Esther
On the surface the book of Esther seems a marvelous and entertaining story. There is a drunken king, beautiful women, power, plots, and intrigue. There is a surprise turn of events and an ending that leaves you feeling that all is well. We often treat the book of Esther as simply a “good story” often missing the deeper message of this wonderful narrative.
The thing that stands out above all others, in the Book of Esther, is God, he is never mentioned. This may seem a little strange, “why study a book that doesn’t mention God”? While God’s name is not mentioned His presence is interwoven through all the events in Esther, He is working powerfully for the accomplishment of his purposes. The story of Esther is, at its heart, a story of the providence of God. It is a story of how, even in the darkest times, when God seems most distant He is still in control. The book of Esther speaks very deeply to those times and places in our lives when we feel overwhelmed and alone, thinking that in the hour of our greatest need that God is silent.