A Study of the Book of Esther
“Dilemma’s and Decisions”
Esther 4:1-17
The world has so many big problems, and they often seem impossible to solve. So let me ask you a question, and I want you to answer honestly: do you really think you can make a difference in the world? If you're like most people, your answer was no. Well, guess what? You're probably wrong. Not only can you make a difference, you've probably had a far greater impact on way more people than you realize.
I am only one person what can I do?
Edward Everett Hale addressed this issue when he wrote,
“I am only one.
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything;
But still I can something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
[as cited by Charles Swindoll. “A Woman of Strength and Character: Esther.” (Nashville: Word, 1997) p. 75]
Esther finds herself in a situation where surely she wrestled with the idea of – “I am only one person what can I do?”
First, The Reaction of Mordecai. (4:1-3)
“When Mordecai learned all that had happened,
he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 And in every province where the king’s command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.”
Notice that Mordecai not only knew what was told to the public about the king’s decree, he had in his possession a copy of the decree (v. 8)
and he knew the exact amount (v. 7) that Haman had promised to the king as incentive to enact the decree for the removal of all the Jews
Verse three says that Jews responded to hearing of the decree, “…with fasting, weeping, and wailing;…sackcloth and ashes” as a sign of mourn-ing. Usually another component was prayer; but here there is no mention of prayer. I really don’t know what to make of it at this point. Perhaps the prayer is implied, for what good is fasting and sack cloth and ashes (the sign of repentance) without prayer.
Mordecai also mourned the decree; surely no one mourned and grieved over the decree more than Mordecai, for it was his decision to not bow to Haman that had brought this situation, and no doubt he felt a personal responsibility for it!
When Mordecai learned about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on burlap and ashes, and went out into the city, crying with a loud and bitter wail. It was common in the ancient world for people who were in mourning to put their feelings on display (and it still is in some parts of the world). When there was tragedy, or pending doom, or a great injustice, or great sin…they would look scruffy and often wail loudly.
Think about how hard modern people try not to show their emotions…we try to put on a strong face or good appearance. All too often we hole up privately not wanting to be seen in a vulnerable state. We put on pajamas, turn on the cable TV and veggie out on a carton of Rocky Road ice cream. They people however but on gunny sack, (we called it a “tow sack” (for you young people who do not understand that was a burlap bag that animal feed came in) they threw ashes on themselves, messed up their hair, and went downtown to cry. And though it may sound weird to us…but when they were suffering they let the people around them know, and even see it up close. That’s what Mordecai was doing here; But not just Mordecai.
Verse two says, “He went as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.” He only went as far as the gate of the palace, for no one was allowed to enter the palace gate while wearing clothes of mourning. One did not come into the presence with a down-cast appearance. The king only liked to be around happy and pleasant people. What irony- here is a wicked king who can issue an edict calling for the genocide of an entire race and yet he sits on a throne where no one can appear before him with-out be summoned. And no one who had regard for their life was to bring him anything except happy and good news.
Secondly, The Report of Mordecai. (4:4-12)
“So Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept them.”
Mordecai had to break the news to the queen; apparently she is the only person in the kingdom that has not heard the news. When she hear that Mordecai was in mourning it seems notable that Esther did not ask why Mordecai was in mourning she just wanted him to stop.
She had done such a good job of concealing her identity that no one even thought to inform her of this threat against this particular people.
“In just the same way, when we compromise with the world, we easily find ourselves becoming isolated and distant from God’s people and out of touch with God’s concerns in the world, just as Esther did…..Esther’s actions raise serious ques-tions for each of us to answer. Am I still blind to the true nature of the world and the plight of many of God’s people around me? Do I know enough about what is going on in the world to mourn and lament the situation of God’s persecuted people?” [Iain M. Duguid. “Esther and Ruth.” Reformed Expository Commentary. (Philipsburg: NJ, P& R Pub., 2005) p. 47, 56]
According to The Center for the Study of Global Christianity, an academic research center that monitors worldwide demographic trends in Christianity, estimates that between the years 2005 and 2015, 900,000 Christians were martyred — that is an average of 90,000 Christians each year.” [www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/14/christian-persecution-how-many-are-being-killed-where-are-being-killed.html ]
• Esther’s Inquiry. (vv. 5- 9)
“Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was. 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the king’s gate. 7 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews.” 8 He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destru-ction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. 9 So Hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai.”
In absence of any indication of prayer, is Mordecai in asking Esther to plead their case before the king; is he placing his hope on an intervention at a human level.
Esther has to decide who she really is. In effect this is an interaction between human respon-sibility and divine sovereignty. There comes a defining moment in each of our lives when we are faced with taking responsibly for the life that God has given us by identifying with the people of God.
Whatever flawed decisions may have led Esther to this point, she was now undeniably in a position to give God glory by publicly identifying herself with God’s people and if necessary by laying down her life through that identification.
• Esther’s Dilemma. (vv. 10-11)
“Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.”
Esther is not refusing to go, but is counting the cost and she does remind Mordecai of the likely consequences, and implied I think is that she is asking him to consider other options.
• Mordecai Warning. (vv. 12-14)
“So they told Mordecai Esther’s words.13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.
14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Mordecai answers that it is true that Esther’s life is in jeopardy if she goes to the king uninvited but her doom is certain if she does not. Since she too is a Jew her fate is intertwined with theirs. Mordecai further suggest to Esther that there is a purpose in all that has happened that surpasses Esther’s own interest.
Verse fourteen is probably the most famous passage in the whole book, “who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” It is a way of asking Esther, “Do you think you have position within the kingdom by chance?” Do you think that it is just a coin-cidence? Esther you’re in this position because God place you there!”
In like fashion every believer is given a certain station in life, certain friends and certain influence in the lives of others. God has placed us here and He expects them to allow Him to work through them.
Esther is faced with a life-changing choice to make. She can continue as an undercover believer and deny a connection with the people of God or she can identify with God’s people in this hour of need and risk her life in attempt to save God’s people.
Mordecai reveals that he believes that even if Esther decides to not to intercede with the King that God will keep his promise to His people through another human agency. But it is a very serious matter for a person not to fulfill their god given calling.
Third, The Response of Esther. (4:15-17)
“Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai:
16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in
Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”17 So
Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.”
• Her Request. (4:15-16a)
The pressure is go great that Esther asked
that Mordecai assemble all the Jews that live in Susa and have them fast for her for three days. She and her maidens will do likewise, and then she will attempt to see the king. I see Esther’s reply as also a confession of faith, though it is not express in religious language She implies that she accepts the suggestion of Mordecai as her duty, but that she full of apprehension at the thought of fulfilling it. By asking that all the Jews in Susa join a fast Esther acknowledges that she needs the support and fellowship of others and that and that she needs more than just human courage. Though prayer is not mentioned, it was always the accom-paniment of fasting in the Old Testament, and the whole point of fasting was to render the prayer experience more effective and to prepare oneself for communion with God.
Jesus reminded us that special spiritual battles sometimes require special preparation with prayer and fasting. Regarding a stubborn case of demonic possession, He said this “kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:20).
• Her Resolve. (16b-17)
Esther’s resolve calls to mind the response of the three young Hebrew men who had been threat-ened with death in the fiery furnace if they did not bow to the image of Nebuchadnezzar. Their res-ponse found in Daniel 3 was, “O King, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)
They are willing to say, “Even if I die: I’ll trust God.” They said, “But even if God does-n’t come through, we will still be faithful to Him!” Wow! That’s real faith. Do you have that kind of faith? “God if you give Most of us don't have a faith that would use the daring words these men used, “But, if not ...” We know of course that their faith was vindicated by their deliverance. When Nebuchadnezzar called to these three young men they walked out of out of the furnace, unharmed, their hair wasn’t burned and their clothes didn’t smell like smoke.
But faith is NOT ALWAYS vindicated by deliverance FROM a circumstance sometimes it is deliverance Through a circumstance. When we read in Hebrews chapter of the heroes of the faith it says “time would fail me to tell” (v.31) of all those who received deliverance through faith (vv. 32-35) but it says in middle of verse 35, “Others were
tortured, … 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wander-ed about in sheepskins and goatskins, being dest-itute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy …39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,”
Job had this kind of faith, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15a). One modern day example of this kind of courage is seen in the testimony of Rachel Scott one of the teenage victims of the Columbine High School tragedy in Denver, Colorado. “On April 20, 1999, two bitter and twisted students entered the grounds of the school with guns and explosives, planning to wreak havoc. One of the grudges they were bearing was against Christians, and when they found Rachel Scott, that grudge was made very clear. The killers shot her twice in the legs and once in the upper body. As she struggled to crawl away to safety, they pulled her up by the hair and asked, “Do you believe in God?” They thought they had won the battle, expecting her to back down from her faith with a whimpering, “No.” But this bleeding,…
(believer)… bravely affirmed, “You know I do.” Furious with that answer, they yelled, “Then go be with him!” and shot her right through the head.” [As told by Matt Redman. The Unquenchable Worshipper. (Venture, Calif: Regal Books, 2001]
The Hebrew construction of the verse 16 makes it clear that Esther is not simple saying that death is a possibility if she carries out Mordecai request that she go before the king, but rather that death is the almost inevitable outcome of doing so!
[F. Brown, S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs. “A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament.” (London: Oxford Univ. Press, 1907) p. 455]
Application
When we hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and decide to respond much like Esther we are faced with a decision to either continue in our lives as pagans or to identify with the people of God – the Church. But this new birth we experience is just the beginning of the decisions we will face. Subseq-uently we are faced with a continuous sequence of defining moments through our lives as we face decisions that demand that we choose either to identify ourselves with Christ by obedience to His Word or live as pagans in the moment.
We may like Esther have been brought to this moment in your life by circumstances over which you have little or no control, combined with flawed decision along the way.
I appreciate the way that Charles Swindoll brings present application to Esther’s story.
First, Not until we believe that one person can make a difference will we be willing to take the risk.
Second, Only when we move from the safe harbor of theory to the risky world of reality do we actually make a difference.
[Charles Swindoll. “A Woman of Strength and Character: Esther.” (Nashville: Word, 1997) p.89]
“Dilemma’s and Decisions”
Esther 4:1-17
“I am only one.
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything;
But still I can something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
First, The Reaction of Mordecai. (4:1-3)
Secondly, The Report of Mordecai. (4:4-12)
• Esther’s Inquiry. (vv. 5- 9)
• Esther’s Dilemma. (vv. 10-11)
• Mordecai Warning. (vv. 12-14)
Third, The Response of Esther. (4:15-17)
• Her Request. (4:15-16a)
• Her Resolve. (16b-17) (Dan. 3:16-18, Job 13:15)
Charles Swindoll’s present application.
1. Not until we believe that one person can make a difference will we be willing to take the risk.
2. Only when we move from the safe harbor of theory to the risky world of reality do we actually make a difference.
“Dilemma’s and Decisions”
Esther 4:1-17
“I am only one.
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything;
But still I can something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
First, The __________ of Mordecai. (4:1-3)
Secondly, The ___________ of Mordecai. (4:4-12)
• Esther’s ____________. (vv. 5- 9)
• Esther’s ____________. (vv. 10-11)
• Mordecai ___________. (vv. 12-14)
Third, The ____________ of Esther. (4:15-17)
• Her ___________. (4:15-16a)
• Her _____________. (16b-17) (Dan. 3:16-18, Job 13:15)
Charles Swindoll’s present application.
1. Not until we believe that one person can make a difference will we be willing to take the risk.
2. Only when we move from the safe harbor of theory to the risky world of reality do we actually make a difference.
