23 VISION STUDY H. Mears, What the Bible is All About

Session *9: and Job I. Introductory Remarls This lesson provides a transition. The closes the historical section of the npoetical" . The begins the five boots of the Old Testament.

II. Background of Esther In the , the book of Esther is read during one of the great festivals of the Iewish year. It is the Feast of Rrrim, a feast celebrating deliverance from massacre of the Jewish exiles in Persia by . It occurs during the month of (February - March) and is quite nationalistic in character. The book of .Esther has endured attacks, even from Martin Luther, because the name of God is not mentioned; yet, there is no doubt about the presence and action of God in the book and behind the actions of Esther. A. Author/Date: The story talces place during the reign of the Persian King Xerxes (also known as Ahazuerus) in the Persian city of and is zurrounded by customs of the Persian court. The event occurs during the years 486-465 BC before many Jews rehrrned to Judah. This is the last of the historical bools. The author is unknown, though it is believed he was a Jew. The date of composition is also unknown, though the story was wrifien between the time of Xerxes (about 465 BC) and the fall of Persia to Greece in 331 BC. There is no mention of Judah or Jerusalem. C. Central Message: The story tells of the beginning of the Jewish festival of . Esther, a Hebrew orphan raised by , becomes queen after , previous queen, refuses to dance for the King at a banquet (read 1:lUL2, 18-22). An official of the court, Haman, seels to exterminate the Jews, but Esther intervenes and reveals the plot. The Israelites are saved and evil Haman is killed. Although God is never mentioned, the story records God's faithfulness to His promises and how His purposes in history cannot be thwarted. It also reveals the faithfulness of a simple Hebrew girl named Esther, of whom it is said: 'Perhaps you came to the kingdom for zuch a time as this. " (:14) uI. Backgound of Job In some ways, Job is the 'most used and studied' book of the Old Testament. This is so because it deals with the age old continuing question of "Why do the righteous suffer?" It has given rise !o gleat poetry and drama, one of which, "JB," by Archibald Macleish, gained fame on Broadway. A. Author/Date: The story of Job may be among the oldest in the OId Testament. The physical story or tale (chapters l, 2, md A) deals with the character Job, who lived during the second millennium BC. (2000-1000). The story itself appears in Hebrew at approximately the time of David (1000 BC). An anonymous poet of the Exile (6th century BC) uses the story as the setting for a discussion between Job, his friends and the Lord. The author and actual date are very unsure. Although written by an Israelite author, it reflects none of the detailed Israelite history and thus it is difficult to date. B. Central Message: The issue of theodicy (God's justice) is raised: "How are we to understand the role of a just and all powerful God in light of innocent human zuffering?" Some people say that suffering is the result of sin and the "friends" of Job .24 will argue this point. It is unacceptable to the sufferer, Job. The book confirms that there are elements in life that remain in the realm of mystery and also that God remains just and omnipotent, even though we have difticulff from time to time wittr that concept. God wiil be God and we will be His people. The book also includes a call to faith in God even when everything in life is not clear to us. Perhaps the most powerful verses in all of Job are L9:25-27, where in the midst of his suffering, he proclaims, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will sknd upon the earttr...in my flesh I will see God... with my own eyes!'!

ry. Assignment A. Mears, WHAT THE BIBLE IS ALL ABOUT "Understanding Esther" pp. La5-152 "Understanding Job " pp. 153-163 B. Suggested Daily Bible Readings 1. Day one: Esther I &2 2. Day two: ,4, 5 3. Day three: ,7, 8 4. Day four: Esther 9 & 10 5. Day five: Job 1, 2,42 6. Day six: Job 19 7. Day seven: Job 38-41

V. Study Questions A. Look up ir Bible Dictionary a definition of "Purim. " How did the Feast of Ptrrim get its name? (Esther 3:'7 , 9:26) B. Note in these verses some of the characteristics applied to Esther: 2:15,2:9-17,5:L-3, 2:10, 4:L6, 7:6, 2:22, 8:1-2, 'l:3-4. List some:

C. Note how SaAn is preseuted in chapters I &2 of Job. How does the term "adversary" apply as an apt description of him?

D. How do you understand suffering in this lit'e?

VI. Discussion Starters: A. Esther is said to "have come to this present moment for such a time as this. " (Esther 4:74) Discuss how God uses certain times and certain persons to achieve his purposes. Can you note such a time when special people or events influenced your life -- or when God placed you in a position for His purpose? B. Esther took risks for her faith. Have you ever 'stood up" when confessing your faith might mean ridicule or scorn? C. Job expressbd the hope of a Redeemer when it seemed all else had failed. (Job i9:25) It has been said that we only come to faith when we get to the end of our rope. Agree/Disagree. D. Review Job 38-42. Discuss God's rebuke of Job's complaining in Job 38-41. Then, read and find comfort in Job's response, Iob 42. Does Job ever get a response as to the cause or meaning of zufferihg? What does Job finally understand?