The Book of Esther has always been my favorite. It is a book of the Bible that reads like a novel. It is a classic tale of good versus evil. It has all the elements of a captivating drama with a virtuous heroine, a wicked villain, intrigue, suspense, and even comedy which shows that God has a sense of humor. Psalm 2:4 says, “He who sits in the heavens laughs.” The threat of annihilation of the Jews is no laughing matter, but the story is laced with elements of comedy within its pages. And in Esther’s story, it is as if God says to the villain, “the joke’s on you!”
Esther is one of the most beautiful books of the Bible because it gives insight into God’s plans and purposes for our lives. It is full of great takeaways and lessons about courage, divine timing, and God’s magnificent love. It gives us an inside look at the grace of a loving God and though it is an ancient story, it provides living truth for our lives today. The book is also a summary of the virtues necessary for gaining God’s favor, which includes humility and fidelity to God’s commandments, epitomized by Esther. This story will entertain you, but it will also challenge and teach you about trusting God.
The theme of the Book of Esther is the PROVIDENCE of God. Providence means to see ahead of time and make provisions. According to Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, the word “providence” comes from the Latin word providentia and means foresight or making provision beforehand. It is God’s divine oversight of all things that happen in life, guiding them toward their divinely predetermined end. In the Amplified Bible, Romans 8:28 says, “And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.”
Earthly powers work to kill and destroy but there is a heavenly power significantly greater working to save and preserve. God uses the decisions and actions of all humans to providentially work out His divine plans and purposes. This is what happened in Esther’s life and throughout this story.
There are two books of the Bible in which God’s name is not mentioned. One of the books is the Song of Solomon and the other is Esther. Even though the book of Esther does not mention God, all of the circumstances, the remarkable reversals, and the poetic justice that led to the deliverance of His chosen people, the Jews, are evidence of His Divine presence.
Esther became queen around the time an enemy of the Jews planned their annihilation requiring her to make life-threatening decisions that would impact an entire nation. So, Esther’s story is about courage in the face of danger. It is a story of how someone can do something for the greater good of others even at a great cost to themselves. John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That is what Esther, though reluctant from the outset, would rise to the challenge and do. When she learned of the plight of her people, she could have easily hidden or fled. Instead, she chose to risk her life for her people. That is what Jesus Christ did. He gave Himself up to His Father’s will so that a people could be saved from sin through His death on the cross of Calvary and His glorious resurrection three days later (Galatians 4:4-5). I love this story because it illustrates how God can use anyone, at any age, to fulfill His purpose and how we can overcome our fears and bring glory to His name.
The most significant aspect of the Book of Esther is its PURPOSE which comes at the end of the book. It was written to explain the origin of Purim (Poor-um), a festival instituted by Mordecai (Esther 9:22). Purim means “lots” in ancient Persian. Lots were similar to “dice” that Haman threw to determine the exact day and month the Jews would be exterminated. But God, in His divine providence, turned it around and the day set for their destruction became a day of feasting and rejoicing and has been maintained and celebrated to this day. One author states the following regarding Purim: “Observant Jews today still celebrate Purim each spring. It is the most fun-filled holiday – entered into with the spirit of Mardi Gras. Kids dress up as characters in Esther’s story. Friends and family exchange gifts. And worshippers gather in the synagogue to hear Esther’s entertaining story read aloud from a scroll. But every time the reader comes to Haman’s name, the listeners scream and use noisemakers to drown out his villainous name.” (“From The Complete Guide to the Bible by Stephen M. Miller, published by Barbour Publishing Inc. Used by permission.”)
There are ten chapters in the Book of Esther, and it is from these ten chapters that I was inspired to write Esther’s story as a poem in which I share Biblical truth in rhyme. Scriptural poetry must represent the truth it attempts to portray, and it is reflected in this delightful, entertaining, and educational poem that people of all ages can understand and remember. The Key Character illustrations have been included to provide a more visually appealing, and more enjoyable experience for the reader. Also, to further enhance the poem and highlight the importance of the Book of Esther additional topics are included for curious people who have more questions than answers about Esther’s story.
