A Response Paper on Esther: A Book in the Old Testament

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Author: Sharisse Bowen

Article source: http://ourfrugalwinningcircle.net/. Used with author's permission.

In Isaiah 54:17 (KJV), The Word of God speaks, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosperand every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."

All throughout history and even today the Jewish people are attacked because of hatred. The story of Esther is one of so many great lessons for us all that I am proud to create a response commentary on the Book of Esther in Gods Holy Word.

As a child, I have always pictured God as my own Father and felt I knew Him very well. I was not raised Christian but my heart already was. The writings of Esther were exactly the way I first started to learn about God. When Jesus was here on earth teaching us, he often used parables to teach us about His Kingdom. I find the Book of Esther very similar to that style of teaching. Unlike much of the criticism I have read with this book, I must say I have a very different view.

It is agreed that the Book of Esther, takes place in Persia. The Jewish people were made to leave their land and had settled in and around Persia. King Cyrus had declared that the Jews could return to their homes after they had been forced to move by Babylonia. If the Jews returned they would live an extremely difficult life so many stayed in Persia. As many Jews are today, they were hated and received much oppression. The Persian government was wealthy and offered some relief.

There are mixed ideas and criticism with regard to the date but I felt that this comment by ESTHER, BOOK OF by John Urquhart, describes it best:

Light is thrown upon the date of the book by the closing references to Ahasuerus (Esther 10:2): "And all the acts of his power and of his might, .... are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?" The entire history, therefore, of Xerxes was to be found in the state records when the book was written. In other words, Xerxes had passed away before it saw the light. That monarch was assassinated by Artabanus in 465 BC. This gives us, say 460 BC, as the highest possible date. The lowest possible date is the overthrow of the Persian empire by Alexander in 332 BCfor the royal records of the Median and Persian kings are plainly in existence and accessible, which they would not have been had the empire been overthrown. The book must have been written, therefore, some time within this interval of 128 years. There is another fact which narrows that interval. The initial waw shows that Esther was written after Nehemiah, that is, after 430 BC. The interval is consequently reduced to 98 yearsand, seeing that the Persian dominion was plainly in its pristine vigor when Esther was written, we cannot be far wrong if we regard its date as about 400 BC.

This story mainly rests in Shushan, a palace of King Ahasuerus. The King had thrown an extravagant party:

Esther 1: 6-8 (KJV) "Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.

7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.

8 And the drinking was according to the lawnone did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure."

This party was self-indulgent to say the least, as each was to party as the King commanded to their hearts extent. King Ahasuerus had a wife Queen Vashti, who also had her own banquet for ladies which was just as lavish and excessive. The King lived by Satan's likeness where every man was to live as he wishes. This was bound to end in some sort of trouble, as when we give our hearts to the love of self and money we always have a consequence. In his drunkenness, he had commanded his wife Queen Vashti to appear before him and his friends to show off her beauty. I wonder if this was meant to view her body without clothes. In any event, she had refused. In her refusal, the King was angry. He seemed weak as well to me, not just because he was drunk but because he invited his staff also drunk , to help him decide how to punish his wife.

God appoints rulers and officials, so because he can take a bad situation and use it to work for Good, In walks Esther. Esther is a beautiful Jewish orphan who is raised by a family member Mordecai. The Bible says that Esther was Mordecai uncle's daughter. (Esther 2:7 KJV) Mordecai was in the palace and Esther was taken by the King as the new Queen.

Haman, a man who worked for the king had decided that all Jews should be killed for Mordecai (a Jew) would not bow down to him. Esther is asked to plea for her people and faces death in coming to her King.

The most important scripture to me now comes into play, a great reminder to us all today found in Esther 4:

Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Es t h e r 4:13-14, NKJV)

This scripture reminds us all that God uses us to do his work. That he seeks for those who have the heart to accomplish his tasks and if we do not listen he will choose another. We all have the opportunity to work in God's plan if chosen. I for one understand the fear Esther may have had in saving God's people (and herself). It seems better sometimes to choose what appears to be the easy way out. However, usually the easy way is the wrong way. Esther listened to Mordaci and asked her people to come together and fast and pray. God saves His people and the one who plotted the death of the Jews is the one who was murdered. A good lesson to us all that we will reap what we sow! Proverbs 22:8 "He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail."(KJV)

Another lesson to remember is God hears our requests and when we pray together asking in his name it is done for us. Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

This story is so rich with lessons that I find it humorous that there is much criticism and awe that God's name is not used. Other critics cannot figure out who wrote the story. This story has been said to be amusing and theatrical. I for one am not concerned with such information. Nor do I see it theatrical. I do see that it is a timeless story still very relevant today. The Jewish people have a history of horrible treatment and we still have persecution and suppression of God's people today. The fact that God's name is not used in the Book of Esther actually comforts me. I feel that sometimes when non-Christians hear the name "God" it scares them due to a lack of knowledge. Some lessons are best shown through example. This is a great way to show God's love, faithfulness and the choices and consequences that we can make today and the impact of these choices. We can lead a life of self-love or we can choose to live (and perhaps die) for others. Either way God is always here and His purpose and desire will be done. The fact that Esther was a great woman of influence in the Bible who had courage and strength while still humbling herself and submitting to authority is simply an inspiration for me. A Woman does not have to insult her husband or family to lead or influence. With a soft manner and wisdom she can even go so far as to prevent a massacre! Finally, I have learned about the Jewish holiday Purim, the Feast of Esther. I have no knowledge of Jewish holidays and traditions but find this wonderful to learn. In doing this response, I have had the opportunity to learn of a very important celebration amongst the Jewish tradition. I am now looking at the other Jewish holidays to teach my own family. This coming March 14th I will be teaching my children about Pur and Israel's deliverance and how faithful our Lord is, and our responsibility toward His call.

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