God in the book of esther

Students of the bible know that fasting was done to draw closer to god and was accompanied by heartfelt prayers daniel 9. Now that israel has been released from captivity, hamans edict is the final major effort in the ot. The book of esther serves as the authorizing document for purim, a holiday that is not mentioned in the torah. The minute and particular account also given of many historical details makes it probable that the writer was contemporary with mordecai and esther.

The book of esther is one of only two books in the hebrew bible that never mention god the other is the song of songs. The book of esther is the only one not found in the dead sea scrolls. Particularly because yahweh, the jewish name for god, is never. But many of the things that happen in the book could not be just luck. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this. How can a book which fails to mention not only the name of god, but also prayer, worship, the coming messiah, heaven, hell or faith, be included in the canon of the old testament. Yet, the book of esther is surrounded by controversy for numerous reasons.

The dramatic saga was written down so that jewish people could read about the amazing turn of events every year on the holiday of purim, the anniversary of the jews victory over their enemies. It seems the author of the old greek also found it odd that god is never. Gods name in the book of esther his kingdom prophecy posted on december 25, 2011 by angus mackillop september 10, 2012 perhaps since sunday school, i had known the book of esther as being the only book in the bible in which the name of god is missing. A young jewish girl becomes queen of persia and happens to be in a position to counter a villainous plot to exterminate her people. The book of esther is one of two biblical books that never mention god. God s name is not even mentioned once in the book of esther. For the religion of the jews, god appears as a character in the national book, the hebrew bible.

This is like a special funfact not many people notice about the book of esther. Jews throughout the world, after 2,500 years, still celebrate this feast. I love this story in the bible because it so beautifully illustrates how god can use anyone for his plans and how we, especially women, can fight our fears and bring glory to god. But the megillahs mandate differs from the torahs in one crucial respect. It is a fresh and illuminating book about power, and about the power of a book. Indeed, there is no direct reference to god at all. The massorah contains a note calling attention to the acrostics of the names of god in esther, which are found four times in the book. Seems book of esther proves the sealed words of a king can be translated with peace and truth. Hence we may conclude that the book was written probably about b. The book of esther continuously proclaims the decrees and commandments of the king were sent and received in all the languages, with words of peace and truth. Why isnt god mentioned at all in the book of esther. Jan 02, 2020 the book of esther may not directly mention god, yet it clearly reveals god at work.

So whether god is ever mentioned or not, this book contains a pivotal story in the march toward the coming of jesus. It is the only book in the bible where god is hidden like this, but he is there. His name is not written in the book, but his fingerprints, as we say, are all over it. Gods grace in life of esther first presbyterian church. The story of esther, mordecai, haman and king ahasuerus, is a drama which exhibits the divine supervision of the people of israel. Jan 03, 2019 mordecai is explaining the purpose that god has for esther. Esther is the kind of story you could make into a movie again and again and again. The book of esther is one of only two books in the bible named for women. It must have been obviously written after the death of ahasuerus the xerxes of the greeks, which took place b. In the jewish bible, esther follows ecclesiastes and lamentations and is read on the festival of purim, which commemorates the rescue of the jews from hamans plottings. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the jews from another place, but you and your fathers house will perish. Esthers mother, he explains, died in childbirth, and her father died only two years later.

Some have even questioned the books place in the bible because of it. Where does god say the book of esther is perfect scripture. The 2 books of the bible that dont mention god overviewbible. In it you will find that even in the darkest days, god never stops working to keep his promises and to rescue his people. This has led some modern scholars to claim that the book was originally intended as a purely secular history. His presence permeates much of the story, as though he were behind the scenes coordinating coincidences and circumstances to make his will happen. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. The book of esther in the bible is a dramatic account which can give us insight into god s special and purposeful plan for our lives. The 26 times the book of esther mentions god click to tweet. God, in fact, is not mentioned, esther is portrayed as assimilated to persian culture, and jewish identity in the book is an ethnic category rather than a religious. Part two fastforwards to esther looking back and explaining how she became queen to her son, and what gods providential purposes were in saving the jews.

The book of esther records no miracles and no direct intervention of god at all. The fate of gods chosen people is at the very center of the story, but god seems to remain in the shadows. The book of esther was read at the feast of purim to commemorate the great deliverance of the jewish nation brought about by god through esther. Jun 18, 2019 the book of esther is one of only two books in the bible named for women. The book of esther is also rich in types and patterns which expound for us, the purpose of god in redeeming mankind from the power of sin. It belongs to the third section of the judaic canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings. Though god is never mentioned in the book of esther, this series by alistair begg helps us discover that while unseen, god is sovereignly directing the intricate events of this historic drama. We dont know for sure if mordecai had gods promises to abraham and david in mind when he claimed that the jews would be delivered es 4. At that time king xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of susa, and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his. And in fact, the whole story of esther is a bit like a game of hide and seek first of all, you may have noticed that god himself is hiding in the book of esther he is not mentioned at all. That philosophy was showcased throughout the 39 books that make up the old testament.

Despite being an orphan, god used esther in great ways. For traditional jewish commentators, the absence of gods name did not mean that god was absent from the book. Without esther s intervention the jews would have been destroyed and the line of the messiah crushed. A story of the providence of god in a pagan land page 4 introduction to the book the book of esther is the only book in the bible that does not mention the name of god. In the story of esther, youll meet a beautiful, young queen who risked her life to serve god and save her people. The coincidences, the amazing reversals, and the poetic justice that led to the deliverance of the jews in persia all proclaim the presence of god. It is careful not to say that god commanded the observance of purim. As the first to attack israel after their deliverance from egypt, the amalekites were viewed and the author of esther views them as the epitome of all the powers of the world arrayed against god s people see nu 24. The books happy ending is the cause of the establishment of the feast of purim, which celebrates the jews deliverance from destruction. A robust treatment of esthers defects would surely include the books famed failure to mention the name of god or to recognize divine. Its about the providence of god and his ability to accomplish his will, despite the imperfections of his people. Esther is the heroine of the purim story, in which the jewish people who live in the sprawling persian empire are saved from haman s evil scheme to annihilate them.

Dec 25, 2011 gods name in the book of esther his kingdom prophecy posted on december 25, 2011 by angus mackillop september 10, 2012 perhaps since sunday school, i had known the book of esther as being the only book in the bible in which the name of god is missing. In esthers story, the lord redeems his people through the faith. When we read the book of esther, we never read gods name. Mordecai is a man of integrity, and esther is a selfsacrificial heroine. Why doesnt the book of esther directly mention god. But words from god would make a good foundation for those beliefs. Gods name in the book of esther by angus mac killop. With scripture memory, daily study, and group discussion questions, this resource is ideal. The most curious thing about the book of esther is that god is never mentioned. In this sixweek study, explore the subject of gods providence, walking verse by verse through the book of esther. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage. The book of esther, also known in hebrew as the scroll megillah, is a book in the third section ketuvim, writings of the jewish tanakh the hebrew bible and in the christian old testament. May 02, 2020 the book of esther records the institution of the feast of purim and the obligation of its perpetual observation.

The genre of the book of esther is narrative history. Esther is the only book in the bible not to mention the name of god. The fate of gods chosen people is at the very center of the story, but god seems to. When god seems far away book of esther unlocking the bible. This sermon series is not about the virtues of the people who saved the jews from certain genocide. God has a plan book of esther series redemptions touch.

For example, when esther asks the jews to fast, we can assume this included prayer est. Neither mordecai, esther, nor the feast of purim is mentioned. In the celebration, jews read aloud the megillah, a scroll containing the book of esther, on purim eve and purim day. The story of esther in the bible has always been one of my favorites. This question has been a source of controversy for centuries. Today, if we cant see god at work in political decisions in washington or in medical ethics in healthcare or in events in our daily lives, we must not conclude hes not working. General information four acrostics are of the word yhwh, on of the word ehyh i am that i am. Some have even questioned the book s place in the bible because of it. Back in deuteronomy, before god brought the israelites into the promised land, he outlined their history for them. God directs this material universe in which we live today by his providence. I think the primary reason esther is there is to show the hand of god in preserving the line of his messiah. We celebrate the festival of purim pronounced poorim to commemorate gods saving power as recorded in the book of esther you have heard the story of esther before.

Such is the book of esther, and it is the reason why this account is so incredibly helpful for us today. Nov 28, 2019 the book of ester is a very special book in the bible, so here are 11 important bible verses from the book of esther. The unlikely selection of a young jewish girl to become queen of persia and gain influence with a powerful king is one of many improbable turns in a story that now, over 2,000 years later, is still. The book of esther may not have gods name stated directly, but his involvement is felt in many ways throughout the story, especially when esther implored the people to seek help through fasting. It relates the story of a hebrew woman in persia, born as hadassah but known as esther, who becomes queen of persia and thwarts a genocide.

Why is the name of god not mentioned in megillat esther. God s name in the book of esther his kingdom prophecy posted on december 25, 2011 by angus mackillop september 10, 2012 perhaps since sunday school, i had known the book of esther as being the only book in the bible in which the name of god is missing. Jul 18, 2018 the book of esther is rather odd because it is the only book of the bible in which the name of god appears to be missing martin luther considered excluding it from the bible for this reason 1. Gods name is not even mentioned once in the book of esther. The book of esther and god hidden and revealed lutheran forum. However, at several points in the narrative, the author alludes to god s hand in the events. Mordecai and esther act in faith throughout the book. The book of esther in hebrew is secular in nature, in that the name of god, the temple, and prayer are not mentioned.

May 19, 2020 esthers mother, he explains, died in childbirth, and her father died only two years later. Therefore, he believes esther was given special favor by the king in order to be a vessel for gods work. The prayers of esther and mordecai are especially noteworthy. The key personalities are esther, mordecai, king ahasuerus or xerxes, and haman. Unlike the many other books in the bible, throughout whole book of esther, the word god is not mentioned once. Mordecai is explaining the purpose that god has for esther. The book of esther records the institution of the feast of purim and the obligation of its perpetual observation. A beautiful, yet humble girl, raised by a cousin, and who saved a generation through her bravery.

We celebrate the festival of purim pronounced poorim to commemorate god s saving power as recorded in the book of esther you have heard the story of esther before. Book of esther, book of the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. The hidden god of esther scroll of esther from the jewish museum near the dohany synagogue in budapest, hungary. In this sixweek study, explore the subject of god s providence, walking verse by verse through the book of esther. The image of god that appears in the national, canonical book. Nonetheless, in this short book consisting of just 167 verses, the median king is mentioned 192 times, his kingdom is referred to 26 times, and his. Take, for instance, the time that king ahasuerus could not sleep and his servant just happened to read the records of the. The greek septuagint remedied this situation by adding six passages which include the name of god. The book of ester is a very special book in the bible, so here are 11 important bible verses from the book of esther. Without esthers intervention the jews would have been destroyed and the line of the messiah crushed.

God masterfully orchestrates and weaves together every detail of our lives in jawdropping ways. The book of esther, though divinely inspired scripture, doesnt mention god by any name or title. Ultimately, the reversals in the book of esther point us forward to the greatest reversal of all when god used the death of his only son to bring about the salvation of all his people. The book of esther may not directly mention god, yet it clearly reveals god at work.

However, mordecai is also saying that god has a divine plan for everyone and everything. In esthers story, gods involvement is implicit rather than explicit. The book of esther is rather odd because it is the only book of the bible in which the name of god appears to be missing martin luther considered excluding it from the bible for this reason 1. For traditional jewish commentators, the absence of god s name did not mean that god was absent from the book.