The book of Esther speaks to a number of modern-day issues, including the idea of entitlement, which came up in a recent discussion I tuned in to. For instance: Is a husband entitled to make demands on his wife and vice versa? Is a government official entitled to make decisions which disadvantage one section of society? Australian society is grappling with these questions today and the Australian of the Year awards presented us with a slice of some of the fine individuals working to better the lives of their fellow-Australians as they encourage respect for and equality of all.
Esther's story teaches about the strong qualities of humility, courage, kindness, wisdom, and self-lessness, while clearly defining the weakness and self-destruction of pride, boasting, self-promotion, vanity and boiling anger.
Some eloquent passages from the Living Bible:
Esther 3: 15 The narrator comments wryly - "Then the king and Haman sat down for a drinking spree as the city fell into confusion and panic."
Esther 4:14 Mordecai suggests his trust in God's unfoldment of events as he says - "Who can say but that God has brought you into the palace for just such a time as this?"
Esther 4:16 Esther's love for her people and trust in the power of prayer shines through as she says - "Go and gather together all the Jews of Shushan and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days...then, though it is strictly forbidden, I will go in to see the king; and if I perish, I perish."
Esther 6: 1 Here is a wonderful answer to prayer - "The king had trouble sleeping and decided to read for a while." And what did he read but an account which revealed to him Mordecai's splendid past record. The whole course of the nation was changed that very evening.
I do enjoy reading this book.
Julie Swannell
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