Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not mention God by name, but God is moving behind the scenes. Through the story and the characters, we see glimpses of God's plan to save the world and defeat the enemy through his son, Jesus.

With a couple of weeks to process, Erika Kirk's message at the memorial service for her husband still resonates. This will be the note that echoes into the future, and it's one Christians should pay attention to. Our superpower is not conquering, but forgiving. God will continue to work through what happened to Charlie Kirk, and our witness to the world will be through our love, grace, and forgiveness. 

"The Glory of Forgiveness: The Superpower of the Gospel"

Nehemiah is one of the great leaders in the Bible, but there's more to him than that. The book of Nehemiah lets us into his heart and his inner thoughts. It shows a leader surrendered to God and obedient to his mission. In these moments, we see Nehemiah as a preview of Christ. At the end of the book, the people are settled in the land, waiting for the Messiah to come. 

Ezra and Nehemiah were some of the final leaders in the Old Testament. They brought people back to Jerusalem, but also brought them back to God through the renewal of the covenant. As a scribe and teacher, Ezra models the ministry of Jesus in the New Testament. As he led the people, the backdrop for the first century began to take shape. 

The assassination of Charlie Kirk shocked the country, and conservative Christians have mourned his death with services and prayer vigils. Even as we mourn, we can be wise in the way we process and respond. As Christians, we shouldn't be surprised when we see evil, but we should also look for God to build his kingdom. 

Read Cole's two-part essay:

"Mourning in America: The Assassination of Charlie Kirk"

"Morning in America: The Legacy of Charlie Kirk" 

The age of the kings provides us with a glimpse of God's plan for Israel. David and Solomon show us the majesty to expect in the Messiah, but they also display the repetitive, sinful nature of humanity, even the great kings of Israel. In the midst of it all, the prophets continue to bring the Word of God to bear on the people, pointing ahead to what God will do to save his people from their sins. 

The book of Chronicles reflects on the history of Israel with a look ahead to the end of the exile and the rebuilding of the Temple. The authors focus on worship and service in the Temple, previewing the time of Jesus. In addition, we see a glimpse of Jesus's eternal reign in the reign of Solomon. As the history of Israel seems to come to an end, God has other plans to fulfill his promises and continue his faithfulness to his people. 

Are 1-2 Chronicles just a repeat of 1-2 Kings? The differences between the two accounts of Israel's history also show us something about Jesus Christ. Terry and Cole discuss the role 1 Chronicles plays in helping us to see Jesus as the true and greater temple and as the one his people worship. 

Even in the downfall of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, we can see a preview of the coming of Christ. Following in the tradition of the prophets and fulfilling the glory of the temple, Jesus embodies the best of the history of Israel. In the end, God keeps his promise to David that one of his sons will reign on the throne through an improbable twist. A king of Judah dines at the king's table in Babylon.

As the David story comes into focus, so do the parallels with Jesus. David provides the template for Israel's coming king and messiah. As one of the greatest figures in the Bible, David is a model for Jesus, but even he cannot measure up to all that Jesus will be.