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. Esther 4:1-3
Have you ever found out about “a ruling” or “law” after
it was passed? Basically this is what happened to Mordecai. A law was “slipped
under the radar”, passed and now enacted.
When he realizes the impact on “his people” the Jews, he tears
his clothes and puts on sackcloth (put on for mourning or humiliation) and
ashes. Mordecai is crying, not just a silent cry but a loud, bitter cry with sobbing,
uncontrolled weeping. John Gill says, “that all the Jews in the city might be
alarmed by it, and inquire the reason of it, and be affected with it…”
He is so overcome with grief that he stands before the
king’s gate in his sackcloth and ashes. In today’s world we might say “he
was out of control” but really he was totally in control and knew that he had
to get people’s attention. This was serious, a life and death situation.
Mordecai did get the attention of his fellow Jews. They
banded together to fast, weep and wail. They
were fasting, going without food for a period of time, to get the attention of
the God of Heaven.
Again, even though God’s name is not mentioned in the
book of Esther, one can see “His hand” throughout the pages.
The eyes of the
LORD are upon the righteous,
and his ears are open unto their
cry. Psalm 34:15
For the ways of man
are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. Proverbs
5:21
For the eyes of the
Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the
face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 1Peter 3:12
Are you going through an awful time in your life? A time when all you do is cry? God
is there in the midst of your troubles, call on Him today and He will help and
show you the way.
I will call upon
the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. Psalm
18:3
In the day of my
trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. Psalm 86:7
Humble yourselves
in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10
Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 1Peter
5:6
Donna
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