Meeting Esther to See God; Esther 1-10

Sermon in a sentence: Esther shows us God’s covenantal faithfulness even when we can’t see Him.

Esther’s History (1:1-5)

Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) was the Persian emperor from 486-465 BC.

We have seen the fall of Israel and Judah 722 and 586 BC.

The edict of Cyrus II - 538 BC

Temple built under Darius II - 520BC

Esther’s Structure (1-10)

(A) The greatness of Ahasuerus (1:1–2)

(B) Two banquets (for men and women) (1:3–9)

(C) The elevation of Haman (3:1)

(D) The edict against the Jews (3:7–15)

(E) Mordecai informs Esther of the plot against the Jews (4:1–9)

(F) Esther’s first banquet with the king and Haman (5:1–8)

(G) Turning point: The king’s sleepless night (6:1)

(F′) Esther’s second banquet with the king and Haman (7:1)

(E′) Esther informs Ahasuerus of the plot against the Jews (7:3–6)

(D′) The edict in favor of the Jews (7:7–8:14)

(C′) The elevation of Mordecai (8:15–17)

(B′) Two banquets on the two days of Purim (9:1–32)

(A′) The greatness of Mordecai (10:1–3) {1}

God’s Faithfulness

We must read the Bible in light of its covenantal storyline.

God is not mentioned by name, but He is faithful to complete what He started. (Philippians 1:6)

The story of Esther does not end in Purim, it ends in the cross! (3:5-7, Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34, John 19:2)

{1} Adapted from Michael V. Fox, Character and Ideology in the Book of Esther, 2nd. ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans: 2001), 157.from Michael V. Fox, Character and Ideology in the Book of Esther, 2nd. ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans: 2001), 157.