Bible Study - Stand Up (3) - Stand Down - Esther 4:1-3, 10-16 May 6, 2018

Bible Study – Stand Up (3) – Stand Down – May 6, 2018

This is lesson two (3) in our series entitled “Stand Up: How to Fight Injustice.”

Our focus scripture is Esther 4:1-3, 10-16.

Surrendering to GOD leads to greater things. 

Surrendering to GOD means trusting HIM as we face the issues of life. Do you recall the instant when JESUS and HIS disciples were in a boat crossing a lake when a fierce storm came up? JESUS was asleep in the boat and HIS disciples were frightened. Why could JESUS sleep and HIS disciples be so afraid? JESUS had total confidence in GOD to take care of HIM until HIS mission upon earth was fulfilled.

Let’s read Esther 3:6-15: [Let’s pickup with the ending scripture from last week’s scripture to reveal how cunning Haman was to destroy Mordecai and his people, the Jews.]

The plot thickens:

6 And when he learned of Mordecai's ethnic identity, Haman decided not to do away with Mordecai alone. He set out to destroy all of Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout Ahasuerus' kingdom. 

7 In the first month, the month of Nisan, in King Ahasuerus' twelfth year, Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman for each day in each month, and it fell on the twelfth month, the month Adar. 

8 Then Haman informed King Ahasuerus, "There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom, yet living in isolation. Their laws are different from everyone else's, so that they defy the king's laws. It is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them. 

9 If the king approves, let an order be drawn up authorizing their destruction, and I will pay 375 tons of silver to the accountants for deposit in the royal treasury." 

10 The king removed his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jewish people. 

11 Then the king told Haman, "The money and people are given to you to do with as you see fit." 

12 The royal scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded. [It was intended for] the royal satraps, the governors of each of the provinces, and the officials of each ethnic group and written for each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the royal signet ring.

13 Letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces [telling the officials] to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jewish people-young and old, women and children-and plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month. 

14 A copy of the text, issued as law throughout every province, was distributed to all the peoples so that they might get ready for that day. 

15 The couriers left, spurred on by royal command, and the law was issued in the fortress of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, while the city of Susa was in confusion.

After living peacefully in the areas governed by King Ahasuerus, all of a sudden, the Jews become the target of hostility. What had changed? What were the Jewish people to do? Would GOD have a plan to spare HIS chosen people? If so, what would they have to do? Had GOD already placed HIS key people in positions to be available to be risk takes? Let’s explore! News of Haman’s plan spreads quickly.

Do you recall the ancestral lineage of Haman from last week’s study? Haman was identified as son of Hammedatha, which is Persian lineage. He was further identified as an Agagite, which meant he was a descendant of Agag, an Amalekite king. The Amalekites were ancient enemies of the Jews. Prejudice has roots that reach back over a long time.

Let’s read Esther 4:1-3:

1 When Mordecai learned all that had occurred, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, went into the middle of the city, and cried loudly and bitterly. 

What is sackcloth? It is a rough fabric made using coarse animal hair. Burlap, I think, could be considered sackcloth. It would be very uncomfortable and itchy to wear. It would be a constant reminder to pray and would be an outward sign of a person standing out among people to make a statement. The addition of ashes would be a sign of that person mourning. Mordecai was mourning the decree the king had issued.

                       

Mordecai was an official in the king’s court. He was taking a risk by standing against the decree that had come through the king by the hand of Haman. Mordecai made it known to all who served the king that he protested the king’s decree.

2 He only went as far as the King's Gate, since [the law] prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering the King's Gate. 

3 There was great mourning among the Jewish people in every province where the king's command and edict came. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay on sackcloth and ashes. 

4 Esther's female servants and her eunuchs came and reported the news to her, and the queen was overcome with fear. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear so he could take off his sackcloth, but he did not accept [them]. 

Mordecai wearing sackcloth and his head covered with ashes got the attention of those who served Queen Esther. The Queens’s staff likely knew of some connection between the queen and Mordecai. They may have known the real connection. Again, even the Queen’s loyal staff are serving the purposes of GOD, possibly without knowing it.

Queen Esther sent regular clothes to Mordecai for him to wear. This was the Queen’s way of telling Mordecai that he was drawing attention to himself and it could result in him becoming a target and she feared what might happen to him. Little did the Queen know but he was already the target and when it became known that she was a Jew, she would also be a target. After all, the king had issued a decree and he had to set the example. The Queen did not know the far reaching plans of Haman and how he used the king to accomplish his diabolical scheme.

Mordecai refused the regular clothes Queen Esther sent to him. This refusal sent a message back to Queen Esther that what was going on was very serious. She needed to find out about it.

The Queen sent a trusted one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to her to Mordecai to find out what was going on and why Mordecai was involved. This ties one of the king’s chosen staff to talk with Mordecai. How much did Mortdecai reveal to the king’s eunuch? We do not know but GOD always has a plan to accomplish HIS will and purpose.

5 Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs assigned to her, and dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what he was doing and why. 

6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the King's Gate. 

7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened as well as the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay the royal treasury for the slaughter of the Jews. 

8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa ordering their destruction, so that Hathach might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and instruct her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead with him personally for her people. 

9 Hathach came and repeated Mordecai's response to Esther. 

Hathach listened to Mordecai and delivered to Queen Esther what was going on under the direction of Haman with the king’s blessing. Exterminating the Jewish people was Haman’s plan and when it was made known that she was a Jew, she would be included in the plan to exterminate her. Therefore, she should let the king know that she was a Jew and the Jews were her people. But Queen Esther approaching the king was not without risk.

This was a huge request Mordecai was asking Queen Esther to do. It was necessary but Queen Esther would be risking her life by simply approaching the king. Queen Esther explained why she was risking her life by approaching the king as we read on ----.

Let’s read Esther 4:10-14:

10 Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to tell Mordecai, 

11 "All the royal officials and the people of the royal provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard and who has not been summoned-[the] death [penalty]. Only if the king extends the golden scepter will that person live. I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the last 30 days." 

12 Esther's response was reported to Mordecai. 

13 Mordecai told [the messenger] to reply to Esther, "Don't think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king's palace. 

14 If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father's house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this." 

Queen Esther was in a position of power and authority but the king was the ultimate earthly authority. GOD was the final authority. Notice the last sentence in verse 14. Mordecai’s message back to the queen made it clear the reason she was the queen.

Has GOD placed you in a certain position to be used by HIM to accomplish HIS will and purpose?

Queen Esther responded back to Mordecai ------

Let’s read Esther 4:15-17:

15 Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 

16 "Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don't eat or drink for three days, night and day. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish." 

17 So Mordecai went and did everything Esther had ordered him.

Queen Esther asked Mordecai to put her on the prayer list of all the Jews in Susa. They were to fast for three days. Fasting was in this case no food or water for three days. Implied is that they were to pray to GOD during this fast. Fasting for the sake of fasting accomplishes nothing but maybe for you to lose weight and be hungry and thirsty. Fasting helps a person to focus on GOD and seek HIS help in solving the issues we face in life.

Since Haman was the brains behind this scheme, the queen had to consider that he may have set a trap for anyone, mainly Mordecai, approaching the king to spill the beans on Haman’s plan. The queen did not know whether or not Haman knew that she was a Jew or her connection with Mordecai.

When we look back, Mordecai had instructed Esther not to reveal that she was a Jew. By her not making this known kept that information from Haman but had he found out?

We need to keep in mind that the king regretted divorcing Queen Vashti but he was compelled to do so. This would be favorable to Queen Esther.  

When we study GOD’S Word, we get to see the whole earthly story. We get to see the good, bad and ugly. That is why I trust the Bible as GOD’S Word. The folks in our study had to trust GOD to help them through this crisis.

Can you look back over your life to identify how GOD has placed you in a certain place or position to be an instrument to be used for HIS plan and purpose?

It may be eternity before we may know how GOD has used us in HIS plan and purpose. Mordecai and Queen Esther had to trust GOD. Yet, GOD is not mentioned by name but certainly HE is implied.

So what are the overarching messages?

-         Grieve Injustice and call out to GOD

-         Look for GOD’S hand in where HE has placed you

-         Trust GOD and surrender yourself to HIM

Blessings!!!