Esther

I just finished reading the book of Esther with my wife. I thought I would offer a few thoughts on it for the edification of the internet world.

1. God is never mentioned in the book of Esther. I had heard someone mention this before, so I was attuned to it while we were reading. Literally, mention of God is never made during the book. However, the sequence of events is obviously providential. There is an obvious sovereign plan at work to place Esther in the right place at the right time to save her people.

Practically, this means that even when we are not talking about God, it does not mean that he is not at work. He is still working all things together for the good of his people, even when we are not talking about it. God is never absent. Even when we cannot see God, he is still present.

2. God's justice will be done. Twice the tables are turned against Haman, who hates Mordecai and plots to kill the Jews. First, when the King asks him what he should do for the one whom he delights to honor, Haman comes up with an extravagant list, thinking the King has him in mind. But no! In a dramatic turn of events, the King honors Mordecai. And later Haman has a gallows made with plans to have Mordecai hanged on it. But it ends up being Haman who is hanged on that very gallows.

As you read the book, you are obviously meant to root against Haman who gets bothered by Mordecai and plots to use the King's signature to kill the Jews. He is like an old-timey Hitler who was thankfully thwarted before his plans could come to fruition. He is punished for this. In this book justice is done. But it doesn't always work out that way this side of eternity. As Christians we know that our God of perfect justice will ensure that justice is perfectly performed. His just wrath rests on all unrighteousness, and it all will be punished perfectly. Praise be to Jesus for the grace that took our unrighteousness and placed it on his cross-bearing, wrath-absorbing back. Every evil deed not absorbed by the cross will still be punished, for there is a judgment day coming. Therefore, as Christians we do not need to seek revenge. God has it all covered.

3. Who is the man whom the king delights to honor? That question is asked in this book, and within the context there is a flesh-and-blood specific example of the humble man being honored in the person of Mordecai. Jesus later instructs that when there is a feast, it is better to take the lowly seat and be moved high than to seat yourself high and be moved down. The last shall be first and the first shall be last. God has a day set against all that is exalted, so everything must be humbled in order to most clearly his glory, which is why were created, what we were created for.

Jesus is the greater Mordecai. Jesus displayed perfect humility. Jesus came up with a plan, not a temporary one but a lasting plan, by which his people might be saved forever. Jesus humbled himself, becoming a man, taking on human flesh and human likeness. And when he humbled himself, even to being crucified, he was vindicated gloriously in the resurrection, and in the ascension he was given the place of highest honor, and he was given a name above all other names. He was the slain Lamb who alone is worthy of worship and worthy to open the scrolls unlocking history. To Jesus, perfectly humble, belongs the highest praise.

4. I urge you to read the Bible. Stop reading my blog and read more of the Bible. It is filled with amazing stories that happen to be true. And it will change your life, and it will lead you into deeper relationship with the God who is there. I hope and imagine that the tenor of all of my posts will strike this chord. May my writings, if you happen to read them, help to awaken your taste buds for something greater that finds ultimate satisfaction in God alone through the Word alone.