Esther Overview – Living in Exile

We’ve finished the story, but there are still lessons to be learned. Rather than reading one particular passage today, let’s look back at what we’ve already seen. For the rest of this week, I’d like us to chew over this story of God’s salvation for his people.

There are three important themes I’d like us to consider over the next three days. We see these themes all throughout the book of Esther. Today’s theme can be summed up in one word: exile.

Esther begins in Susa, ends in Susa, and every verse in between is set in the city. Callous and ungodly Ahasuerus is king at the start (1:1) and at the end (10:1). Have you considered how challenging it must have been to be a believer in a hostile land? Every day, God’s people were breathing in noxious pagan values about wealth (1:6), parties (1:7), beauty (2:12), sex (2:14) and every other aspect of life.

They were constantly reminded of the might of the king (1:1) and the importance of fitting in by obeying his rule (3:12). It seems apt that God’s name is never once mentioned, because in this ungodly society, it seemed like he didn’t exist. It was hard to be faithful in Susa.

Of course, it’s the same for many believers today. Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) and therefore we are exiles here on Earth (1 Peter 2:11). We are constantly and subtly assaulted by a world that rebels against Jesus Christ. We are bombarded with the world’s values concerning money, gender, careers, family, religion, truth, life, and death. The pressure to become like those around us is enormous and God can so often seem absent.

Esther reminds us that even in a world where he is not acknowledged, God is still God. It challenges us to fix our eyes on him and strive for godliness. It is possible to be faithful while living in exile because God will always be faithful to us.

Questions
1. When do you most feel the pressure of living in exile?
2. Have you breathed in any values from the world without realising it?

Prayer Points
1. Pray that God would give you discernment to reject the values of the world and strength to follow him in a hostile environment.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.