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Esther
Having proven himself as a poet, John Piper has written another masterpiece, retelling the story of Esther. This two-part poem begins with Mordecai talking with his teenage cousin Hadassah (Esther), whom he is raising. He explains how her grandfather had a prophetic dream about freedom in the land of Susa, and how his aunt and uncle (Esther's parents) began the journey. Esther's mother, he explains, died in childbirth, and her father died only two years later. Part two fast-forwards to Esther looking back and explaining how she became queen to her son, and what God's providential purposes were in saving the Jews. This moving story is complete with illustrations by artist Glenn Harrington, and will inspire faith in God through fictional poetry about the nonfictional story of Esther.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
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202 people want to read
About the author
John Piper
609 books4,636 followersJohn Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.
John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.
John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 17, 2022
I love the book of Esther, and I really enjoyed John Piper's poetry. It has a nice flow to it, but if you are stickler for poems that always rhyme, this book might not be for you. It's well written though...
October 2, 2024
A poetry book I liked!? Such a rarity. I'll definition definitely revisit this one.
December 18, 2015
This, like all poetry, will require multiple readings.
I loved the rhyme and the rhythm. I was surprised that it centered around so much of her life that isn't written about in Scripture. I enjoy conjecture like this in a narrative, imaginative form like this, but other readers may not. It took me down a trail of whimsy and helped me imagine Esther's life before and after the parts we hear about. We're this a class assignment, every poet's account would vastly differ.
I'm curious now to read other poems Piper has written...the introduction says he writes one each year as a Christmas gift to his congregation!
I loved the rhyme and the rhythm. I was surprised that it centered around so much of her life that isn't written about in Scripture. I enjoy conjecture like this in a narrative, imaginative form like this, but other readers may not. It took me down a trail of whimsy and helped me imagine Esther's life before and after the parts we hear about. We're this a class assignment, every poet's account would vastly differ.
I'm curious now to read other poems Piper has written...the introduction says he writes one each year as a Christmas gift to his congregation!
April 5, 2014
I had no idea John Piper wrote poetry, but I'm so glad he does. The thought never crossed my mind but, now that I know, he shows it in his sermons. The language he uses in his sermons and books is very poetic, so I'm not too surprised.
I've never been a huge fan of poetry books; I tend to enjoy poems I find here and there rather than dedicating myself to reading lists of them. However, after "Esther," I would gladly enjoy a whole book of Piper's poems.
I've never been a huge fan of poetry books; I tend to enjoy poems I find here and there rather than dedicating myself to reading lists of them. However, after "Esther," I would gladly enjoy a whole book of Piper's poems.
April 1, 2013
A good poem. A couple of things that really stood out to me:
"What power is hid behind the mask
Of man's design?"
"Rest well, my precious Abihail
When you are weak, God will prevail
Trust now the Lord your soul to keep
He rules the nations while you sleep."
"What power is hid behind the mask
Of man's design?"
"Rest well, my precious Abihail
When you are weak, God will prevail
Trust now the Lord your soul to keep
He rules the nations while you sleep."
June 23, 2018
This book is marvelous poetry that magnifies God's sovereignty and great love for his people through this imaginative (but faithful to the Scriptures) retelling of Esther's story. Praise God for the way he works in this world for his good purposes!
August 13, 2017
A poem about my favorite book in the Bible
September 7, 2017
Poetic prose of the imagined tale of Esther and the truth of Hadassah.
November 16, 2017
Nice enough while it lasts. Then a boy sleeps, and so it seems kinda incomplete, even with the lullaby in the end. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
February 10, 2017
John Piper has a gift. He fills in the blanks, so to speak, for the book of Esther. Fictional but historically accurate.
February 26, 2017
Esther, let us sing
Now, like you said, together eye
To eye. The God who made the sky
And rules the earth with awesome might,
Is wielding all the world this night
To bring this story to an end
Beyond our power to comprehend.
Now, like you said, together eye
To eye. The God who made the sky
And rules the earth with awesome might,
Is wielding all the world this night
To bring this story to an end
Beyond our power to comprehend.
February 19, 2016
John Piper retells the beautiful story of Esther in beautiful and comprehensible poetic verse. He does not go into as much detail as the biblical account and adds his own thoughts and ideas to add other details to the story that could have happened without contradicting the biblical account.
September 30, 2015
On a poetic note.....I at times can be shallow....
But I got most of it.
http://sfy.co/q0xb3
But I got most of it.
http://sfy.co/q0xb3
February 15, 2016
A lovely retelling of the story of Esther in a two-part poem that highlights the providential sovereignty of the God who reigns.
May 2, 2019
A beautiful rendition of the story of a Jewish girl who saved her people and the sovereignty of God.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews