Esther 4:1-17
“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; And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
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. ” (Esther 4:1-2)
Haman had been authorized to do whatever he wanted, much like congress passed the Affordable Care Act before it was written. When the provisions were published, the people most affected by it were horrified to discover what the law entailed.
It authorized anyone to kill Jews and take their property without question, much as Hitler did in 1938, and even the non Jews were concerned about it’s provisions. The Jews were upset, doing everything they could to call attention to the unfairness of the Law by wearing sackcloth and weeping and wailing as they went about their business much as modern protestors would carry signs or wear t-shirts to get attention to their cause.
Mordecai positioned himself by the palace gates although no one who was dressed in poor clothing like sackcloth was permitted inside to palace gates. Rich rulers don’t like to be reminded how poor their people may be.
“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 4:4)
When Esther learned about Mordecai’s protest, she sent clothes for him to change into so he could come and tell her what was going on. Mordecai refused to stop his protest even to meet with the queen.
“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. So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.
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. 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.” (Esther 4:5-8)
Because Mordecai refused to come in, Esther sent Hatach to talk to him and find out what was going on. Living in the palace, surrounded by government bureaucracy, she was insulated from what was going outside the gates and was totally unaware. Sadly, many who are in a position to make changes are similarly insulated from the situation today.
Mordecai explained the law and the arrangements to implement it to Hatach, and sent a copy of the law and tohe instructions to implement it to Esther. He requested that she intercede with the king on behalf of the Jews.
“And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 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 4:9-11)
Understanding what was at stake, Esther reminded Mordecai that anyone who approached the king without being called for would be killed by his bodyguards unless the king stopped them, just as people today are arrested for approaching the president without permission. It had been more than a month since she had been called, and even she might be viewed as a threat.
“And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. 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?” (Esther 4:12-14)
Though God is never mentioned by name in the book of Esther, it is obvious that Mordecai believed that God would protect Israel whether Esther herself acted or not. He warned her that if she refused to act to protect herself, God would destroy her and the rest of her family would be destroyed for her lack of faith. As he asked, how did she know that God had not caused her to be chosen as Queen for the sole purpose of saving the Jews? God knows the future and can put the necessary laws and people in place long before they are needed.
“Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 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.” (Esther 4:15-16)
If Haman’s law was something Ahaseurus was fully committed to or he was upset with her about something, she would be putting her life at risk, and she didn’t know why he hadn’t wanted to see her for a month. Obviously, they didn’t have a very close relationship. She asked Mordecai to assemble a prayer group and pray for three days before she approached the king. Failure could make things a lot worse.
“So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.” (Esther 4:17)
Mordecai was aware this might be their only chance and he got the people to praying for her success as she had asked.
“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; And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
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. ” (Esther 4:1-2)
Haman had been authorized to do whatever he wanted, much like congress passed the Affordable Care Act before it was written. When the provisions were published, the people most affected by it were horrified to discover what the law entailed.
It authorized anyone to kill Jews and take their property without question, much as Hitler did in 1938, and even the non Jews were concerned about it’s provisions. The Jews were upset, doing everything they could to call attention to the unfairness of the Law by wearing sackcloth and weeping and wailing as they went about their business much as modern protestors would carry signs or wear t-shirts to get attention to their cause.
Mordecai positioned himself by the palace gates although no one who was dressed in poor clothing like sackcloth was permitted inside to palace gates. Rich rulers don’t like to be reminded how poor their people may be.
“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 4:4)
When Esther learned about Mordecai’s protest, she sent clothes for him to change into so he could come and tell her what was going on. Mordecai refused to stop his protest even to meet with the queen.
“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. So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.
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. 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.” (Esther 4:5-8)
Because Mordecai refused to come in, Esther sent Hatach to talk to him and find out what was going on. Living in the palace, surrounded by government bureaucracy, she was insulated from what was going outside the gates and was totally unaware. Sadly, many who are in a position to make changes are similarly insulated from the situation today.
Mordecai explained the law and the arrangements to implement it to Hatach, and sent a copy of the law and tohe instructions to implement it to Esther. He requested that she intercede with the king on behalf of the Jews.
“And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 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 4:9-11)
Understanding what was at stake, Esther reminded Mordecai that anyone who approached the king without being called for would be killed by his bodyguards unless the king stopped them, just as people today are arrested for approaching the president without permission. It had been more than a month since she had been called, and even she might be viewed as a threat.
“And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. 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?” (Esther 4:12-14)
Though God is never mentioned by name in the book of Esther, it is obvious that Mordecai believed that God would protect Israel whether Esther herself acted or not. He warned her that if she refused to act to protect herself, God would destroy her and the rest of her family would be destroyed for her lack of faith. As he asked, how did she know that God had not caused her to be chosen as Queen for the sole purpose of saving the Jews? God knows the future and can put the necessary laws and people in place long before they are needed.
“Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 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.” (Esther 4:15-16)
If Haman’s law was something Ahaseurus was fully committed to or he was upset with her about something, she would be putting her life at risk, and she didn’t know why he hadn’t wanted to see her for a month. Obviously, they didn’t have a very close relationship. She asked Mordecai to assemble a prayer group and pray for three days before she approached the king. Failure could make things a lot worse.
“So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.” (Esther 4:17)
Mordecai was aware this might be their only chance and he got the people to praying for her success as she had asked.
No comments:
Post a Comment