Esther 4

Good morning! Today is Esther 4!

Esther 4:1-3

"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. He went as far as the gate of the palace, for no one was allowed to enter the palace gate while wearing clothes of mourning. And as news of the king's decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed, and many people lay in burlap and ashes." (NLT)

When Mordecai heard the news of the decree about Jews, he decided to down his mourning clothing. It says he put on burlap and ash. He put the ash on his forehead and wore sackcloth. Today, we tend to picture someone wearing sackcloth as someone wearing a burlap bag with holes for the head and arms. In biblical times, however, sackcloth was made from the coarse hair of a black goat. Because it produced some degree of pain or discomfort, it was worn by one who was mourning or as a public sign of grief, repentance, atonement, or submission. Because of this, sackcloth was sometimes worn by the Prophets as an outward sign of their call to repentance. Which is why the Jews wore this type of clothing.

Esther 4:5

"Then Esther sent for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs who had been appointed as her attendant. She ordered him to go to Mordecai and find out what was troubling him and why he was in mourning. (NLT)

Esther 4:8

"Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the decree issued in Susa that called for the death of all Jews. He asked Hathach to show it to Esther and explain the situation to her. He also asked Hathach to direct her to go to the king to beg for mercy and plead for her people." (NLT)

Esther 4:10-11

"Then Esther told Hathach to go back and relay this message to Mordecai: 'All the king's officials and even the people in the provinces know that 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. And the king has not called for me to come to him for thirty days.'" (NLT)

Esther 4:13-14

"Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: 'Don't think for a moment that because you're in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?'" (NLT)

Esther 4:15-16

"Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 'Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.'" (NLT)

These verses are basically the conversation between Esther and Mordecai. Esther starts off by trying to help Mordecai and sends one of her appointed assistants, Hathach, to find out why he is mourning. Obviously, Esther had not yet heard of the news of the king's latest decree.

Mordecai then gave Hathach a copy of the decree so he can give it and explain it to Esther therefore, she could beg the king not to do that to her people.

Esther's reply to this seemed quite uncertain with that whole idea. Anyone who saw the king without permission would be sent to death.

Then Mordecai explained that Esther is a Jew and that even if she is royalty, she would not survive. If she did not say something, someone else would, and she and her family would be the only ones to die.

Esther replied with instructions for Mordecai and the other Jews. She figured out that either way may result in death so she might as well die trying for her people.

In the midst of that conversation, Esther's relationship with both Mordecai and God are shaken. It took some convincing to follow Mordecai's instructions to go to the king uncalled. Esther also showed a lack of faith at this scene in the story. She did not see that God had a plan for her and that she would just have to walk with him and trust that he will keep her safe, which is what she ended up doing cause she put her people above herself.

That's chapter 4! Tomorrow is chapter 5! And guys, I know these blogs have been mostly summaries of what we've already read, and I try to add a little comparison or something in with it, but considering it is a story and it's pretty straight forward, just bare with me. If you have any suggestions, I will gladly use them cause I feel bad that all I can do is summarize. Its hard to find a deeper meaning when its a story. Thanks and see ya tomorrow! BYE :) :) :)