Esther 1-9
Esther made Queen
The word “God”, or the phrase “the Lord,” are
absent from the book of Esther. There is no mention of the divine. That is not to say God is missing from the
life of Esther or the book, which bears her name. The story of Esther is about a very important
event in history. The Jews were delivered from annihilation. Had they been
entirely wiped out of existence there would have been no Jewish nation, no
Messiah, and no hope for the world. Although she might not have known it at the
time, Esther played her part in paving the way for the coming of the Savior.
“Yet who
knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” was
Esther’s uncle Mordecai’s reasoning to Easter. The Lord had placed her in a
unique position, elevating her from obscurity to the position of Queen to be in
the position of saving not only herself but also the entire Hebrew nation. We might sometimes ask, “why am I here?” Why
are my circumstances such as they are? “Why
me, and why now?” We cannot always understand our present condition. The Lord
sees and knows everything. He has not placed you in a vacuum. Your life is not
left to chance. The Lord is concerned with every aspect of your life. The story
of your salvation proves this. Christ entered time and space at a particular
time. He worked out the world’s salvation at a specific time. He will continue
to guide you through every instance of your life. The story of Esther confirms
this. The Lord continues to involve Himself in every detail.
Almighty
God heavenly Father, You have called us to be Your children and heirs of Your
gracious promises in Christ Jesus. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may
forsake all covetous desires and the inordinate love of riches. Deliver us from
the pursuit of passing things that we may seek the Kingdom of Your Son and
trust in His righteousness and so find blessedness and peace; through Jesus
Christ, our Lord.
Schnorr
von Carolsfeld Woodcut used with permission © WELS
Halley’s
Bible Handbook An Abbreviated Bible Commentary Twenty-Third Edition, © 1962
Zondervan Grand Rapids
Collect
against the love of money, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing
House, St. Louis
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