Introduction to Esther

The book of Esther shows us that God is present even when He seems distant.

In the book, God’s people are suffering in a foreign land.

605 BC - Nebuchadnezzar invades Jerusalem for the first time, making it a vassal state

597 BC - Nebuchadnezzar invades Jerusalem a second time to bring it back under subjection and exile King Jehoiachin after a 3-month reign

586 BC - After a rebellion led by King Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar invades Jerusalem a third time, destroying the city and the Temple, further deporting the remaining Jewish population to Babylon.

539 BC - King Cyrus defeats Babylon, further extending the Medo-Persian Empire.

The events in Esther extend over a period of 10 years, from Xerxes’ 3rd year (483 BC; Esther 1:3) to the end of Xerxes’ 12th year (473 BC; Esther 3:7)

God is never mentioned in the story, yet He is quietly there all along—which seems to be the point.

Events in Esther show that God is intervening to protect His people; particularly when Esther is placed in a position of influence to guide the benevolent responses of King Xerxes.

Isaiah 43:1–3 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

The fact that God’s name is never mentioned in the book could be an indicator as to the spiritual temperature of the Jews in Susa.

538 BC - Cyrus allowed Jews to return to the land to rebuild the city and Temple

How the providence of God watched over the Jews that had returned out of captivity, and what great and kind things were done for them, we read about in Ezra and Nehemiah.

The ones who stayed beyond seem to be lacking zeal for God’s house and the holy land and city. Perhaps it is an indicator of their spiritual immaturity.

Indicators to take into consideration:

Esther is the only book of the Bible in which the name of God is not mentioned.

The New Testament does not quote from the Book of Esther

The Law is never mentioned in the book nor are sacrifices or offerings referred to.

Prayer is never mentioned in the book, though fasting is.

In other postexilic books prayer is important to the main characters (ex. Ezra and Nehemiah), but in the Book of Esther nothing is said about Mordecai or Esther praying.

Both Esther and Mordecai seem to have lacked spiritual awareness except in their assurance that God would protect His people.

If these indicators are accurate, what we truly see in the book of Esther is God working for His people despite their immaturity of faith.

Having been in exile for 100+ years, they may have lost a zeal for the Word

Having been in exile for 100+ years, they may have lost confidence in the Lord

Despite their seemingly weak faith, God still cares for His own and protects them from annihilation.

NOTE: the deliverance of the Jews in Susa is not the extent of the protective action. It would have protected all the Jews who returned to Jerusalem as well.

Is it possible that this book shows that God uses the Jews weak in faith (at best), or possibly non-believers, to accomplish His purpose for the faithful?

Whatever the case is, Esther is a tremendous study where we will learn a lot about God’s sovereignty and our need to trust Him in times of uncertainty.