Lessons from Esther: For such a time as this

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? 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 4:14-17

Mordecai continues his discourse with Hatach. He reminds Esther where she is living; basically reminding her that it was not by accident that she is living in the palace. “Who knows whether you are come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Out of all the girls that went to the “beauty pageant”, the king picks a little Jewish girl, a captive from Jerusalem brought to Babylon. This was not a coincidence; God was in control of the entire situation. God knew Vashti was going to be dethroned. God knew a search would be made for a new queen. God knew who the new queen would be; I believe God had picked the new queen because God knew wicked Haman’s heart.

“Dr. A.W. Tozer compared God’s sovereign purposes to an ocean liner leaving New York City, bound for Liverpool, England. The people on board the ship are free to do as they please, but they aren’t free to change the course of the ship. The mighty liner of God’s sovereign design keeps its steady course over the sea of history.” – Be Committed – Warren W. Wiersbe

This time Mordecai “got through to Esther”. Her reply was for him to get all the Jews together and fast for her. She would also get all the maids together and would fast. After the three day fast “I will go to the king, if I perish I perish.” She was now determined she would not stop until she got an answer or she died.

Each one of us is living where we should be, doing the job we should be doing for “such a time as this”. Are we looking for opportunities to share the gospel, to be a witness, to be a helping hand, to show others that we do have answers from the word of God?

Wherever you are living, whatever job you are performing, whatever school or church you may be attending, do all for the glory of God.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from Esther: Communication between Mordecai and the palace

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. 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. Esther 4:9-13

Esther continues the discourse with Hatach, who in turn goes to Mordecai with the words of the queen. Hatach is the “middle man” going back and forth with messages.

Esther tells Hatach that she cannot just “go before the king.” She needs to have a special invitation in which the king will hold out his golden scepter to those he wishes to speak to.  Esther has not been called in thirty days and I’m sure she is afraid to go before the king. She knows the rules and decrees and this one is very serious. Going before the king without a special invitation could be death on the spot.

Poor Hatach has to go before Mordecai again with word from Esther. She doesn’t know if she can go before the king, it may be her death. On hearing this, I get the impression that, Mordecai is annoyed, “Don’t think you are going to escape because you live in the king’s house the decree said “all Jews”.

I’m sure Esther was in a quandary of what to do, listen to her cousin, save her people, or save her own life. 

What was a girl to do? Join me the next time to find out. 

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from Esther: Trouble at the gate

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.  Esther 4:4-8

This continues my lessons on Esther. To review previous lessons please start here.

Esther is in the palace, safely protected from the events of the outside world. Most of what happened in the towns and provinces were not reported to anyone but the king.  Esther did however have maids and chamberlains who traveled outside the walls of the palace to purchase items.  I’m sure they knew there was a relationship between Mordecai and Esther. They were perplexed by Mordecai’s appearance. Surely something must be wrong.

Esther received word that Mordecai was standing outside the wall wearing sackcloth. She doesn’t ask why but quickly sends him good clothing to wear. I’m sure he is troubled by this but immediately refuses.

After the refusal she now sends word through the chamberlain to find out what is going on. Mordecai quickly tells Hatach the whole story. He doesn’t end with telling but shows him the “royal decree” which says the Jews will be destroyed. He sends the message to Esther by way of Hatach to go before the king immediately and plead for her people.

Join me the next time to find out what happens.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from Esther: Mordecai hears “the news”

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 

Have a blessed day,
Donna