1. Resting in God’s Providence, pt.1
Providence in Esther
August 26, 2018
What is providence?

2. God’s Providence in Esther
Why trust God’s providence?
He is absolutely faithful (Lam 3:22-23; 1 Cor 1:9; Heb 10:23; 11:11)
He is absolutely committed to His glory (Ps 115, Eph 1)
He is absolutely a God of love (Psa 136; Hos 11; 1 John 4:8)
He is absolutely sovereign—right, desire, power (Psa 103:19)
He is absolutely holy (Isa 6; 1Peter 1:16; Rev 4:8)
He is absolutely committed to conforming me to the image of Christ (Rom 8:28, 29)

3. Providence in Esther The Setting and Time of Esther
The reason for the exile
The place of the post-exile
The people of the post-exile
Esther
Vashti
Ahasuerus/Xerxes
Mordecai
Haman
Zeresh
The Court

4. Providence in Esther The Dating of Esther (between Ezra 6-7)
722 BC Assyrians conquer N. Kingdom and exile the people
586 Babylonians conquer S. Kingdom, destroy the temple, and exile the people
539 Cyrus of Persia conquers Babylon
Cyrus allows exiles to return (Ezr 1:1-4; cf. Jer 30:3)—First wave under Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-6)
Reign of Ahasuerus/Xerxes (Esther 1-10)
458 BC Second wave of exiles return under Ezra (Ezra 7-10)
444 BC Third wave of exiles return under Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2)

5. The timeline of Esther’s initial events
Providence in Esther
The timeline of Esther’s initial events
From Esther: The Triumph of God’s Sovereignty by John C. Whitcomb

6. The timeline of Esther’s initial events
Providence in Esther
The timeline of Esther’s initial events
1:3—Vashti deposed in the 3rd year of Xerxes’ reign
Xerxes’ Greek campaign—in part motivated by his father’s (Darius) defeat at Marathon (481 captured Athens, 479 the Greeks aligned themselves against Persia and defeated Xerxes)
2:12—Preparations of the women while in Greece
2:16—Esther as queen in the 7th year of his reign

7. Providence and The Canonicity of Esther
It is questioned because of missing the following:
Reference to God
Reference to the Law
Reference to the temple
Reference to prayer (implied with fast)
Reference to sacrifice
Reference to priesthood
Reference to Jerusalem
Reference to the prophets
It is questioned because of an emphasize on Pagan culture and Revenge
It is questioned because of misunderstanding Providence
It is questioned because of prejudice in Historical Data

8. Providence and the Persian Empire

10. Providence, Daniel’s Prophecy, and The Glory of Ahasuerus

11. Providential Reversal The Major Providential Act
Chp 1-2
The Splendor of Ahasuerus
Chp 10 The Splendor of Mordecai
Chp 8:9-9:32 (cf.8:1-2) Mordecai’s exaltation
Chp 3:1-2 Haman’s exaltation
Chp 8:9-9:32 Mordecai’s saving plan (Purim est.)
Chp 3:2-15 Haman’s vengeful plot (a Pur is cast)
Chp 4 The plan to reverse
Chp 8:3-8 The plea to reverse
Chp 5 Banquet One—Haman’s pride fed
Chp 7 Banquet Two—Haman’s pride shattered
Chapter 6
The King’s lack of sleep, reading of the chronicles, and coming of Haman
The Major Providential Act
CAH 3/31/18