Esther: A Woman of Strength & Dignity (Great Lives from God's Word, Vol. 2) [Hardcover]

Charles R. Swindoll (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 14, 1997

Everyone loves a transforming story. Rags to riches. Plain to beautiful. Weak to strong. Esther's story is that, and much more. It is a thought-provoking study of God's invisible hand, writing silently across the pages of human history. Perhaps most of all, it is an account of a godly woman with the courage, wisdom, and strength to block an evil plot, overthrow an arrogant killer, and replace with joy in thousands of Jewish homes. Through Esther's courageous struggle to help her people, Swindoll explains the power of divine providence in volume 2 of the best-selling "Great Lives" series.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Presumed 1st as edition not stated edition (October 14, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849913837
• ISBN-13: 978-0849913839
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,653 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Charles R. Swindoll is senior pastor of Stonebriar Community Church, chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary, and the Bible teacher on the internationally syndicated radio program Insight for Living. He has written more than thirty best-selling books, including STRENGTHENING YOUR GRIP, LAUGH AGAIN, THE GRACE AWAKENING, and the million-selling GREAT LIVES FROM GOD'S WORD series. Chuck and his wife, Cynthia, live in Frisco, Texas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Full of Application, January 23, 2003

By 

sauvili (Boise, ID) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Esther: A Woman of Strength & Dignity (Great Lives from God's Word, Vol. 2) (Hardcover)

The entire Great Lives Series are biographies on individuals of the Bible. They are wonderful books because they can be read at many different levels. This book, on Esther, is no different.
On the surface level one can read this book and learn a lot about Esther. The next level reveals the character of God, and another level teaches the reader application for their own life and relationship with God.

This book is entirely about Esther, but doesn't have anything to do with Esther. Through reading this book one learns about Esther, her experiences, and the era she lived in. Yet what we are really learning are principles that remain constant for all people and all time. Some of these are: waiting on the Lord, the invincibility of God despite his invisibility, and self- constraint through the holy spirit. Like the parables Jesus used, the story of Esther's life is merely a tool God uses to portray His will. This is something Charles Swindoll has discovered, and I believe his intent in writing this book is to help us discover the same.

One of the great aspects of this book is that it is part of a series and each book in the series addresses different lessons and characteristics of God. These books introduce life- changing application we might otherwise miss in our regular bible reading and therefore, can greatly enhance our time in God's word.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Good Title From The "Great Lives From God's Word" Series by Swindoll, January 17, 2007

By 

Michael Taylor "Michael Taylor" (Indian Trail NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Esther: A Woman of Strength & Dignity (Great Lives from God's Word, Vol. 2) (Hardcover)

Swindoll continues his legacy of writing great books with "Esther: A Woman of Strength and Dignity". This is the second volume of the biographical series he has written on various Bible characters. In Esther, he describes the life of Esther and the Book of Esther which indicidentally, is the only book in the Bible that never mentions God by name. However, when you read the Book of Esther, you can defintitely see God working behind the scenes as the drama plays out.

Among the important points covered in the book are:

1. Be quiet and know that God is God and be convinced that He is at work.
2. God is not in a hurry and is not a slave to the human clock (I particularly struggle with this one).
3. Some things are important enough for us to stand alone on. One person can indeed make a difference.
4. Stand alone and be courageous no matter what the cost!
5. God notices us when no one else does. God is impressed with a humble heart that comes to Him on His terms.
6. 2 things to consider when discovering how God works.
7. 3 principles for being sensitive to God's interventions.
8. God can break down any wall. No one, no matter how stubborn or strong-willed, can resist God and win.
9. 3 principles from the Book of Esther that we can learn for our lives.
10. 4 things that happen when we wait on God.

Read, enjoy, and be encouraged to know that God loves you and knows what you're going through even when others do not!

Recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Bible Study!, October 20, 2008

By 

D. L. Wallace (Fort Smith, AR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Esther: A Woman of Strength and Dignity (Great Lives Series) (Paperback)

We are doing this as a Ladies Bible Study at our church and it has been wonderful. Swindoll does an excellent job in this character study, and he does in all of them. It really makes you think about what a difference one person, one woman can make when she stands for what is right and follows Gods leadership.