The situation in Esther chapter 3 was desperate. So, in chapter 4 the Jews Cry Out to God.
In Grief
The story of Esther is one heartache after another. There is so much grief, pain, and sorrow in the world today. On every row there is a hurting heart. Grief is the body’s natural response to loss. It may be the loss of a job, a relationship, a move, a chronic illness, or the loss of a pet or loved one. You can experience every emotion, from sadness, to anger, to loneliness. Sackcloth is mentioned in the grief of death. Ashes are added when it is a national tragedy. It is a symbol of a change of heart that is visible and demonstrates the sincerity of one’s grief. Times of crisis show what a person is made of. In spite of the danger Mordecai displays his grief. He could not stand by and do nothing. Innocent people, women and children, were about to be slaughtered. Don’t focus over what you can’t change. Cry out to the One who can do something about it. You can trust Him.
For Relief
Esther sent Mordecai clothes to comfort him. What good is a new set of clothes when you are about to be executed? It was like putting a band aid on cancer! Too often we want to cover up the outside when the real problem is on the inside. He told her all the facts. Esther says, “If I go to the king I could lose my life.” Mordecai says, “If you don’t go to the king, you will lose your life.”
He says, relief will come! I don’t know how but God will come through. Maybe this is why God made you Queen! A.W. Tozer compared the sovereign purposes of God to an ocean liner leaving NYC for Liverpool, England. “The people on board the ship are free to do as they please, but they aren’t free to change the course of the ship.” Psalm 103 says, “His Kingdom rules over all.” It is no accident that a Jewish woman is Queen!
With Belief
“If I perish I perish.” It is the language of complete obedience. The question is not whether you will lose your life. We are all going to die. Will your life count for Christ? Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” The cause is always greater than self-preservation. John Maxwell talks about the law of sacrifice. “A leader has to give up, to go up.” Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Paul said in Philippians 1:21, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.”
It all points to Jesus. Esther risked losing the palace and her life to save her people. Jesus left His palace and gave His life to save His people. They prayed 3 days for deliverance. Jesus was in the grave 3 days to deliver us! Like the Jews, we were all destined for death unless God intervened. That is why Jesus came. Esther had to be encouraged to intercede for her people. No one had to make Jesus do it. He willingly laid down His life for us. Esther was willing to perish. Jesus did perish! He suffered and was crucified dying the most painful agonizing death not because of anything He did wrong but to pay for all of our wrongs. No one has the right to come into the presence of the King. Esther became their mediator. She is royalty saying, “If I have to die to save my people I will die.” That is what Jesus did. They were under judgment. We are all under a death sentence. 1 Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” It was all God’s grace. Esther is the queen because of her looks. Her beauty was a gift from God. She had nothing to do with it. She was born with it. What you have, your position, resources, gifts, abilities, are all because of the grace of God. Let God use you and what you have to accomplish His eternal purposes.