Esther prepares to face the king

The Book of Esther Chapter 4

Mordecai learned that the Jews were scheduled to be killed and he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes and went into the city crying with a loud wail. He stood outside the gate and as the news reached all the provinces, there was a great mourning among the Jews.

When Queen Esther's maids and eunuchs told her about Mordecai, she was distressed and sent him clothing to replace the sackcloth, but he refused it. Then she sent for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs who had been assigned to her and asked him to find Mordecai and what was troubling him. When Hathach found Mordecai, the whole story came out about how much money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the death decree and asked him to show it to Esther. He also asked that Hatach urge her to go to the king and beg for mercy for her people.

When Esther read the decree, she told Hathach to go and give a message to Mordecai that the whole world knows anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter. The king had not called for her in more than a month. But Mordecai sent back a reply to Esther telling her that she could never escape in the palace when all the other Jews were killed. He asked her to understand that perhaps she had been elevated to the palace for just such a time as this to save the Jews.

Esther send Mordecai another message that he should go and gather all the Jews of Susa and fast for her. She asked that they not drink or eat for three days. Then she and her maids would do the same and though it was against the law, she would go see the king. She said she was willing to die. So Mordecai went away and did as Esther told him.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Esther calculated the cost of her courageous act and realized her own life was at stake. But she set priorities and believed that the safety of the Jewish race was more important than her life. Finally, she prepared for her role by gathering support and fasting. Then she determined what course of action to take and she moved ahead quickly.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? If you have to face a hostile situation or confront a friend about changes, then you probably dread taking action. Esther probably felt fear, but she also knew she had God's protection and wisdom. No one is secure in their own strength in any political position. Wealth and position cannot make us impervious to danger. Deliverance comes only from God. When it is within our reach to save others, we must behave as God wants us to.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who made it six years with cancer but may now go home with hospice in her final days.
Pray for my cousin Diane who had total mastectomy surgery for breast cancer.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.