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ESTHER

CHAPTER 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; 2 And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 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.

Mordecai was grieved at those things which had transpired because of him. He had refused to "bow" before Haman, and now this decree had come because of him.
He put on "sackcloth and ashes," an outward sign of inward grief. Then he went INTO the city, and even went to the gates of the palace.
This was not allowed in the king's court. The king did not want any state of mourning before him.
All over the nation, the Jewish people were in mourning because of the decree.

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. 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. 6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate. 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. 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. 9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 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. 12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

When Esther found out about Mordecai's action, she sent new clothes for him to wear. She feared for his life. When Christians see others taking action that might bring harm, they should be concerned. But he would not wear them.
Then Esther sent for Hatach, her attendant from the king, and told him to go to Mordecai and find out WHY he was doing this.
Mordecai not only told Hatach, he also provided him a copy of the decree.
Then Mordecai told Hatch to tell Esther that she shold go before the king and plead for her people. She had not yet let the king know that she was a Jew.
Esther sent back word that Mordecai should know - no one was allowed to come before then king unless REQUESTED. If someone entered the court, and he did not hold out his sceptre toward them, then that person would be killed - no matter WHO it was.

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. 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?

When Mordecai heard Esther's answer he sent back one of the most important statements in this book.
Once it was known to the king that she was a Jew (verse 13), even she would not escape. The king would not be able to save her because his decree demanded this action for ALL Jews!
Mordecai was quite confident that God would save His people (verse 14a). From somewhere, "deliverance" would come!
But, here is one of the greatest calls to Christians today: "who knoweth whether THOU art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
This is an important question which each Christian must prayerfully struggle to answer. "WHY DID GOD PUT ME HERE AT THIS TIME? WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?"
EVERY Christian has a PURPOSE! God has designed that NONE should come to a specific time and place without having REASON for ACTION!
One reason and purpose that stands out among all the rest is PERSONAL EVANGELISM.
God desires that ALL should come to know Christ for salvation (2Peter 3:9). And God has commanded that ALL Christians be witnesses (Matthew 28:18-20).
ALL Christians, then are brought into a specific time and place by the design of God to TESTIFY to others!
And there are many OTHER things which we must consider that God would have us do. For instance,
1) Does not God want us to take a stand against gambling in our nation today?
2) Would God not want us to individually take a stand against abortion in our nation today?
3) Surely God would want Christians to stand against the immorality of pornography today.
And these are just SOME of the things why we are "called to the kingdom for such a time as this."

15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 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. 17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

Esther realized the situation required her participation. Regardless of the personal cost to her, she must do what God had placed her in the position of queen FOR.
So she sent to Mordecai and requested MUCH PRAYER,and even FASTING. She wanted people to be SERIOUS about asking God's FAVOR upon her as she went about this task.
But she did not delay her action for a time which would allow reaching ALL the Jews. She only allowed THREE days and nights.
The situation was URGENT and needed immediate action. She COULD NOT wait very long.
And she realized that GENUINE prayer from even a FEW will be ENOUGH!

When we begin to make plans for visiting a foreign country, we request FIRST that genuine prayer be made on our behalf. It is URGENT business to go and share the gospel with others. It is URGENT business to go and offer training and assistance to pastors already in the field. But we MUST have people praying.
Any task a Christian begins to take on for the kingdom of God needs PRAYER! We should consult with other Christians and request GENUINE prayer.

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