Comments on: a tale of 2 feasts

By: sheepfodder

sheepfodder — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:26:58 +0000

Excellent post! I love the concept of “two feasts” and the contrast you made. sjb

By: Chris Taylor

Chris Taylor — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:00:47 +0000

Jeff,

Great insight my friend! I never quite saw Esther that way, but it is very helpful in understanding the book. Like two bookends! With a great message in between of the “silent sovereignty of God.”

By: Lance

Lance — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:08:44 +0000

I like the way you’ve shown how in His sovereignty, the Creation is God’s story, and the ending will be His ending.

I like to tell people that the Bible is not merely an instruction manual, but primarily (if not exclusively), a Redemption Story.

Loved the way you pointed that out in the Esther “bookends,” something I had never noticed before.

Thanks for your edification in bringing this to light.

By: sjs889

sjs889 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:17:02 +0000

Esther is a good story that makes you want to read it from beginning to end. To me the important bit is at Esther 4:13-14

Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Mordecai did not know whether Esther was going to be agent of God’s providence but he had faith that God would deliver the Jews.

And Esther’s response is inspiring as well

“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.”

By: Esther as ‘a tale of 2 feasts’ « The Church of Jesus Christ

Esther as ‘a tale of 2 feasts’ « The Church of Jesus Christ — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:37:45 +0000

[...] a comment » Jeff Lacine at 2 mites has an interesting post on Esther, which seems to be a small topic on the blogosphere lately – [...]

By: Polycarp

Polycarp — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:24:15 +0000

I think it is well said and helps to articulate the message of Esther much more plainer than laying it out as a simple story of God’s deliverance.

By: Job

Job — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:48:27 +0000

So then, the two feasts form a type of chiasm. One in celebration of man’s power and strength, which is illusory and the other representing God’s true power and strength. That is an excellent way of laying out the book that helps me find meaning in it! Even with an eschatological flavor … the first feast dedicated to human rule can represent the anti – Christ (the number of a man), and the second feast, as you put it, “there is a day coming when the Sovereign King of the Universe will be seen, and every mouth will drop and every knee bow!”, the mighty stone that will crush the statue as recorded in Daniel.

“We have all eaten at the first feast… but now I ask you. ”

Now that is something to ponder indeed! Thank you for your assistance in this matter.