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Esther
Questions from the life of Esther:• When the opposition seems unbeatable, does
God care?• Am I alone in this world, with its suffering,
injustice, and pain?• Where can I go to resign when life becomes too
tough?• How can I risk my reputation, comfort, and
future to rescue others?
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND TO
THE BOOK
OF ESTHER
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Background
The History• In 722 BC the king of
Assyria, Sargon II, conquered and destroyed Samaria.
• Almost 200 years later, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquered Judah.
Babylonian Warriors
Background
The History• The “Cyrus Cylinder”
proclaims Cyrus as the legitimate king of Babylon.
• It also describes how Cyrus won the respect and favor of the Babylonian priests when he restored the temples in Babylon.
Cyrus Cylinder, dating to 539 BC
Background
The History• The Bible portrays Cyrus as God’s instrument
to free and restore the Jews to the Promised Land (2 Chron. 36:22–23).
• King Cyrus allowed the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem, an event Isaiah prophesied as God’s own action (Isa. 44:28–45:13).
• But many Jews who had already begun a new life in exile stayed in Persia.
Background
The History• A group of Jews
returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and the temple around 515 BC.
• Other Jews, like Mordecai and Esther, remained in Persia. Ruins in Ancient Persia
Background
The Setting• The story of Esther takes place in the Persian
royal court in Susa—a world of power where decisions, obsessions, and whims of the people with power in this world affect thousands.
• Some of the oldest written records reference this city.
Background
THE STORY OF ESTHER
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Lessons from Esther
God’s Presence and Absence• The writer of the book of Esther reminds
readers of God’s actions through subtle references to Exodus, Joseph, and Judges.
• But one of the best clues is Esther herself; Throughout biblical history, God chooses the least likely person.
• The stories in the book of Judges show God choosing unlikely heroes: Ehud, Deborah and Jael, Gideon, etc.
Lessons from Esther
God’s Presence and Absence• God fulfilled his promise to Abraham:
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen. 12:2–3).
Lessons from Esther
Character Lessons• Esther: Humble, faithful, and courageous even
though fearful.- “The LORD preserves the faithful, but the
proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD”
(Ps. 31:23–24).- “Humble yourselves before the Lord and he
will lift you up” (James 4:10).
Lessons from Esther
The Greatest Reversal• Although the reversal in Esther was
extraordinary, it was not the greatest reversal God has prepared.
• The greatest reversal came in the most unexpected way: in a humble king who was born in a barn, who rode a donkey, who lived with the poor, ate with tax collectors, became a friend to prostitutes, and died a humiliating death on the cross.
© 2009 Bristol Works, Inc.Rose Publishing4733 Torrance Blvd., #259 Torrance, California 90505 U.S.A. All rights reserved. Email: [email protected]
Esther
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means–for example, electronic, photocopy, recording–without prior written permission of the publisher.
Author: Benjamin Galan, MTS, ThM, Adjunct professor of OT Hebrew and Literature at Fuller Seminary
Photo Credits: Slide 8 Babylonian Archers ©steve estvanik; Slide 13–14 Bass Relief in Persepolis ©syagci; Slide 15 Cyrus Cylinder ©Arvel Witte; Slide 17 Persepolis ©syagci; Slide 35–36 “Esther” by Francois-Leon Benouville, 1844; Slide 43 “Queen Esther” by Edwin Long, 1878; Slide 48 “Haman Sets Forth to Honour Mordecai” by Rembrandt, 1665; Slide 55 “Esther and Ahasuerus” by Bernardo Cavallino, 1645–50; Slide 63 “The Triumph of Mordecai” by Pieter Lastman, 1624; Slide 67 “Festival of Esther” by Edward Armitage, 1865; Slide 72–73 “Queen Esther” by Andrea del Castagno, 1450; Slide 96–97 Cross ©Donald P Oehman.
Trademarks and Photos: Any trademarked symbols included in this teaching presentation belong to the organizations identified. Rose Publishing is a Christian organization and not affiliated with any of the organizations with trademarked symbols. The symbols and photos used in this presentation fall under the U.S.A. Copyright Law, Title 17, Section 107.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
