14 day plan

Esther

Day 9 of 14

NIV

Esther 4:1-3

Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help

1When 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. 2But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3In 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.

Reflection:  Mordecai is descended from Kish, a war captive deported from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. Unable to protect his adopted daughter from being taken, he loiters near the harem to ask after her. When he hears that all Jews are to be annihilated, Mordecai performs his grief, visibly, loudly, publicly, to be noticed.

Sackcloth and, presumably, other forms of mourning, are banned from the citadel; cheerfulness is mandatory, sadness outlawed. Elaborate court etiquette ensures that the king never encounters unpleasantness and isolates him from the world.

Imagine you are Mordecai. You have thrown your entire people into danger by annoying Haman. How do you feel?

Engaging our world:   Indian Bible teacher CB Samuel suggests that Protestants are embarrassed by people for whom there will be no ‘happy endings’ and no ‘before and after photos.’

When did your community last grieve together, crying out to God in pain and disappointment, bewilderment and anger? Would ‘a person of sorrows well-acquainted with grief’ feel at home with your mob?

Prayer:  Loving God, may our hearts be broken by the things that break your heart.  Lord Jesus, you said, “Blessed are those who mourn now, for they will be comforted.”  Spirit of God, give us eyes to see the brokenness of the world; soften our hearts.  Amen.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

Days

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4
5
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7
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9
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14

Esther 4:1-17

Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help

1When 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. 2But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3In 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.

4When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants 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. 5Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

6So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

9Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10Then 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 they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

12When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14For 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 your royal position for such a time as this?”

15Then 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 attendants 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.”

17So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.