THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 4:1-5 “Mordecai… tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.” (Esther 4:1) Much has been made of the shortest verse in the bible: “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35). In those two words, we see the heart of the whole bible. Somehow, the God in…
Good news is for sharing!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 3:12-15 “The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command…” (Esther 3:15) Why is it that gossip or bad news seems to travel so fast. Why is it that we are so hesitant to compliment, but so quick to criticize? Why is there so much more bad news than good news…
God has other plans!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 3:7-11 “The pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.” (Esther 3:7) Nowhere in this book is God mentioned at all. But God is here in this story, as He…
The rage of Haman!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 3:1-6 “Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews.” (Esther 1:6) This makes me think of Tevye’s words in The Fiddler on the Roof”. ‘I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can’t You choose someone else?’ The Jews seem to…
The other “Good Book”
THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 2:19-23 “All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.” (Esther 2:23) If we knew everything we did was recorded, would that change our actions? Imagine what you did yesterday – everything – was put in the public record. Actually everything we do is being…
Beautiful on the inside!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 2:12-18 “To complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women…” (Esther 2:12) None of these girls had ever seen the king. Invisible to them, this invisible king puts them through intense beauty treatments. The goal is to make them as beautiful as possible… for the king. Esther wins this external…
God’s patient love
THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 2:8-11 “Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background.” (Esther 2:10) Her nationality and her family background, what about her faith in God? It is possible that they were not living as religious Jews, but cultural Jews. One hint is their names; Esther switches her Jewish name to a name of…
Behold your king!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 2:1-7 “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.” (Esther 2:2) This is how a king acts, right? What they want they take, when and how they want it, no argument. They take the best and most beautiful for themselves (see 1 Samuel 8:10-20). Humans were created to live and…
God’s decree trumps ours!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 1:19-22 “Let the king issue a royal decree… that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes.” (Esther 1:19) Where do we find our worth, who gets to decide our value? Queen Vashti was valued by Xerxes until she disobeyed him, now she is trash to be discarded. Now he…
Overcoming the curse of abuse!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 1:9-18 “Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.” (Esther 1:12) Pompous king wants to show off his trophy wife, she refuses and he goes into a fit of rage. Part of the context of this story is the abused status of women in the world…