How does Esther point to Christ?
Esther is a picture of rescue: a mediator who risks her life for her people, a bride whose favor shields her household, and a deliverer whose victory becomes a feast. She points beyond herself to the greater Son of David.
This question arose from studying What is the feast of Purim?.
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A mediator who risks herself for her people
Esther goes in where no one may go, for the life of her people, and says she will go though it cost her. Jesus names the love behind it: 'Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.' Esther pictures the mediation, and Christ accomplishes it.
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
A bride whose favor shields her household
The king set the crown on Esther and made her queen, and her position becomes the protection of her people. So 'Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it,' that He might present it to Himself a pure bride. The queen's place foreshadows the Bridegroom's.
The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
The greater Deliverer
Esther saves one people from one decree for a season. The Lamb who was slain is worthy to open the scroll, for He was killed and bought us for God with His blood, 'out of every tribe, language, people, and nation.' Her local rescue opens onto His global one.
In every province, and in every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness, joy, a feast, and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen on them.And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Her victory becomes a feast
The days of deliverance become Purim, a feast of gladness and gifts. The final feast is 'the marriage supper of the Lamb,' to which every rescued people is invited. Esther's table is a shadow of the wedding banquet of the King.
as the days in which the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending presents of food to one another, and gifts to the needy.As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” He said to me, “These are true words of God.”And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
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Verses to meditate on
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
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