The book of Esther is one of the most compelling stories in the Bible.
In 480 B.C. Persia a plot is hatched to annihilate the Jewish race. One woman, Esther, risks her life to save her people. All the elements are there: plot, intrigue, heroes, villians, beautiful women, and ultimately a happy ending. But a detailed reading of Esther is only part of author Howard D. Wilcox's work. Divine Providence is a detailed, paragraph-by-paragraph analysis of Esther.
Want to get more out of your Bible study?
Divine Providence is a hermeneutical study of the book of Esther. Hermeneutics - the science and art of studying the Bible - is the format for studying the Bible in Bible college and seminary. The mechanics of this process are clearly presented in Dr. Wilcox's work. For those who feel they could be getting more from their Bible reading, the studies in Divine Providence provide an example of how to do just that. Using Esther as a model Divine Providence is a blueprint for how to read, analyzie, and apply lessons from any book in the Bible.
The Bible is alive and powerful - what occurred in 480 B.C. Persia is relevant to life today.
Divine Providence follows the Biblical principles set forth in Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Believers should study the Word, know it and apply it (2 Timothy 2:15). As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 1:9, "That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun." Every generation faces different challenges, but humanity is the same. We can either do things God's way or man's way. His ways are timeless and His lessons are profitable. Divine Providence looks at fifty principles or life lessons based on the book of Esther with Scriptural and doctrinal support throughout the Bible. Life lessons are developed from three different perspectives: God in relation to man; man in relation to God, himself, and others; and for those in positions of authority - life lessons in leadership. These principles are relevant in every aspect of life.
Jesus Christ controls history
God has a perfect plan which cannot be altered, yet at the same time man has free will to act in ways that, in some cases, appear to be against His will. The conflict in the book of Esther is based on this apparent dilemma. Divine Providence explores the fascinating concept of divine sovereignty and man's free will in relation to the characters and plot. "When we view the book of Esther from a big-picture perspective, we will clearly see God's sovereignty in the lives of men and the events of the time. When we view the book from each character's perspective, we will see the free-will decisions that person makes. Our challenge and privilege will be to correctly interpret the story from all vantage points" (page 7). God invites believers to join in His work. If we decline He will raise up someone else and we will lose the reward.
Every Christian will face adversity in his or her life.
When we trust and obey God, we are blessed. He will never forsake us. At some point God brings every believer to the end of himself - to a place where he cannot remove an obstacle. The Jews in 480 B.C. were at such a place. At that point of total dependence the people turned to God. The same principle is true for every believer today. When we are totally dependent on Him, we learn to trust in God and He grows our faith. God may not remove the obstacle, but He is faithful and just and gives us every Spiritual blessing needed to endure. Divine Providence explores the adversities the Jews experienced in the book of Esther and makes relevant application tp present dya life.
