In this book of Esther, we read a beautiful narrative about how a single person’s actions can have a big influence. It is a story of boldness and courage that is beloved by many believers today.

For a broader view of this book of the Bible, we encourage you to watch this video:

Bible Journaling Tip: 

If you read a book of the Bible that you have heard a lot about before, or you think you know everything about it already. Write down in the margins any themes that you remember the book having, before reading anything new. Then, make notes under these themes as you read. This way you can dive deeper into what you already expect from the book.

LOOK UP (information): encounter God through the Scripture 

Author:

The book of Esther’s author is anonymous. Another fact that is peculiar is that God is never mentioned throughout the whole book. This invites the reader to look for God’s character behind the scenes. Take a certain colour of pen and mark all the places where you think God’s hand is active throughout the book of Esther. 

Audience:

This book was written for normal, broken people who try to follow God and trust His ways. See if you can mark all the places where Ester and Mordecai live in immoral ways that contradict the Jewish laws that God gave Moses. Even though they are imperfect, God uses them because they are hopeful and they trust that the Jewish people will be saved. 

History:

After the Babylonian exile, a lot of the Israelite people returned to Jerusalem - like Ezra and Nehemiah who we just journaled about. But not everyone was as fortunate. The book of Esther picks up in such a community, living in the capital of Persia, called Susa. 

Genre:

Esther is the last historical book in the Old Testament. The following books are in the following three genre categories: Wisdom literature, Major Prophets, and Minor Prophets. 

This means that we can pause here and look back on the whole story that started in Genesis. It’s a good idea for you to make your own summary of the story of God’s people. You can decide if you want to focus on timelines, people, or promises of God as a key. You will see it focus on the community as a whole, and on individuals (like in this book of Esther). 

What themes become apparent? Where is God’s faithfulness highlighted? Where is God calling people to holiness, and to be set apart? Where do people turn away from God? How does God react? What did God promise?

LOOK IN (revelation): contemplate / reflect on our own lives

Key verse:

Esther 4:14 NIV (Mordecai to Esther)

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

Inspiration:

According to Mordecai, if she remained silent; God would still not let His people die. Have you considered what happens if God asks you to do something and you do not do it? His ways are higher than our own, and He just might be sending somebody else to do that which you refused to do. 

I once heard about a pastor who planted many churches because he prayed the simple prayer: “God, give me the tasks that others would not do. I am willing.”  

LOOK OUT (transformation): respond with creative worship action  

Drawing prompt:

Esther is such a book of beauty. For this book’s creative prompt, we will create a paper flower using paper that we have written on. Write down all the images of beauty and strength and courage that you can find in the book of Esther. Now you can cut these out, roll them up, fold them, and stick them together to make a big and beautiful flower. 

Bible Journey with JournalOwl:

Here are some questions / prompts provided by the JournalOwl community. 

• What was the only exception to the king’s law about a person entering his inner court uninvited? (Esther 4:11)
• Why was Mordecai’s advice to Esther dangerous for her to carry out? 

Follow this link to dive into this book with an online Bible Study group.

Writing prompt:

The book of Esther is filled with impossible “coincidences”. Esther became queen in order to be able to save the Jews. Can you identify coincidences and strange timing in your own life? Make a mindmap of all the years of your life - it could be helpful to divide it into batches of 5 or 10 years. Try to recall one such coincidence in your life in that time period: When did things go right? When were you in the right place at the right time? Who did you meet in those years? Where did you encounter God at that time - how did you end up there? 

Pray and thank God for his hand that is so visible in your life.

Prayer:

God, I want to thank you for the book of Esther. Thank you that I can see your hand throughout this story because I know your character, even though you are not explicitly mentioned in the text. How can I also trust you so courageously? Let my response to this text be worship unto you!