Esther 4:1-17 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Esther 4:1-17. Let’s go!
Esther 4:1-3 (NIV)
1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.
2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it.
3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
On verses 1-3: In King Xerxes’ kingdom, you were not allowed to get close to the king if you were mourning or grieving. That’s why Mordecai could not go past the king’s gate while wearing sackcloth and ashes, the traditional garb for someone in grief. I’m so thankful that in the kingdom we live in, where Jesus is king, we can approach our King just as we are. If we are grieving, mourning or burdened, we can come to Him just the same. In fact, our King welcomes us to come to Him with our burdens. He says, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). You can “cast your cares upon the Lord because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
Esther 4:4 (NIV)
4 When Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.
On verses 4-9: Esther, it seems, was the last Jew in all of Persia to hear about the king’s edict to exterminate the Jews. Apaprently Esther’s life as queen was so secluded and cut off from the outside world that she had to get second hand information from someone on the outside in order to find out what business the king, her own husband, was doing. In contrast I’m reminded of what Jesus says in John 15:15:
John 15:15 (NIV)
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
In the Bible Jesus is called the groom and we, His church, are His bride. Praise God that we have a husband who is the King of kings and who doesn’t hide his business from us the way Xerxes did with Esther. Rather, King Jesus involves us, His royal bride, in His business. We are in fact His business partners, His co-workers, and He lets us get involved in the family business.
Esther 4:10-14 (NIV)
10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai,
11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai,
13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.
14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
On verses 10-14: Mordecai urged Esther “to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people” (v8). But Esther hesitated. At first Esther came up with some polite excuses, talking about how difficult, complicated and dangerous it would be for her to approach the king. But Mordecai reminds Esther that the reason why God elevated her to the throne as queen was not for her sake alone. He speaks arguably the most famous line in the book of Esther, which would be the tipping point for Esther to agree to go and talk to the king: “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (v14)
What can we learn from this? We all need a Mordecai, someone who is not afraid to tell us the hard truth and to urge us to do the hard but necessary thing. Praise God for the Mordecai’s in your life. God uses them to propel you into your God-given destiny.
Esther 4:15-17 (NIV)
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:
16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
On verses 15-17: Esther courageously agrees to risk her life to go and talk to the king. To prepare for her meeting with the king, she decides to fast three days. She also asks Mordecai to assemble the Jews in Susa to fast as well. What can we learn from this? When getting ready to make a major decision or to start a major project, one of the most powerful things you can do is to fast and pray.
What is fasting? Fasting is abstaining from food so that you can focus on drawing near to God. Fasting is not a hunger strike. It’s not twisting God’s arm. Rather, fasting is about going out of your way to give God more room to work in your life. As much as I love to eat, I can say that some of the greatest and most important breakthroughs I have experienced in my life have come during times of fasting and prayer. That’s why at Thrive we have times when we fast together as a church. It’s one way we get ready for the new things God is doing.
So if you’re needing to make a major life decision, or you are getting ready for a new season, or you just want to draw closer to God and get out of a rut, you can make the powerful choice to fast and pray.
Lord Jesus, thank You that You don’t expect me to leave my cares and burdens at the gate before I get close to You. Thank You for being the King who is willing to hear my concerns and bear my burdens. Thank You also for letting me in on Your business and letting me play a part in what You are doing. Thank You for the Mordecai’s in my life who encourage me to step into my destiny. Because of all of these blessings, thank You that I can approach You with confidence. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
