1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth. 3 And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 When Esther’s young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was. 6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate, 7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people. 9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”
12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
When Mordecai learned about Haman’s plot, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes as a sign of distress and mourning. He remained outside the king’s gate because the law forbade people to enter in sackcloth. Everywhere the Jews heard of the edict, they responded in the same way.
When Esther learned of Mordecai’s actions, she was distressed and sent clothes for him to wear but he refused. Perhaps in her position of privilege, she was cut off from normal lines of communication and was unaware of the edict. She may have sent Mordecai clothes so he could enter and speak with her. Because of his refusal, she had to communicate through Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs. Through Hathach, Mordecai let Esther know about what had happened including the amount Haman had offered to pay for the extermination of the Jews and provided her with a copy of the written decree. With the explanation of the situation, Mordecai instructed Esther to go to the king and intercede on behalf of her people, the Jews.
Esther sent back a reply that to approach the king without invitation was to put one’s life in danger. By law, anyone who entered the king’s inner court without invitation was liable to be put to death unless he held out his golden scepter. She also explained that she had not seen the king for thirty days, which meant she didn’t know if his attitude toward her would be favourable.
Mordecai reminded Esther that just because she was in the king’s palace didn’t guarantee her escape from the plight that all the Jews faced. His point was that she was facing danger whether she approached the king or remained silent. Mordecai showed a great belief in God’s providence. Biblically election is for service. Esther was in her position because God had placed her there and if she did not act then she would miss her opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose—but God’s purpose would be fulfilled regardless.
Esther stepped up in faith. While the book of Esther is void of mention of God or prayer, here we see mention of fasting which implies prayer. Esther asked Mordecai to gather the Jews in Susa and fast on her behalf for three full days, emphasising night or day. Fasting was usually only practiced during the day. Fasting is a process of denying your own needs in order to focus more clearly on your relationship with God. Esther said she and her maids would be fasting with them. Then Esther proclaimed courageously that she would go to the king even in the face of death. Mordecai went and did what Esther ordered him—he gathered the Jews and fasted.
Why has God placed you where he has placed you? Why are you in the school, job, church, club, friendship circle you are in? Are you actively thinking and praying about how God can use you where you are? “Who knows whether you have come to __________ for such a time as this?”
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Saul Becomes Paul: Acts 13-14