Esther is the heroine of the book that bears her name in the Bible. Her
Jewish name was Hadassah, which means “myrtle” and or “star.” Her beauty,
charm, and courage served her well as queen to King Ahasuerus. In that role she
was able to save her people from the mass extermination that Haman, the king’s
chief adviser, had planned (2:19-4:17).
Esther’s efforts to uncover the plot resulted in the hanging
of Haman on the very same gallows that he had built for Mordecai, her uncle and
guardian. Then the king named Mordecai minister of state in Haman’s place. This
story is an example of how God intervenes on behalf of his people to deliver
them from evil, as here through Esther he preserved the Old Testament people
through whom the Messiah would come.
The celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim includes the reading of the the book of Esther.
The names "God" and "Lord" are not found in the book of Esther, yet, His presence and footprint are found on every page. If you're not familiar with her story read the book of Esther some time today. It won't take long, it a quick read. Her story is so intriguing you won't want to put the book down! And yes, there's a Vegitales episode which commemorates Esther as well!
Appropriate prayers for this day:
- For
the safety of all believers, especially those in lands where Christianity
is persecuted
- For
those who rule, that they may allow the Gospel to be freely preached
- For the willingness to sacrifice all for the sake of Chris
Schnorr von Carlsfeld woodcuts (c) WLS for private and congregational use
No comments:
Post a Comment