The Narrative of Esther

We're finishing our 12-week study of the narrative of Esther this week. It has been deep and broad, and we've learned and been reminded of much.

The romanticized version of Esther is no exception to the tendency to view Bible characters as heroes and heroines, to want to emulate their deeds of courage. Then, of course, we are disappointed in their flaws and failings as we try to exonerate them. Still, none of them are righteous in themselves. But this is what happens when we think the account or narrative is about them.

Rather, the entire Bible is about God and how he interacts with man throughout history. It's about how He manifests His attributes and His character, and how He moves history toward the coming of the Redeemer to save us from destruction, and provides salvation for all who believe. We long for someone who has no flaws, whose life is fully lived in righteousness. The One whose likeness we are, indeed, to emulate.

Surely, there are individual people whom God works through to bring about His purposes, flawed people whose faith and struggles we share in our own lives, whose moments of decision we empathize with. And as we're told in Romans 15:4, "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

What instruction have we gained from our study in Esther? Each of us in the group would probably have a similar, yet somewhat different, list of how God has used the book to instruct each of our hearts and minds. For me, these five concepts or principles lead my list:

(1)  God saved the Jewish people from annihilation during the time of Esther for the purpose of preserving the lineage of Jesus our Redeemer, to fulfill His Covenant with His people.

(2)  God's purposes and plans are never thwarted.

(3)  God most often works through human agents (flawed as we are) to fulfill His purposes -- that mysterious interplay of God's providence and human responsibility.

(4)  God's providence often involves seemingly insignificant events of which we are usually not even aware.

(5)  The narrative of Esther gives significance to working within our realm of daily influence, taking initiative, and working in concert with others of God's children.

The book that we used as a springboard for discussion was Bryan Gregory's Inconspicuous Providence. To read a brief review of the book, just click on the image.

Image ~ Afternoon Tea on the Terrace

Frederick Carl Frieseke, 1874-1939

public domain via Wikigallery

Lost in Wonder, Love, and Praise

When men worship Jesus Christ, 

they do not fall at his feet in broken submission but in wondering love. 

A man does not say, 'I cannot resist a might like that.' 

He says, 'Love so amazing, so divine, demands my life, my soul, my all.' 

A man does not say, 'I am battered into surrender.' 

He says, 'I am lost in wonder, love, and praise.'

- William Barclay

Thinking back to our study this morning in the book of Esther. King Xerxes was a man with insatiable desire for power and honor and rule. He was approached in fear.

Such a contrast to our relationship with King Jesus. He is all-powerful, deserving of all honor, ruler of all. Yet we need not approach Him in fear, for He bids us, "Come unto me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Image~Saint Coloman's Church

Pixabay, CC0 Creative Commons

Forgotten Empire: Persian Empire

As I'm studying the book of Esther, I've become  interested in the historical setting of the place where the Jews were living in exile at that time, as well as gaining a broader understanding of their life and times in the Persian Empire.

Although during the time of Esther, the Jews were under King Xerxes who was hostile to anyone who opposed him, they had previously been ruled by benevolent kings (Cyrus and Darius) who were tolerant of the various ethnic and religious groups living within the empire.

I've watched several videos online, and one that I found particularly engaging (and somewhat less "dramatic" than some others) is Lost Worlds: Forgotten Empire, an Ancient History Documentary. While there are differing perspectives on interpreting the ancients, this documentary was an interesting way to spend the evening. Click here to go to the documentary.

Image - Architecture with Bas-Relief at Apadana Palace - Persepolis - Central Iran
Adam Jones, via Wikimedia Commons
CC BY-SA 2.0

 

Longing for Reversal

Continuing my study in the book of Esther and its literary theme of reversal. It's where we see most powerfully the hand of God as He reverses the consequences of the actions of the ungodly powerful people who want to destroy His own people in the Persian Empire. The providence of God can change things in a moment and alter the outcome. Most often we recognize it only in hindsight.

More often, we long to see it.

I long to see God reverse the actions of the ungodly powerful people in our own nation today who want to destroy any influence or impact those who have faith in Him might exercise. Something that began as good is being taken by the ungodly powerful and used in an attempt to annihilate godly imprint. As I see it, the MeToo effect is turning into a social colossus by the Enemy of all things good.

I long for and pray for reversal to this trial by public sentiment.

Painting ~ Her Eyes Are With Her Thoughts, Lawrence Alma-Tadema 1897

public domain, WikiArt

Inconspicuous Providence

This is the book that I've chosen to use for our study of the book of Esther in our women's Sunday School class this quarter. I've read several books in preparation for teaching the class, and Inconspicuous Providence by Bryan Gregory rose to the top of the stack as the one to use as a supplement to our group study.

While many see the Bible book of Esther as being about Esther, it's really about the providence of God and how He saves the Jews from annihilation through seeming "coincidences." In addition to commentary and application of the chapters in Esther, Gregory discusses the literary techniques used by the author (who is unknown) and gives a broad overview of its historical context. Both of these aspects are necessary for an understanding of the message of the book of Esther. There are also reflection questions at the end of each chapter to further develop personal application.

The book is written on the lay level, and it's not filled with fluff. Gregory refers to scholarly research which gets us beyond the typical beautiful heroine approach to the book of Esther. Gregory has eleven pages of bibliography that those who want to go deeper and broader will find as a gold mine.

From the back of the book:
Bryan Gregory shows us how Esther's literary techniques depict God's "absent presence" and "hidden involvement," encouraging us that while God appears uninvolved, he is at work under the surface to accomplish his purposes and deliver his people--ultimately revealing his hidden presence in Christ.

Hardly a Romance Story

Continuing my study in the Book of  Esther and reflecting today on King Ahasuerus' advisors' counsel to

"let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she." 

The statement begs the question, what were the qualifications to be "more worthy" than Vashti? Her offense was refusing to come when the king beckoned. While this was an issue of compliance that put the king in a bad light, the basis for choosing a new queen was youth, virginity, and beauty. Hardly reflective of Vashti's offense.

How would the king know if he was getting a more compliant queen? Perhaps he conducted interviews in that regard prior to the night's activities, but I highly doubt it. Ahasuerus lived in excess and power, and the way he chose a new queen was the way he conducted his life and his empire. He took whatever he wanted, just as he took the young girls for his own harem (history tells us 400 of them). His passions were insatiable. If the next queen didn't suit him, she, too, was dispensable.

I suspect a question that continually lingered in Esther's mind was what is it that suits the king at the moment? Hardly a romance story, as it's typically depicted.

Image ~ Esther haram, Edwin Long 1829-1891

public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Turning the Heart of the Queen

I’m between coursework that has required much of my writing time, so today I’m turning some attention back to my study of Esther and sharing a few thoughts. The book of Esther has some powerful takeaways.

As chapter two continues the story of Esther’s rise to royalty, we see more of what possibly lies ahead for her life with King Ahasuerus. History tells us how cruel he was, and, undoubtedly, Esther has heard many stories about him as she lived quietly with cousin Mordecai. I doubt that she dreamed about catching the king's eye.

In addition to his cruelty, he was repulsively immoral. Vashti had not been his only “love” (defined loosely), and now that she had rejected his directive and had been flicked away, and his battle with the Greeks lost, Ahasuerus wanted some comfort. And what a king wants, a king gets, even if he has to tear young girls away from their families and add them into his pleasure harem. 

Esther is about to be forced into a cesspool of defilement. Certainly not what she had dreamed a marriage would be. She could have gotten out of her predicament simply by not pleasing the king. I’m not saying displeasing him because the king had murderous power, and this king was not timid about using it. But she didn't have to trade a night with the king for position or fame, but that is often an allurement that many have difficulty resisting.

Because the story isn’t really about Esther, we soon begin to see God’s hand moving into  what has taken place at the palace. Esther made a poor/sinful decision, but God can redeem where we may fail. He uses whoever and whatever will fulfill His ultimate purpose.  God chose to use the position of the queen at that time and place. Esther had positioned herself as queen. Now it was God's time to make His move.

God moves in mysterious ways, ways that we often haven’t any idea about. He had a purpose for the Jews in exile, and He, too, chose Queen Esther as a human instrument to bring that purpose to fruition. Not only was God turning the heart of the King, He was going to turn the heart of the Queen also.

My own takeaway: I want to pay attention to my own heart, to let it be turned Godward, perhaps also being an instrument in the hand of the Redeemer. I don’t want to be passed by as Mordecai told Esther, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish.” God would have his purpose fulfilled with or without Esther. He probably won't choose to work through me in such a history-changing plot as He did Esther, but she probably didn't think she'd be doing what she did, either. God has other plans and purposes that, for reasons unknown to us, He works through people to accomplish, albeit a small role He may ask us to play. If He calls us for such a role, He will also provide. He doesn't need strong and courageous people. He needs willing people. The strength is His. The courage He gives.

God’s sovereignty and providence is seen throughout the book of Esther. Whatever He wills, He accomplishes. King Ahasuerus may have thought that was his own prerogative, but God  stepped in and reversed the plot.

Perhaps some of our own reversals in life are God-directed as well, for such a time as this.

Image ~ Reading in the Garden

Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky, 1868-1945

public domain, via WikiCommons

Even When I Can't See His Hand

We've been discussing in our Sunday School class how to read the Bible in its historical context and how we are to relate to it in our present setting. We were asked today about some of our favorite Old Testament narratives and why we are drawn to them.

One of mine is the book of Esther that I'm currently studying. It's a reminder that God works out his purposes and promises even when we might not see his hand or we think he is afar off. I'm still learning that even when I can't see his hand, to trust his heart.

Sharing a thought with you today from my reading as I continue my study.

Even though we cannot see God acting, it does not follow that he is not doing anything. God's work is not all slam-bang action; sometimes it is a quiet faithfulness to his promises in the seemingly ordinary providences of life, bringing about in the hearts of his people what he has purposed.

~ Iain Duguid, in Esther & Ruth Reformed Expository Commentary

Image ~ Reading

Ivan Kramskoy 1837-1887

public domain via Wikimedia Commons

He Wasn't In Control After All

Sharing a thought as I study the book of Esther, the story that's about God without mentioning him. There are many personal insights to be gained through the characters involved as the story unfolds. Each has his or her own weaknesses, yet God works in and through them all. His purposes are always fulfilled, never thwarted, in spite of who may seem not to be on board with the plan.

This evening I'm thinking about Persia's King Ahasuerus, or Xerxes as we remember him in history. He had several bad characteristics, and one of the most glaring was his issue of controlling power--both as a ruler and as a husband. He ruled his queen as he did his kingdom. Or, rather, he tried to rule her as he did his kingdom.

We know that marriages in those days tended to be more political than personal, a way to keep the peace between nations. That it may do, but it won't keep the peace between marriage partners. Any relationship based on control is out of control.

Control doesn't rear its ugly head just with those who have political positions. There are too few among us who don't struggle to control or feel a need to do so. It's often a source of security to those who seek to control another person, yet a source of slavery to those who are.

Our security is not found in control. Control is borne out of fear, that if we do not control then we will lose something or someone, that we will be hurt by something or someone, that we will not gain something or someone, that we will fail without something or someone. We become dependent on our fear and eventually squeeze the very life out of what or whom we hold so tightly.

Security is found only in Jesus Christ and God's Word where we see "that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:3). There is no need to fear any loss.

King Xerxes wanted kingdom control. He lost much more than his queen. A few years later his own advisors murdered him in his bedchamber. He wasn't the one in control after all.

And neither are we.

Image ~ Lady Rachel Russell in a Green Dress

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, 1802-1873

public domain, via pinterest