ESTHER 4:16
AND, SO I WILL GO TO THE KING, WHICH IS AGAINST THE LAW, AND IF I PERISH, I PERISH...
Est 4:16 “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!”
and so= so, thus, like manner, well, such thing, howbeit, state, after that, following, after this, therefore, wherefore, surely.
will I go= come (1,435x), bring (487x), ... in (233x), enter (125x), go (123x), carry (17x), ...down (23x), pass (13x), ...out (12x),
in unto= unto, with, against, at, into, in, before, to, of, upon, by, toward, hath, for, on, besides, from, where, after, within.
the king= king
which= conjunction, relative pronoun -which, who, that which,
(conj)
that (in obj clause)
when, since, as
conditional if,
IS--------------------------
Not= not, no, none, nay, never, neither, otherwise, before.
according to the law= law (9x), decree (9x), commandment (2x), manner (1x), commission (1x).
and if= which, wherewith, because, when, soon, whilst, as if, as when, that, until, much, whosoever, whereas, wherein, whom, whose.
I perish= perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed
I perish= perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed
Therefore, I WILL GO UNTO THE KING WHICH IS NEVER ALLOWED AND IF I DIE, I DIE…
ESTHER WAS WILLING TO PUT HERSELF BEFORE OTHERS BY GOING TO THE KING BUT NOT BEFORE PRAYER AND FASTING TO THE LORD.
ALWAYS BE OTHER-MINDED WHEN SERVING GOD, ALWAYS PRAYING FOR DIRECTION.
OBSERVATION
ESTHER 4:1-17
Esther Agrees to Help the Jews
1 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.
4 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. 5 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 destruction, 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 into 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.
10 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 into the king these thirty days.” 12 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?”
15 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.
REFLECTION:
EXPLORATION:
1. 1 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.
2. 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
3. Through Hathach
4. that Hathach might command her to go into the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people.
5. 10 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 into the king these thirty days.” 12 So they told Mordecai Esther’s words.
6. 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.
REACTION
7. The Holy Spirit works in us by peeling away our sinful characteristics and replacing them with godly characteristics. His work in us makes us more and more like Jesus. Just as Acts 1:8 mentions, the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to be effective witnesses for Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit gives believers the power to live like Jesus and be bold witnesses for Him. There are many ways He goes about doing this. Through repentance, He wipes out what was dirty in us and allows us to bear good fruit. The Holy Spirit also works in us through the word of God. Through Sanctification, it guides us into all truth, He convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. And He brings all things back to our remembrance. The Holy Spirit has and does work in my life in all these ways.
8. In prayer and supplication to God always but to earthly entities, we need to be careful. If secular advocacy is calling on government officials to pay attention to what’s important to you, biblical advocacy is reminding them to do what God has called them to do — since 88% of Congress publicly claims faith in Christ. God also calls each of us to be good stewards of our gifts. As Americans, we have the gift of influencing our government. When we steward that gift well, leaders can make decisions that fight the systemic causes of poverty, conflict, and injustice. One determined voice can help change lives around the world — and that voice could belong to you.
9. It may backfire on you or even the person you speaking up for may retaliate. You have to know it is from God telling you to do this.
10. 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?”
11. Many Ways
12. Prayer, the word, and talking to the person.
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