The story continues, but now an enemy of the people of God is introduced. This enemy has been given authority to destroy the Jews. Even in this, if we look close, we see God’s providential rule at work.

Jesus’ healing of the dead man not only shows us Christ’s ability to heal, but also his ushering in the Kingdom of God.

This section seems somewhat disconnected from the its context. However, in telling the story of this plot against the king, several somewhat minor details are set in place that will become significant in the coming sections, reminding us that God’s providence extends even to the things we might take for granted.

In this paragraph the divines tackle the very difficult problem of God’s providentially ruling all things and the reality of sin.

As we read the story or Esther becoming queen, the questions abound. The story is presented with incredible ambiguity throughout, barring us from being able to answer many if the questions we have. One thing we do know, God is providentially at work through profoundly sinful and broken people and circumstances to bring about the deliverance of his people.

As the story continues, the king is shown having lost control. However, his loss of control is God’s providential working out the deliverance if his people.

In this episode we begin our study of Esther, a book that reminds us that nothing can undo God’s will for his people.

David gained the victory for his people, and they followed him in that victory. This is a wonderful picture of the Christian life, following Christ our King in the victory that he has won for us.

God provides the true king to fight for his people and deliver them from their enemies in order to remind them of their true story.

The Israelite should not defeat their enemy. Even their king, Saul, had forgotten the story. They needed a better king if they would survive.