Esther Chapter 4

 

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;

Est 4:2 And came even before the king's gate: for none might

enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

 

Vs 1,2  When Mordecai had heard of the kings decree, that stated “All of the Jews must

die”, he rent his clothes and put on sackcloth & ashes. Mordecai went out into the street

and sat down and cried with a loud and bitter cry. Mordecai, remember had

a government job and he came before the kings gate, in this same manner of

sadness. It was forbidden for any to be sad in the palace or presence of the king.

I am glad, that we have been given the access to the King of Kings. Whether we are

happy or sad, Heb 4:16 teaches us that we may come unto Him. He wants to hear

our hearts cry out for Him & to Him. He will not deny us because we are sad.

Matt 11:28-30 teaches us that we can bring our burdens to God, He cares for us.

 

                        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.

 

Vs 3     When all of the Jews heard of the death decree, they began to mourn, fast, weep

            and wail. But please note that in none of the preceding 3 verses is there any

            reference to prayer at all. They were going through the rituals of man and the

            feelings of the flesh and made no call to God. Yet God knows just exactly what

            is going on in the lives of the Jews.

  

                        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.

  

Vs 4     Esther the queen, upon hearing the actions of Mordecai, became grieved. I

            believe she was embarrassed by his actions, by his putting on sackcloth and

            crying out loudly in the street. She wants him to stop doing this. So she sends him

 a suit of new clothes to change into. You see many today are ashamed and instead

of repentance, they want to cover up sin with something. Mordecai sends the clothes

back. He doesn’t want cover up or a change of clothes, he wants 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.

Est 4:6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street

of the city, which was before the king's gate.

 

Vs 5,6  Esther wants to know just exactly what has made Mordecai act so radically. She

sends a messenger to Mordecai to ask for an explanation of his actions.

Remember no one was allowed to be sad in front of the king or in the palace, so

Esther does not know what is going on.

 

                        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.

Est 4:8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree

that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew 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.

Est 4:9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

 

Vs 7-9Mordecai responds to the messenger by testifying, “Haman, the prime minister,

            has declared, that all Jews on the 13th day of the 12th month, are ordered to be

executed.” Mordecai gave the messenger a copy of the decree and asked the

messenger to return this information to the queen. Mordecai asks that Esther

go in to the king and intercede.

 

                        Est 4:10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him

commandment unto Mordecai;

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.

 

Vs 10,11 Esther sends a message back to Mordecai stating that the king will not allow

            anyone to come before him, in the inner court, that he does not ask for. This

            policy was to keep away threats on the kings life and keep away complainers. If

someone comes before him without permission, they must die. There is one

exception, if the king extends out the golden scepter, then the person entering

may live. Esther states that she has not been called for by the king in 30 days and

there is no telling how long it will be before she may come in before him again.

 

                        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.

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?

 

Vs 12-14 Mordecai responds “If you think that you are safe in the kings palace, you are

            wrong. Remember you are a Jew as well and will be executed with your people.

            The kings law is not reversible. You must find a way to intercede on our behalf.

If you are not willing to help, we will be delivered by another means, but you and

your fathers house will die.” I think that right here, Mordecai realizes that it has been

no accident that Esther is on the throne, thus enabling her to help the people.

Each of us have a purpose in life. God has specifically placed you, in the perfect place,

to serve Him and bring Him glory.

 

                        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.

Est 4:17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that

Esther had commanded him.

 

Vs 15-17 Esther asks that Mordecai and all of the Jews fast for 3 days. She and the

            will fast as well. After 3 days she will go in to the king uninvited, which is against

the law of the land, to try to make intercession. We see a people in unity about

what needs to be done. Unity is not uniformity. Uniformity is where everyone

may look or dress as one but that does not mean there is unity. The US Army may

all dress alike, yet may fight and disagree constantly. Unity is not a union. A

union may be where 2 or more things are tied together and appear as if there is

unity. You may tie two cats tails together and it may look like unity but they will

claw and fight until death or great injury. Unity is the state of being one, agreeing

on all. These people are in perfect agreement or unity about what to do.

 

            Esther is prepared to die for the cause, if need be. She is prepared to take a great

            risk, she states “If I perish, I perish”. My friend, God will take care of us when we

            go on faith. His providence will take care of her!