And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not. Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate. And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. (Est 4:3-7)
Haman’s anger against Mordecai upon not receiving the worship he demanded but which belongs only to God drove Haman to a wicked plot against all the Jews. He paid the king to issue a decree, along with some subterfuge concerning the Jews, to destroy all the Jews in the land of Persia. His ancestral and personal hatred of the descendants of Israel, and his anger toward Mordecai had led him to deceive the king and use his personal treasury to wipe out all Jews he could reach.
When Mordecai learned of the decree and the threat against his people he mourned and lamented not for himself but for the people of God. When Esther heard of Mordecai’s lament she sought to discover the reason and learned of the plot. Having not revealed her heritage she was in position to petition the king, but was not able to approach him unless he summoned her. In this time of peril for her people she sought prayer and fasting that God would deliver the Jews even if she perished in the process.
As the people of God and His royal priests, Christians can boldly approach the throne of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. We often mourn our sin and lament our condition in this world, but we should praise and worship our Lord and our God, our Creator, Redeemer, and King. We ought not to approach God in sackcloth for He has delivered us from our sin and we are His children by faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Those of us who are born again need not be sorrowful even as we weep with those who weep, for we know that the things of this world, even loss, calamity, and destruction, are temporary and the result of the sin of man and the curse upon this sinful and broken world.
When trials, tribulation, and persecution come, we may not feel like rejoicing in the circumstances, but we can rejoice in our God who is in control and still provides and protects His own. We can rest assured that He knows our circumstances, cares for us, and will continue to work all things for His glory and our growth in Him. He has called His children to pray without ceasing, and trust in Him who has and will deliver us from that which He wills, just as God worked in Mordecai and Esther’s circumstances long ago in Persia. He has not changed, and He never will, and we should rest in Him no matter what is going on around us. He is our refuge and strength, a strong tower in the storm.
For while we are here our God calls His people to holiness and obedience to Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
When Mordecai learned of the decree and the threat against his people he mourned and lamented not for himself but for the people of God. When Esther heard of Mordecai’s lament she sought to discover the reason and learned of the plot. Having not revealed her heritage she was in position to petition the king, but was not able to approach him unless he summoned her. In this time of peril for her people she sought prayer and fasting that God would deliver the Jews even if she perished in the process.
As the people of God and His royal priests, Christians can boldly approach the throne of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. We often mourn our sin and lament our condition in this world, but we should praise and worship our Lord and our God, our Creator, Redeemer, and King. We ought not to approach God in sackcloth for He has delivered us from our sin and we are His children by faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Those of us who are born again need not be sorrowful even as we weep with those who weep, for we know that the things of this world, even loss, calamity, and destruction, are temporary and the result of the sin of man and the curse upon this sinful and broken world.
When trials, tribulation, and persecution come, we may not feel like rejoicing in the circumstances, but we can rejoice in our God who is in control and still provides and protects His own. We can rest assured that He knows our circumstances, cares for us, and will continue to work all things for His glory and our growth in Him. He has called His children to pray without ceasing, and trust in Him who has and will deliver us from that which He wills, just as God worked in Mordecai and Esther’s circumstances long ago in Persia. He has not changed, and He never will, and we should rest in Him no matter what is going on around us. He is our refuge and strength, a strong tower in the storm.
For while we are here our God calls His people to holiness and obedience to Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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