. It's a great read or listen!
Esther 4:9-17
9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.