Nehemiah : WK 1 - WED
Prologue Continued - Esther
Esther 4:14
“… who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
Many scholars believe that Nehemiah was the last book of the Old Testament to be written. Authorship is typically attributed to Ezra, who is also considered the likely author of 1st and 2nd Chronicles (originally a single book), as well as Ezra and possibly Esther.
The Chronicles are positioned as the final book of the original Hebrew Bible, serving as a summary of God’s guidance from the creation of humanity to the exile and eventual return from Babylon. The concluding verses of 2nd Chronicles closely resemble the beginning of Ezra, as Cyrus grants any Jews wishing to return to Jerusalem the freedom and resources to rebuild the temple.
Although the temple was completed in 516 B.C., the activities described in the book of Nehemiah wouldn’t take place for another 71 years. In the meantime, about halfway between the completion of the temple and Nehemiah’s undertaking to build the walls of Jerusalem, we find the story of Esther. Let’s spend a moment considering some observations from this popular story.
Children’s story versions of the events of Esther’s book ignore its more disturbing realities. The rule of King Darius (of our previous day’s discussion) is followed by that of his son, Xerxes. We know him in the book of Esther as Ahasuerus. Historians portray Xerxes as a particularly violent man with a quick temper and a creative mind for the torture of those ignorant enough to cross him.
Meanwhile, Esther is among the group of Jewish exiles who decline to return to Jerusalem when given the option. It is hard to ignore the questionable advice of Uncle Mordecai as Esther enters a contest to become the next queen. In fact, the story is filled with objectionable choices we are tempted to overlook.
God has repeatedly asked His people not to intermarry with idolatrous non-believers like King Xerxes. Esther is young (possibly 15) and inexperienced. Nevertheless, she is encouraged to enter the king’s beauty contest, which leads to her becoming part of the king’s harem. It seems clear what must have been required for her to become Xerxes’ favorite among the concubines as described in Esther 2:12-17. Finally, we notice the deception necessary to become queen without Xerxes realizing she is a Jew.
What should we make of all this? Is God compromising His values? Does He not care for the young girl who will become queen? Or is this yet another example of how He uses the flawed and imperfect? Perhaps we should be cautious about idolizing the characters we encounter in Scripture's stories as if they perfectly followed God's will. Is it possible that God can use people without sanctifying all their actions?
If you have been waiting to volunteer your efforts to God until you are a bit more perfect or cleaned up, take a lesson from Esther. Instead of waiting until we are at our best to serve Him, perhaps serving Him is what brings out our best.
Esther 4:14
“… who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
Many scholars believe that Nehemiah was the last book of the Old Testament to be written. Authorship is typically attributed to Ezra, who is also considered the likely author of 1st and 2nd Chronicles (originally a single book), as well as Ezra and possibly Esther.
The Chronicles are positioned as the final book of the original Hebrew Bible, serving as a summary of God’s guidance from the creation of humanity to the exile and eventual return from Babylon. The concluding verses of 2nd Chronicles closely resemble the beginning of Ezra, as Cyrus grants any Jews wishing to return to Jerusalem the freedom and resources to rebuild the temple.
Although the temple was completed in 516 B.C., the activities described in the book of Nehemiah wouldn’t take place for another 71 years. In the meantime, about halfway between the completion of the temple and Nehemiah’s undertaking to build the walls of Jerusalem, we find the story of Esther. Let’s spend a moment considering some observations from this popular story.
Children’s story versions of the events of Esther’s book ignore its more disturbing realities. The rule of King Darius (of our previous day’s discussion) is followed by that of his son, Xerxes. We know him in the book of Esther as Ahasuerus. Historians portray Xerxes as a particularly violent man with a quick temper and a creative mind for the torture of those ignorant enough to cross him.
Meanwhile, Esther is among the group of Jewish exiles who decline to return to Jerusalem when given the option. It is hard to ignore the questionable advice of Uncle Mordecai as Esther enters a contest to become the next queen. In fact, the story is filled with objectionable choices we are tempted to overlook.
God has repeatedly asked His people not to intermarry with idolatrous non-believers like King Xerxes. Esther is young (possibly 15) and inexperienced. Nevertheless, she is encouraged to enter the king’s beauty contest, which leads to her becoming part of the king’s harem. It seems clear what must have been required for her to become Xerxes’ favorite among the concubines as described in Esther 2:12-17. Finally, we notice the deception necessary to become queen without Xerxes realizing she is a Jew.
What should we make of all this? Is God compromising His values? Does He not care for the young girl who will become queen? Or is this yet another example of how He uses the flawed and imperfect? Perhaps we should be cautious about idolizing the characters we encounter in Scripture's stories as if they perfectly followed God's will. Is it possible that God can use people without sanctifying all their actions?
If you have been waiting to volunteer your efforts to God until you are a bit more perfect or cleaned up, take a lesson from Esther. Instead of waiting until we are at our best to serve Him, perhaps serving Him is what brings out our best.
- What is one of your favorite childhood stories?
- What compromise have you struggled with recently?
- What is something you would like to do for God that still remains undone?
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