Est 4:1 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
A display of sorrow and mourning because of the decree from Haman that all the Jews were to be killed.
Job 5:6 Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;
Job 5:7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psa 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
When do we make our stand against evil? When and how, depends on the Holy Spirit guiding us.
One way to overcome evil is to witness to others of Jesus, and lead them one by one to the Lord.
Est 4:2 And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
The king does not want sadness, he must be entertained. This was a fleshly king. King Jesus and God the Father will receive our sorrows.
1 Pet 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Pet 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Est 4:3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
This was not just for show or a sign of protest. The Jews were under great peril, they were sentenced to death. The are showing before God their great sorrow, humbly praying for his mercy. To the world, this may look like weakness, they were removing all pride and honor from themselves, before God. The LORD would respond, as he did in a later time when Israel called upon him.
2 Chr 34:27 Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.
Est 4:4 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.
Esther was told about the sackcloth and ashes of her Guardian and she sent new clothing. Esther wished to help, but she had no knowledge of the problem.
The world seeks to cover up problems. Seeking new things, or medicines or drink. Anything to cover the thing that troubles. It is better to humble ourselves before God and let him give us mercy, wisdom and strength to do what he says. He is the problem solver. First we must realize we have a problem, then we humbly come to Him for help.
Est 4:5 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
One of the palace guards who served Esther was sent to see what was wrong with her dear father, Mordecai was wearing sackcloth covered with ashes.
Est 4:6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.
Hatach went out to the street, for Mordecai could not come in the palace in sackcloth and ashes; this might upset the king.
Est 4:7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
Haman's hand was on this decree. Haman made it sound good by bribing the king with more money for his treasury. The rich are never rich enough, they always covet more. Satan works this way; he entices with something, money, power, lusts of the flesh and his plan is to steal, kill and destroy. While a person is chasing his enticement, he brings destruction.
Est 4:8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.
Evidence that requires action. The decree was sent to Esther and a call to action. If good people stand by and allow evil, then it will continue. Think about this.
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Est 4:9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
Est 4:10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;
Hatach is the mediator and messenger, the go between. These are important matters.
Est 4:11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
Esther lets Mordecai know that going before the king uninvited could cost her life. As an example, we could not go before God the Father, without a mediator. Jesus paid the entrance price with his own life, given on the cross, so that we may come before God, the King and our Father.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Est 4:12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
Est 4:13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
Do you think you will escape death by doing nothing? You too are a Jew.
Est 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
This is the key verse in the story of Esther. Even though there is no mention of God, we know that the Jewish people are as a whole the firstborn son of God. Jesus is the only begotten Son from the Father in heaven. God had brought Esther to the palace to save his people from the devil's plan through evil Haman. If you fail to act, we will be the first to die and God will send deliverance from another place.
A similar story is Joseph and what he said to his brothers. He too was placed in an important place to save his people.
Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Est 4:15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
Est 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
A brave response for Esther. A fast, no mention of prayer, but isn't that why we fast seeking help from God? If we are going to fast and pray, we all fast and pray, surely God is in this and I will go to the king.
Another similar story was the three children of Israel who faced the fiery furnace, they too trusted in the LORD.
Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Dan 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Est 4:17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day"
Their plan and their lives were in God's hands. Perhaps we will be needed in a place of the Lord's choosing, this is our calling. To fulfill God's purpose in our life.
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