Title – Daylight at Midnight   Reflections for Women on Esther by Jane McNabb

ISBN -  13-978-1-85078-3, Publisher – Authentic, Milton Keynes, Bucks, No of pages 147

 A few of us went to Bury Ladies’ Anniversary this year and heard Jane speak on Michal, Bethsheba and Abigail and found her to be very forthright and thorough in her research and in her speaking.

 This book is all about Esther, an indepth story of how she became Queen. It is well written and well researched, and a very enjoyable read.

 I found it helpful as it really opened up the life of Esther, and all the preparation she would have to go through to become Queen, under difficult circumstances at that time. She was a courageous, flexible, wise, determined and focused young woman, who was admired by everyone who knew her.

 I would certainly recommend this book to everyone, especially women who are planning on having a bible study because at the end of every chapter there is a set of questions for personal reflection, which I found very challenging, and I would welcome the opportunity to be able to discuss it in a group.

 The title of the book confused me, but Samuel Rutherford, the Scottish Puritan, said in the seventeenth century ‘Christ chargeth me to believe his daylight at midnight’ and that’s’ the key to being ‘very glad’ as Peter put it!, it’s looking back over our past deliverances with thankfulness and trusting God for the future, Why? Because that same God in our past is the same God in the future and he’s been there already.

 Joseph Hart summed this up in only two short verses of his most famous hymn:

   

How good is the God we adore                                                                                      

Our faithful, unchangeable friend

His love is as great as His power

And knows neither measure nor end!

 

‘Tis, Jesus, the first and the last,

Whose spirit will guide us safe home,

We’ll praise Him for all that is past,

And trust Him for all that’s to come”.

 

 

Kath Hoyle

March 2010