ESTHERESTHER

The Providence of God’s The Providence of God’s DeliveranceDeliverance

539 515

Ezra 1-6 Cyrus the Great Cambyses

539 - Return to the Land Edict to return to land 515 - Temple completed Temple completed

482 473

Esther Xerxes 480 - War with Greece Esther story

458 Ezra 7-10 458 - 2nd Return under Ezra Second return under Ezra

445 420

Nehemiah

Artaxerxes

444 - Nehemiah & Walls Nehemiah rebuilds walls 432 - Malachi Malachi

CHRONOLOGY OF EZRA-NEHEMIAH

1:1 - 2:18 2:19-23 3:1-15 4:1 - 7:10 8:1 - 9:17 9:18-32 10:1-3

Esther becomes Queen

Mordecai saves the King’s Life

Haman plots against Jews

Jews defend themselves

Jews celebrate

Mordecai rewarded

Esther & Mordecai in the Persian Court

Trouble for the Jews

Esther acts to deliver her people Victory for

the Jews Esther & Mordecai in the Persian Court

Outline of Esther

Cast of CharactersCast of CharactersEsther (also known as Esther (also known as HadassahHadassah).).Ahasuerus: XerxesAhasuerus: XerxesMordecai & HamanMordecai & Haman

The NarrativeThe NarrativeA new queenA new queenMordecai saves the kingMordecai saves the kingHaman’s jealousyHaman’s jealousyA plan for ethnic cleansingA plan for ethnic cleansingPlea to EstherPlea to EstherHaman’s planHaman’s planThe king’s planThe king’s planEsther’s revelationEsther’s revelationThe Jewish deliveranceThe Jewish deliverance

Esther 9:24Esther 9:24For Haman the son of Hammedatha, For Haman the son of Hammedatha,

the Agagite, the adversary of all the the Agagite, the adversary of all the Jews, had schemed against the Jews to Jews, had schemed against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to disturb them and destroy them.the lot, to disturb them and destroy them.

Haman Mordecai

A descendant of Agag (Esther 3:1), the king of the Amalekites whose life Saul spared in disobedience to the command of God

From the tribe and family of Saul (Esther 2:5).

Enemy of the people of God Savior of the people of God

Points to PonderPoints to PonderEsther is the book of God’s Esther is the book of God’s

ProvidenceProvidenceThe Success of Haman’s plot The Success of Haman’s plot

would also exterminate the would also exterminate the seed through which the seed through which the Messiah would comeMessiah would come

This book reminds us that God This book reminds us that God works in the lives of both the works in the lives of both the great and the small great and the small

A Picture of ChristA Picture of Christ

EstEsther was the virgin bride her was the virgin bride who married the king.who married the king.

The StoryThe Story The PictureThe Picture

The church is the The church is the spotless bride who spotless bride who marries the Kingmarries the King

The The king’s former wife had king’s former wife had been displeasing and had been displeasing and had been set aside.been set aside.

The natural branches The natural branches were broken off were broken off due to due to unbelief.unbelief.

A Picture of ChristA Picture of Christ

Haman plotted against Haman plotted against Mordecai and against all the Mordecai and against all the Jews.Jews.

The StoryThe Story The PictureThe Picture

Satan has set himself Satan has set himself against Christ and against Christ and against all menagainst all men

MordMordecai convinces Esther ecai convinces Esther to intercede on behalf of her to intercede on behalf of her people.people.

Jesus Himself Jesus Himself interceded on behalf interceded on behalf of His church.of His church.

A Picture of ChristA Picture of Christ

Esther agrees to Esther agrees to intercede intercede after the people have fasted after the people have fasted for three days.for three days.

The StoryThe Story The PictureThe PictureChrist interceded on Christ interceded on our behalf and then was our behalf and then was in the grave three days.in the grave three days.

HamHaman plans to have an plans to have Mordecai executed for not Mordecai executed for not bowing down to him.bowing down to him.

Jesus was tempted by Jesus was tempted by Satan to worship him; Satan to worship him; Satan’s attack culminated Satan’s attack culminated in the cross.in the cross.

A Type of ChristA Type of Christ

Haman Haman met his end met his end on the gallows he had on the gallows he had intended for Modecai.intended for Modecai.

The StoryThe Story The PictureThe Picture

ChristChrist intentionally intentionally went to the cross went to the cross that was prepared that was prepared for us.for us.

In both cases, that which looked like In both cases, that which looked like certain death and defeat was turned certain death and defeat was turned into unltimate victory.into unltimate victory.