From our perspective, Esther could have easily stopped at chapter 9 with the villain vanquished, God's people saved, and the institution of an annual celebration to commemorate this momentous occasion. Instead, the author gives us three short verses — a final chapter which seemingly takes us in an unusual direction. As we dig deeper however we find that the authour is doing at least three things as he closes out this fascinating narrative. First, there is a reminder that even after all of God's miraculous deliverance his people are still not experiencing peace, their true ruler has still not appeared and so they remain ruled over by another who remains antagonistic to them, and after all of the events of the book, they are still not home. Secondly, Mordecai serves as a type of the coming king, benevolent and kind as he is, ruling well with his people's best interest in mind. Taken together then, the third purpose is to create in us a longing for that better day when King Jesus rules and we are in our heart's true home, finally at peace.

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