5 REASONS to study Esther

Not least because the Book of Esther fails to mention God at all, it is good idea to ask why we are studying it. There are at least 5 good reasons:

ONE The fact that the Book of Esther does not mention God means it is a helpful book for our times. Many people in our culture, where secularism is fashionable, feel embarrassed about mentioning the Lord or even say that it is offensive for God's faithful people to talk of God.  In the Persian Empire, 5 centuries before Christ, there was a similar secular outlook and a similar flawed claim to be multicultural. The lesson we take is this: just because God is not mentioned, does that mean God is not at work?

TWO Some people feel that Christians should not study the Old Testament because it is irrelevant to Christians or inferior to the New Testament Both of these attitudes are shown to be misguided by our Church of England heritage. Articles 6 & 7 of the 39 Articles of Religion make clear that the books of the Old Testament are as much the Word of God as the New Testament. The Old Testament is not inferior scripture. It is Jesus' Bible, from which he quoted and preached and alluded. All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, correction and training in righteousness.

THREE Esther helps us ponder the growing anti-Jewish sentiment amongst many in our times. There are many previous generations where this has been the case and it is unimpressive that God's Old Testament people have experienced much discrimination and persecution over the centuries, sometimes at the hands of those who call themselves Christian. We do well to learn hard lessons. We also do well to see how God's New Testament people are being persecuted in many places today for no good reason. This includes the equivalent of genocide against Christians in parts of the Middle East and Africa.

FOUR Partying was a big thing in Esther's Babylonia, as it is in sections of our society. Ch.1 shows the damage to lives and society that can be done by the bravado and foolishness of what is said at parties. Esther holds two parties order to seek an opportunity to right a wrong. The Book of Esther inspires the annual party of Purim.

FIVE Esther shows the valuable influence of a queen who says little but what she does say serves the nation well and helps God's people to have a place in the nation's life. All Christians who work in a secular context, with dismissive attitudes

from some in authority, can learn to be wise in speech and choose their moments well to make stand for Jesus Christ and his people. Esther helps.