[Esther 4] Act 2 Scene 1: The Heroes Devise A Plan

Where we last left off, the villain came into the picture and set his dastardly plan into effect, aimed at attacking the heroes. Now it’s the heroes chance to respond. Act 1 focused on introducing all the characters of story. Act 2 will focus in on the conflict and the rising tension between the protagonists Esther & Mordecai and the antagonist Haman. It will peak with the climax in chapter 6, but for now, Act 2 begins in Chapter 4.

Start out with Esther 4:1-4. Mordecai responds to the news by putting on sackcloth and ashes and mourning. This is a common practice in the ancient times. Biblical examples would include, but not be limited to: Job when he loses everything, the king of Nineveh when he hears Jonah’s message, David upon hearing of the death of his best friend Jonathan, etc. As you can see, it’s a common practice. If you noticed, all of them are during sad occasions. Sitting in ashes, wearing sackcloth and mourning was a sign of humility and grief. Mourning in public, he is obviously associating himself as a Jew. He mourns outside the king’s gate, so everyone in the palace can hear him. But he can’t go beyond the king’s gate because of his appearance only the cleanest can enter the king’s residence. Esther tries to offer him clean clothes so he can come in and talk this over with her, but Mordecai is mourning so much, he refuses.

So what happens is Esther chooses Hatatch, a eunuch, to become the middle man messenger.  Hatatch is the 2^nd eunuch mentioned positively in this book, next to Hegai in chapter 2. Esther 4:5-10 records the dialogue. Esther sends Hatatch to find out what all the commotion is about. Mordecai sends back the degree with a suggestion that Esther go before the king. Not only does Mordecai say why he’s mourning, but he fully explains, even giving evidence. Then he proposes a way to fix it. Mordecai asks Esther to appear before the king and beg for mercy.

Esther finally speaks up in Esther 4:11. Up to this point, Esther has been the silent protagonist, only following orders from Mordecai, and presumably the king and the eunuchs. Esther reminds him the rule is she can’t go before the king unless summoned, or else she’ll die. Esther’s tone is even belitting Mordecai. “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know” would include Mordecai, especially as one who sits at the gate. Esther implies that Mordecai knows the rule, and she also implies he knows that he’s putting his cousin’s life in danger. How a cousin whose treated her like a daughter do such a thing? Esther’s tone also implies reluctance. This statement is her defense on why she does not want to appeal to the king. If she appears before the king unsummoned, she will die, so she does not want to beg for mercy. Esther’s reminder is very descriptive, in order to further defend herself. She even mentions that a month has past without her being summoned (not even for sex!), so she isn’t likely to be summoned any time soon. The only hope Esther would have is the king extending his scepter in mercy to allow entry. While archaeological records have not surfaced any recording of this idea of extending the scepter in mercy (although archaeology has dug up pictures of Persian kings holing body-length scepters), historical records do record the importance of not appearing before the king unless summoned, and the severity of those who choose to break this law. But Mordecai is ready to respond to that. It’s found in Esther 4:13-14. This verse is very important, so important that I’ll put it right here

Esther 4:13-14 NIV (1984 ed.)-

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

Some scholars have suggested these verses to be the theme verses of Esther. You might remember that in my introduction I mentioned a verse that would be perfect to use the name “God” or “the Lord.” This is it. It would have been perfect if Mordecai would have said, “And who knows but that God/the Lord has put you in a royal position for such a time as this.” But Mordecai doesn’t. Whether God is explicitly stated or implicitly hinted, Mordecai’s statement stays the same. And what a bold statement it is! Do you realize what Mordecai is saying? Mordecai declares that God will send a deliverer for the Jews, no matter what, even if Esther does not step up. If Esther does not stand up, that does not mean she will be safe. Instead, the Jews will be saved and Esther will die. Bold, right? How can Mordecai be so sure? God’s covenants with Israel! God’s covenants have unconditionally promised a chosen people out of Israel will come. No matter how bad they are or how bad they have become, there will always be a remnant, or a small percentage of what is left will always be around. God has to save the Jews in order for all his covenantal promises to be fulfilled. God will send a deliverer.

 

 

This is a reminder to us that there is no situation that God cannot deliver us out of. The Jews right now seem to be in a tight spot. There is a law that’s going to wipe out all of the Jews, and there’s nothing that can stop it. But Mordecai is sure that a way out will come. A way out came for us, too. Because of Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross, Jesus made it possible for everyone to be delivered from their sin. Esther was the deliverer of the Jews during this time period, but Jesus is the ultimate deliverer, delivering everyone from everywhere and every time of their sins. And because of Jesus, there is no sin we can be doomed from. All we have to do is come to Jesus, confessing our sin, with a repentant heart. If you have never made the decision to follow Jesus, today can be the day Jesus will deliver you of your sins and welcome you into his family. If you want to make that decision today, make sure you go see a pastor, and they’ll help you with that. But maybe you’ve already received Jesus as your deliverer, but you are still struggling with a sin in your life. I urge you to come to Jesus right now, confess it and receive forgiveness.

Let’s close with Esther 4:15,16. Now Esther has commands for Mordecai. Esther decides that she will fast and pray with her entire harem for 3 days. She asks for Mordecai to lead the Jews in doing the same. After the 3 days of fasting, then she will appear before the king. When the harem receives the news for Esther to fast, they must have realized she was Jewish. While fasting is not unique to the Jewish faith, when Esther calls for a fast that simultaneously with the fast of the Jews, the harem can naturally make the connection. As subordinates to the queen, the harem probably kept her ethnicity quiet. The 3 days of fasting and praying must have been a very emotional time. Esther realizes what she is about to do. She will become a lawbreaker by stepping in the presence of the king unsummoned. She knows what the consequences could be. If she appears before the king unannounced, she is executed. If she does not, Haman’s law is executed, the Jewish people are executed, Esther is found out to be a Jew, and she is executed. Either way, death looms over her head. So she lies her faith totally in God, without even mentioning it. I think here Esther recognizes God as her deliverer, too. So we should follow her example and put our faith in Jesus Christ.