Esther
chapter 4 reminds me of the desperation we experience when we hear
the ultimate bad news. Remember in the previous chapter, Haman, the
king’s newly appointed right-hand man had devised a plot to
annihilate all the Jews living throughout the Persian empire because
of his hatred for Mordecai. Judging from the reaction, they
understood this was a very real danger. “When
Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put
on sackcloth and ashes… wailing loudly and bitterly… In every
province… there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting,
weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes“.
This was a death sentence for all the Jewish people and Mordecai wore
the clothes of a man in deep mourning. Sackcloth and ashes also
symbolized a humility before God. Mordecai recognized there was a
spiritual component that was bigger than himself. Though God is not
mentioned once in the entire book of Esther, it is clear God is in
control. For many of us, it takes a serious jolt to bring us to the
realization that we need God at the center of our life. David wrote
in Psalm 119:72 “It
was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees“.
Is it time for you to draw close to God?
While
the Jews were in despair, Queen Esther was living in the King’s
palace unaware of the order. “When
Esther’s maids… told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress.
She sent… one of the king’s eunuchs… to find out what was
troubling Mordecai“.
Although Esther was now queen, she was still a Jew. It is very
important for believers today to understand that we have an
obligation to live out our faith through both success and failure,
“Do
not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind”
(Romans 12:2). “Mordecai
told him everything that had happened… He also gave him a copy of
the text of the edict for their annihilation… to urge her to go
into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her
people“.
Esther was suddenly faced with a decision to risk her position and
even her life in order to protect her people. She reminded Mordecai
of the kings command, “any
man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being
summoned… be put to death. The only exception to this is for the
king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life“.
Mordecai reminded his niece that no one is above judgment. “Do
not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all
the Jews will escape“.
These are sobering words for us today.
As
the chapter ends, Mordecai reminds Esther that God will work His will
with her or without her. “For
if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the
Jews will arise from another place“.
And he gives one of the most stirring exhortations in all of
scripture, “Who
knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time
as this?“.
Understand that our role is not to save the lost, but to point them
to the Savior! Esther understood that she was a simple tool in the
hand of God. She requested one thing from Mordecai, “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…
And if I perish, I perish“.
So what is the ultimate bad news? We know from childhood that we
will all one day die. The bad news is the realization that we are
separated from God by our sin. There is a point of realization that
we cannot be good enough to earn God’s forgiveness. We require
God’s intervention. But here is the very good news, Jesus gave His
life that you could be restored “that
whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life”
(John 3:16). You might say, “God cannot forgive me, you don’t
know what I have done”. Isaiah 49:15 explains that God loves you
infinitely more than you can believe. “Can
a woman forget her nursing child?”
He says she may forget, “Yet
I will not forget you“.
What will you do with the good news?