Sackcloth Worn by Oneself
Sackcloth Worn by Oneself
Esther 4:1~17
□ Praise and Sharing
[New Hymn] # 300 My heart is discouraged
How was your last week?
Prayers for patients in hospital ministry and prayers for a pastor's wife fighting cancer at a pastor's meeting
Haman, who was favored by the king, planned to kill not only Mordecai but also all the Jews in the kingdom. Haman, who was given full authority by the king, wrote a decree in the king's name to kill all Jews on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar (the twelfth month in the Jewish calendar). Haman is determined to accomplish this task even if it costs him ten thousand talents of silver. When the contents of the decree he wrote became known to the Jews, they were all worried.
□ Words and Sharing
1. Queen Esther hears that Mordecai is at the king's gate, dressed in sackcloth (verses 1-9).
1) When the king's command and decree arrived in each province, what did the Jews do (verse 3)?
3 When the king's command and his decree came to every province, there was great mourning among the Jews. Many were fasting, weeping and wailing, and many were lying in sackcloth and ashes.
When the king's command and decree arrived in every province, many of the Jews mourned greatly. They fasted, wept, cried out, put on sackcloth and lay in ashes.
2) What did Mordecai tell Esther (verses 7-8)?
7 Then Mordecai told Hathach all that had happened to him and the exact amount of silver that Haman had agreed to bring into the king's treasury to destroy the Jews. 8 He also gave Hathach a copy of the decree that had been issued in Susa the citadel to destroy the Jews. He told Hathach to show it to Esther and to ask her to go to the king and make an earnest plea before him for her people.
Mordecai told Esther through Hathach, her eunuch all that had happened to him and the exact amount of silver that Haman had agreed to bring into the king's treasuries to destroy the Jews. He also gave Hathach a copy of the decree that had been issued in Susa the royal palace to destroy the Jews. He told Esther to go to the king and make an earnest plea before him for her people.
<Sharing 1> Esther did not know what was happening to the Jews. She did not know the details of why Mordecai and the Jews were wearing sackcloth and mourning, so she tried to appease them by sending them clothes.
If you have ever taken someone else's crisis or suffering for granted, share it.
Having heard so many stories of war, persecution, poverty, and disease in Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Ukraine, and elsewhere, I tended to take other people's crises and suffering lightly, as if I were watching a fire across the river.
2. Mordecai wants Esther to plead to the king for her people (verses 10-17)?
1) Why was Esther afraid to go to the king (verse 11)?
11 The king's officials and the people of the king's provinces all know that whoever goes to the king's inner court without being called shall be put to death except that the king shall hold out the golden scepter to that person, and he shall live. And now, thirty days have passed since I was called to the king, and I have not gone in to him."
For if anyone goes to the king's inner court without being summoned, there is only one law that states that he shall be put to death, and that the king shall hold out the golden scepter to him, and he shall live. Esther says that it has already been thirty days since she was summoned to go to the king.
2) What event did Mordecai say could be God’s plan for this time (v. 14)?
14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
The event that Esther risked her life to go before the king and save her people.
3) What does Esther decide to do (verse 16)?
16 Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast likewise; and so I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
Esther said, "After fasting I will go to the king, which is against the custom; and if I perish, I perish."
<Sharing 2> Even after Esther learned that tragedy would befall her people, she was afraid to approach the king. She was afraid that she might die if she did not receive the king's favor. Mordecai, on the other hand, believes that Esther has obtained the position of queen for this moment. If you've ever hesitated to do something you knew was right because of concerns, share them.
We once tried to teach electric guitar to students, but stopped because of the risk of electrical short-circuiting.
<Sharing 3> Esther decides to go to the king as Mordecai says. It is not because she is not afraid, but because she has overcome her fear through prayer and diligence.
Let us talk to each other about what we need to decide in faith now, and let us pray for each other so that we can shake off our fears and put them into practice.
The two sons shook off their fears and found jobs and part-time jobs and joined in the Lord's work.
□ Let's pray together
Lord, help us to have a heart of compassion and love that does not turn away from the pain of others!
May all nations, including Pakistan, India, Myanmar, and Ukraine, heal those who are suffering from war, poverty, and disease!
For the complete healing of sick pastors, their wives, and patients
Please help my two sons shake off their fears, find jobs and part-time jobs, and join in the work of the Lord!
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