Gospel in Esther

Book excerpt: In Gospel in Esther, Michael Beckett challenges such long-pervading attitudes. He presents an overtly Christian and typological reading of Esther, in which Esther herself is presented as a female exemplar of Christ. What would appear to be an entirely secular telling of a story of deliverance is shown to be a typological depiction of the universality of God's grace and the all sufficiency of the sacrifice of Jesus, in whom God has done all that is necessary to save humankind. Having its roots in preaching, Gospel in Esther is applied and engaging, each chapter following the corresponding chapter of Esther by way of commentary as the story unfolds. This stimulating, heart-warming and challenging book will be of great interest to preachers and students of the Old Testament.