Christ In The Old Testament: ESTHER
The HISTORIC
The last historical book to consider is the book of Esther. Let's carefully examine how Christ's influence is subtly woven into its narrative.
PURPOSE
Esther serves as a crucial record of the origins of the Jewish feast of Purim. Furthermore, it vividly illustrates God’s providential care for those unwaveringly devoted to Him amid seemingly insurmountable challenges to their faith. In this regard, Esther mirrors the thematic essence of Ruth, another biblical book named after a woman. However, Esther and Ruth stand as stark contrasts: Esther, a potent and affluent Jewess, lived beyond the promised land and became the wife of a pagan king, while Ruth, a humble and destitute gentile, migrated to the promised land, eventually becoming an ancestor of Israelite kings.
STORY
Key Themes: Providence, the triumphs of a virtuous woman, and deliverance from adversaries.
Timeline: Set during the reign of Xerxes I of Persia (486 - 465 BC)
Biblical scholars widely concur that the King called "Ahasuerus" in Esther was, in fact, Xerxes I, the ruler of a vast empire at the zenith of its power. Esther ascended to queenship in Xerxes' seventh year (Esther 2:6, around 478 BC). These events remain exclusive to the book of Esther without corroborative historical sources. Notably, Xerxes I reigned just before Artaxerxes I, who played a pivotal role during the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah among the exiles returning to the land of Israel.
The malevolence of Haman exemplifies human depravity at its worst, while the unwavering integrity of Mordecai highlights the immense good that a single individual can achieve.
Esther showcases how God safeguarded the Jewish people from annihilation, thus preserving the promise and anticipation of a future eternal King from the Davidic lineage. Additionally, it underscores that many Israelites, scattered during the exile, remained devoted to the one true God, ultimately solidifying their identity through the synagogue. These synagogues served as the cradle for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman Empire in the first century, as chronicled in the book of Acts.
Esther's narrative, akin to Joseph's in Genesis, underscores that when God's people encounter adversity, they are called to exhibit courage and self-sacrifice for a noble cause rather than succumbing to a sense of "fate" or "misfortune."
ORIGINAL HISTORICAL SETTING
Author: Unknown, though potentially Mordecai.
Date of Writing: Approximately 465 BC
Primary Audience and Destination: The Jewish exiles residing in Persia.
The initial audience for Esther consisted of Jews in Persia, emerging after the custom of celebrating Purim had become firmly established. During this era, the post-exilic Israelites had adopted the appellation "Jew," with the term appearing more frequently in the book of Esther than in the entire Old Testament combined.
Occasion: The creation of the book of Esther can be attributed to the overarching aim of preserving the genesis of the Purim feast. The specific occasion that prompted its writing, given the anonymity of the author, remains unclear.
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY
Esther, a Jewish maiden chosen by Persian King Ahasuerus to be his queen, emerges as the savior of the Jews against the malevolent plot of Haman, leading to her relative Mordecai instituting the annual Jewish festival of Purim.
CHRIST IN ESTHER
God’s redemptive purposes shall unfailingly come to fruition, no matter what!
If Haman’s edict to destroy the Jews had succeeded, the coming of the Jews' ultimate deliverer, Jesus the Messiah-King, would have been imperiled. God’s plan to save cannot be thwarted, and He has always taken the initiative to bring about salvation.
Although the name of God is not mentioned in the book of Esther, nowhere in Scripture is the providential care of God for His people more evident. In the face of His impending arrest, Jesus prayed,
"While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by the name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled..." (John 17:12, NIV).
This affirms the unerring nature of God’s love to care for His people and His unswerving initiative in doing so.
