THE MESSAGE OF ESTHER
God present but unseen
By David G. Firth. IVP. 140 pages. £8.99
ISBN 978-1-84474-444-2
Can a Bible book that does not mention the name of God be serviceable in the Christian church?
It might seem that the only way in which it could is by something being made of the book that is not in it. But this study of the Book of Esther shows that the more one knows about the text in its context, the more one has to say that the church in all ages needs to hear — today in particular.
The strength and value of this study lies in a number of facts. First, Firth has spent considerable time with the text of Esther and he knows it well on all its levels — textual, historical, literary and theological. The footnotes and bibliography show that he is aware of the scholarly literature on the book and he interacts most helpfully with it in his introduction.
Secondly, he treats Esther as a single piece of narrative and theology, using the many wrinkles of the story to point to its heavy emphasis on ‘God present but unseen’ as per the book’s sub-title. Thirdly, he sees such a God as actively revealed in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The way in which he treats Haman is a classic example of reading the text in its canonical context. Noting that he is introduced in the text as a descendant of king Agag, Firth connects him with 1 Samuel 15 and Exodus 17.15 where Amalekites are foes of God whose schemes will not succeed even though they may be temporarily spared. Haman is therefore a foe and a fool before any of his machinations are detailed. This links Esther with Old Testament wisdom and covenant and makes it a portent of New Testament gospel.
This book will open a valuable window on the text and the redemptive history it records. In doing so it will project a welcome light on the church’s situation in a world from which God is being excluded. It reminds us that instead of God being nowhere, he is now here.
Hywel R. Jones,
Port Talbot, South Wales;
Professor of Practical Theology, Westminster Seminary, California
