The following is an excerpt from a seven-page final paper I wrote for 'The Old Testament and Theology' class.
"The mercy of God displayed in the book of Esther, to save His people from certain death-even while they are yet still reaping discipline from previous idolatrous abandonment toward Him; this is wondrous news! Finding canonical relevance concerning this book finds its foundation on the faithfulness of God toward unfaithful people. However, historically, there are those who would seek to dismiss the hand of God on the book of Esther. Martin Luther, the great reformer, for instance, wished to throw it into a “elbe” (river), and said furthermore, “I am so great an enemy…to Esther, that I wish they had not come to us at all, for they have too many heathen unnaturalities” (Luther. 24). I am most perplexed by Luther’s vehement attitude toward the Jew. It is one thing to realize that Judaism is dead-via Christ coming as their ransom; but to write a book (On the Jews and Their Lies), to instigate racist propaganda as did Luther shows no one, no matter what they achieve for God in their generation is above the fall. I am mostly convinced that the words of Luther have left a crippling effect on Church history, determining how the Church appropriates its relationship with Jews/Israel. Listen to the words of Luther: “If I had to refute all the other articles of the Jewish faith, I should be obliged to write against them as much and for as long a time as they have used for inventing their lies that is, longer than two thousand years” (Luther. 113). It is dark sayings such as these, not only by Luther; Augustine, Calvin, and many others have included a prejudice towards Jews in such a way, it hinders the modern Gentile Christian from recognizing God’s unconditional, covenantal promises toward the Jew (Genesis 15), and how the Gentile must relate to the Jew without Christ as Messiah (Romans 11:25-36). I believe Luther, and others, were preoccupied with their hatred of the Jew, therefore, they possessed not the ability to honor book’s like Esther, with its God directed purpose in the canon.
Once one peers past the illegitimate historical interpretations and attitudes frowned upon the book of Esther, one will engage less with the hard narrative topics, such as “Jewish revenge” (Esther 9:1-19), and delve into the overall point of the narrative, Yahweh’s unyielding protection of the Jew in exile. But one might say, “Is God really faithful to Jews in exile? Are they not in exile due their disregard to Yahweh in the first place?” To which the Christian must reply, “Yes, the Jew in exile is without doubt experiencing the disciplinary hand of God, but let us not get stuck there. God has established an everlasting covenant with the Jew that cannot not be undone, or broken by any power-including the Almighty Himself” (Genesis 15; Galatians 3:15-18). To peer into the heart of the book of Esther is to challenge or moral-based punishment thinking, recognize the disobedience of Israel as mercy toward the Gentile, and ask oneself, “How does one participate in provoking the Jew to jealousy-unto all Israel being saved?” God is faithful on the Word of His Word. God faithfully preserved Esther and her people from death and destruction for righteousness sake. The source of His faithfulness to the exilic Jew is proof-text that He is God, righteous, omnipotent, and trustworthy. To Luther, I would suggest one disregard his unbiblical approach toward the Jew. One must realize, if God cannot, or will not keep His word to the Jew first, His Word to the Gentile holds no weight. If God is not faithful to the Jew, He is unrighteous, and the Gentile cannot trust anything He has said, or promised."
Works Cited
Luther, Martin. Table Talk. Philadelphia: Fortress Pr., 1967. Print.
Luther, Martin. On the Jews and Their Lies. S.l.: Lulu Com, 2011. Print.