Author: Explaining the Book

In Esther chapters 5 to 7, Esther courageously risks death by approaching King Ahasuerus to reveal Haman’s plot against the Jews. Despite tension and suspense, she invites the king and Haman to banquets, demonstrating strategic patience. Ultimately, Haman’s plan backfires, leading to his downfall and demonstrating God’s providential justice.

In Esther 4, Mordecai mourns for the Jewish people facing annihilation, leading to Esther learning of the crisis. Despite her fears of approaching King Ahasuerus, she ultimately decides to identify with her people, requesting a three-day fast before facing potential death, embodying faith and courage in a dire situation.

In this sermon on Esther 3, the focus is on Esther and Mordecai living faithfully despite God’s unseen presence. Haman’s promotion leads to conflict as Mordecai refuses to bow, revealing his Jewish identity. Haman, enraged, plots genocide against the Jews, while King Ahasuerus unwittingly supports Haman’s plan.

In Esther 2, King Ahasuerus, reflecting on his anger towards Vashti, orders the selection of beautiful virgins to find a new queen. Among them is Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by Mordecai, who conceals her identity. Esther wins the king’s favor and becomes queen, positioning her for future events crucial to her people’s survival.

The sermon on Esther 1 highlights the opulence of the Persian Empire and its ruler, Ahasuerus, emphasizing the power dynamics and the drama of the queen Vashti’s refusal to comply with the king’s command. This incident illustrates the fragility of Ahasuerus’s authority, revealing deeper themes of providential placement and reversals of fortune within the narrative.

As we begin this Esther Bible Study, let’s consider the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. In those books we saw a large group of Jews who returned to Judah and Jerusalem after the Exile. And we can imagine the kind of questions this group might have been asking – “Our fathers and we have sinned against…