In an age glamorized by experiencing God, the book of Esther uniquely reveals the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In timeless sovereign fashion, we see the Father’s hidden sovereign hand; we get a glimpse of the Christ to come; and, we are witnesses to the quiet orchestration of the Holy Spirit. While I believe God does reveal Himself in experiential ways, Esther appeals its canonical relevance by hidden imagery of the Trinity, and how we must respond when God test us in His seeming absence.
ESTHER REVEALS THE FATHER’S HIDDEN HAND
Something I have found to be true in both the Reformed and Charismatic “worlds,” is the idea that if God has not “spoken,” one may sit idly assuming nothing is required. While I think this to be mostly an abrogation of biblical obedience, nonetheless, many Christians sit without any notion as to what is missing. Within this, I find God’s sovereignty to be just as much mystery as the God-head Himself. What I mean is that within the sovereign hand of God, John chapter 15:8 (The Father is glorified by us bearing fruit, thus proving our discipleship) must appeal to the children of God, even when God seems stoic. Thus, the book of Esther reveals the mystery of His sovereign hand through the tension of His hiddenness, and the application of Esther and Mordecai in applying what they already knew in relating to God; in relationship to their circumstance.
A GLIMPSE OF CHRIST TO COME
I find soul satisfaction in what Wells calls “Christological resonance” (1). Without the mention of the Christ Himself, Esther’s plight is as Wells points to; a three-dimensional paradox:
1. Like Jesus, Esther offers her life for the sake of her people (2). Obviously, Esther is not offering herself as a propitiation for sin, yet, we can see the paradoxical imagery of Christ in her willingness to lay down her life, need be, to save her brethren from an impending crisis.
2. “The Christological illumination of this is to give weight to the conviction that the incarnation is not simply God’s response to humanity’s fall, but is apart of the overflowing and manifestation of God’s very nature” (3). Namely, the motion to send Christ incarnate is shadowed through Esther in that she became queen before crisis emerged, as Christ was Christ, He already possessed all the redemptive nature required to destroy the curse of the fall.
3. Esther’s relationship to the King is a paradoxical display of desperation prayer (4). She is uniquely humble, yet, earnest. She honors hers King, while risking everything to make known her cry. The children of God could do well to learn the cross-pollination of humility and persistence in the place of prayer.
Wells also points to the suffering servant of Isaiah, appealing to the suffering of Esther and her people as imagery as the suffering Christ (5). The name of Christ Himself need not be mentioned to find Him in the midst of Ether’s testimony.
ESTHER GIVES WITNESS TO THE QUIET ORCHESTRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
As one reads through the book of Esther through the lens of God’s hidden activeness, one can easily see the Spirit of God was at work. From Esther having been raised by Mordecai; to the demotion of Queen Vashti; to the rise of Queen Esther. The Holy Spirit is silently in their midst as Haman plots against the Jews; He is there silently weaving between Esther, Mordecai, and their people, as they are quickly reminded to look to biblical practices of prayer and fasting. Even the very celebration of Mordecai, and the building of gallows all have their purpose and destiny as the Holy Spirit quietly navigates the deliverance of the Jews from Haman’s evil plot. I believe the Holy Spirit of God was, and still is, operating in humanity’s daily lives; unto the glory of Jesus.
CONCLUSION
Though there be no definitive pronouncement of the Triune God in the book of Esther, I believe the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were at work in the narrative of these intersecting lives. When I think of the broader story of the Old Testament in congruence with the testimony of the book of Esther, I think to the hidden sovereignty of God in the life of Joseph sold into slavery; decades of obscurity before Moses fulfilled the deliverance of Israel from the hands of Egyptians; David, “aimlessly” hiding in caves, and amongst enemies, waiting for the day he would rule. All of these men were forged in preparation, and though God was not completely silent in their midst, they were well acquainted with the hiddenness of God many times throughout their lives. They had to rely, at times, on the things they knew to be righteous before the Lord. Sometimes they succeeded, and sometimes they failed; but, obedience to their God given law was at the forefront of what they knew to be true. In a day marked by narcissism, and the need for experience, the book of Esther stands as a prototype of what the people of God are to do when God is “seemingly” absent. Furthermore, like the Prophet Joel, and as did the Jews in Esther’s day, let us seek the Lord with fasting, weeping, and mourning for the state of our Christ-less neighbors and countryman. For better or worse, obedience to God’s word will produce righteousness, regardless of whether we feel His presence, or not.
Ultimately, though not emphasized here, the book of Esther strongly reveals God’s faithfulness to the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants (Genesis Chapter 15; Deuteronomy Chapter 4; and 2 Sam 7:10-13; 1 Chron 17:11-14).
CITATIONS
1. Wells, Samuel, and George Sumner. "Introduction to Esther." Esther & Daniel. Grand Rapids: Brazos Pres, 2013. Pp 11. Print.
2. Wells, Samuel, and George Sumner. "Introduction to Esther." Esther & Daniel. Grand Rapids: Brazos Pres, 2013. Pp 16. Print.
3. Wells, Samuel, and George Sumner. "Introduction to Esther." Esther & Daniel. Grand Rapids: Brazos Pres, 2013. Pp 17. Print.
4. Wells, Samuel, and George Sumner. "Introduction to Esther." Esther & Daniel. Grand Rapids: Brazos Pres, 2013. Pp 17. Print.
5. Wells, Samuel, and George Sumner. "Introduction to Esther." Esther & Daniel. Grand Rapids: Brazos Pres, 2013. Pp 16. Print.