The Book of Esther

Word Study

"it was turned to the contrary," Hebrew ve-nahaphokh hu (וְנַהֲפוֹךְ הוּא), and it was overturned, reversed; a single Hebrew phrase capturing the theme of the whole book. The date had been fixed by Haman's lot (the "Pur," chapter 3:7) for the destruction of the Jews: "the thirteenth day" of the twelfth month, Adar. On that very day, "the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them." But then comes the phrase that sums up the entire book: "though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them." Ve-nahaphokh hu, "it was overturned." The day meant for the destruction of God's people became the day of their triumph. Everything was reversed: the intended victims became the victors; the day of doom became the day of deliverance. This one phrase, "it was turned to the contrary," is the heart of Esther and of God's providence throughout Scripture. God specializes in reversals: the humble exalted and the proud abased, the mourning turned to joy, the intended evil turned to good. The very day the enemy chose for destruction, God chose for deliverance. Nothing had visibly changed the date, the decree, the danger, yet everything was turned to the contrary by the unseen hand of God. This is the God of Esther, and of all His people: the One who overturns the schemes of the enemy and turns the day of intended doom into the day of salvation.

Explanation

On the very day Haman's lot had chosen for the destruction of the Jews, the day their enemies expected to overpower them, everything was reversed: "it was turned to the contrary." The intended victims became the victors; the day of doom became the day of deliverance. This single phrase captures the theme of the whole book. God specializes in reversals, overturning the schemes of the enemy and turning the day of intended destruction into the day of salvation. Nothing visibly changed the danger, yet everything was turned to the contrary by the unseen hand of God.

Gospel Focus

"It was turned to the contrary" is the great theme of Esther and a shining picture of how God works, and supremely of the Gospel. God delights to overturn the schemes of the enemy, "the same day" meant for destruction became the day of deliverance. This reversal reaches its climax at the cross and empty tomb. The day the enemy meant for the destruction of the Son of God, Good Friday, God turned into the day of the world's salvation; "him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up" (Acts 2:23-24). What the enemy intended for ruin, God turned to the contrary, "ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good" (Genesis 50:20). And this is the pattern of the whole Christian hope: death turned into life, mourning into joy, the grave into a gate of glory, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:55). For God's people, no day of apparent doom is the final word, for our God turns things "to the contrary." When you face a day the enemy seems sure to win, remember Esther's phrase and the empty tomb: God can turn the very day of destruction into the day of deliverance. Trust the God who overturns every scheme against His people, and who has, in the resurrection of Christ, turned the ultimate defeat into the everlasting victory.

Word Study

"turned... from sorrow to joy," Hebrew nehpakh... mi-yagon le-simchah (נֶהְפַּךְ מִיָּגוֹן לְשִׂמְחָה). The deliverance is to be commemorated as "the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day." The reversal is described again in the language of transformation: sorrow to joy, mourning to gladness. And the manner of celebration is significant: "days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor."

"gifts to the poor," u-mattanoth la-evyonim (וּמַתָּנוֹת לָאֶבְיוֹנִים), gifts to the needy. The commemoration of God's deliverance was to be marked not only by feasting and joy, but by generosity: sharing food with one another ("sending portions") and giving "gifts to the poor." True celebration of God's mercy overflows in kindness to others, especially the needy. The joy of deliverance was not to be hoarded but shared; those who had been spared were to open their hands to the poor. This is a beautiful pattern: gratitude for God's deliverance expressing itself in generosity. The remembrance of what God had done for them moved them to do good to others. To this day, the giving of gifts to the poor remains part of the celebration of Purim. The lesson is enduring: the proper response to God's mercy toward us is mercy toward others; those who have received grace should give grace; and the joy of salvation is meant to overflow in open-handed kindness, especially to the poor.

Explanation

The deliverance was to be remembered as the time "turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day." And the celebration was to include not only feasting and joy but generosity: sharing food with one another and giving gifts to the poor. The commemoration of God's mercy was to overflow in kindness to others, especially the needy. The joy of deliverance was not to be hoarded but shared. Gratitude for what God had done moved His people to do good to others; those who had received mercy were to show mercy.

Gospel Focus

That the celebration of deliverance included "gifts to the poor" teaches that gratitude for God's mercy should overflow in generosity to others. The joy of salvation is not to be hoarded but shared, especially with the needy. This is the consistent pattern of Scripture: those who have received mercy are to show mercy, "freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8); "to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Hebrews 13:16). Remembering God's kindness to us moves us to kindness toward others, and the poor have a special claim on the gratitude of the delivered, "he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD" (Proverbs 19:17); "pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction" (James 1:27). The joy of the Gospel, of our own great deliverance from sin and death in Christ, should make us the most generous of people, for we have received the greatest of gifts. "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor" (2 Corinthians 8:9), and that grace is meant to flow through us to others. When you remember what God has done for you, turning your sorrow to joy in Christ, let it open your hand to the poor and your heart to others, celebrating God's deliverance not only with feasting and joy, but with generous gifts, so that the mercy you have received becomes mercy you extend.

Word Study

"Purim," Hebrew Purim (פּוּרִים), the plural of pur, "lot," named for the lot Haman cast to choose the day (chapter 3:7). The Jews established the annual feast of Purim, "these two days," to be "remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city." The purpose is stated with great emphasis: "that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed." The name "Purim" itself, from the "lot" Haman cast, is a permanent testimony to reversal: the very lot the enemy used to doom them became the name of their feast of deliverance. What the enemy meant for destruction is memorialized as salvation. To this day the Jewish people keep Purim, reading the book of Esther and remembering that God (though unnamed) delivered them.

"remembered," nizkarim (נִזְכָּרִים), kept in memory. God's great deliverance was to be remembered forever, passed down through the generations, so that the memory of it would never be lost. There is deep wisdom here. God's people are prone to forget His mighty works, and forgetting leads to unbelief and decline. So God's deliverances are meant to be commemorated, marked with feasts and memorials, told to the children, kept alive in the memory of the people. The principle for all God's people is clear: remember His works, commemorate His mercies, tell them to the next generation, and never let the memory of His deliverance perish.

Explanation

The Jews established the annual feast of Purim, named for the "lot" (Pur) Haman had cast, to be kept forever, "remembered and kept throughout every generation," so that the memory of God's deliverance would never perish. God's people are prone to forget His mighty works, and forgetting leads to unbelief; so His deliverances are meant to be commemorated, marked with feasts, and told to the children. Even the feast's name, from Haman's lot, testifies to the great reversal: the very instrument of the enemy's plot became the name of the celebration of deliverance.

Gospel Focus

The establishing of Purim, so that God's deliverance "should not fail... nor the memorial of them perish," teaches the vital importance of remembering God's mighty works. God's people are prone to forget, and forgetting His works leads to unbelief and decline: "they soon forgat his works" (Psalm 106:13); so we are commanded, "remember his marvellous works that he hath done" (1 Chronicles 16:12), and to tell them to the next generation, "we will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD" (Psalm 78:4). This is why God gives His people memorials and feasts, to keep the memory of His salvation alive. And it points to the great memorial of the new covenant: the Lord's Supper, which the Lord Jesus instituted with the words, "this do in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25), that we might never forget His body broken and His blood shed for our deliverance from sin and death. As Purim keeps alive the memory of the Jews' rescue, so the Lord's Table keeps alive the memory of our far greater rescue in Christ. Remember God's works, commemorate His mercies, tell them to your children, and keep the memorial He has given, lest the memory of His deliverance perish from among us. The God who is never named in Esther, yet delivered His people so wonderfully, has delivered us more wonderfully still in His Son; let us never forget it, but remember, celebrate, and pass it on.