Theme Verse
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Judahites 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?" (4:14)
Goal
When the people of God are oppressed, they turn in faith to His mercy and promises, also availing themselves of the resources that God has placed within their reach.
What's Going on Here?
Having learned about the plot of Haman and Xerxes' support of the scheme, Mordecai begins to mourn. Esther, informed of Mordecai's mourning, employs Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, as a messenger between her and Mordecai. Mordecai exhorts Esther to stand before Xerxes as a mediator for her people, but Esther is concerned with the entrance policy to Xerxes' presence. With confidence in YHWH's unrevealed plans, Mordecai suggests that Esther has come to this time and place by His design. Acknowledging the weight of Mordecai's words, she calls for the Judahites to gather for fasting, and she purposes to go before Xerxes, regardless of personal peril.
Searching the Scriptures
· Feasting is one setting of salient plot developments. What contrast do you see as you read 3:15 and 4:1? What effect does this convey?
· Mordecai's fast stands in marked contrast with the feast of Haman; his fast is meant to signify something, but what? Before that can be answered, we will examine other passages that mention fasting. Beside fasting, what are the common elements in these passages?
Judges 20:19-28
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________1 Samuel 7:2-6____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________2 Samuel 12:16____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________Ezra 8:21-23____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________Nehemiah 9:1-3____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________Joel 1:13-15____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________Joel 2:12-17____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________Jonah 3:6-9____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________· The common elements tell us what about the Old Testament purpose of fasting? What does fasting and other accompanying practice intend to achieve? What is the goal of the fasting of the entire Judahite community (4:16)?
· Complete this sentence: Fasting can be an external sign of ______________________.
· Why, then, does Mordecai refuse to replace his sackcloth with regular clothes (4:4)?
· Not every passage seems to speak so favorably about fasting. In the LORD's rebuke of Israel in Jeremiah 14:10-13 and Isaiah 58, what was wrong with Israel's fast? What was missing in the fasts of Jeremiah's day and Isaiah's day that was present in the other passages about fasting?
· What kind of fast does Jesus condemn in Matthew 6:16-18? What does He advocate instead?
· One skill of the author is to deftly highlight a juxtaposition of events. What is ironic about the reason for Vashti's dismissal and the conversation between Mordecai and Esther concerning what should be done?
· If Esther remains silent, of what is Mordecai certain? Why? Read Exodus 34:6; Psalm 57:10; Psalm 98:3; Psalm 117:2; Lamentations 3:23.
· One of the more peculiar aspects of Esther is that "God" is not found in the text. On the basis of Deuteronomy 12:5 and Psalm 26:8, however, what does Mordecai expect? How does this relate to the hope that Mordecai lays before Esther? Therefore, why aren't the words "And if I perish, I perish" fatalism?
· State again the purpose of fasting and attendant rites. By declaring Isaiah 61:3, what does the LORD promise to do for His people?
The Word for Us
· The lives of people are filled with rites, civil and religious. What rites do we use to express grief and mourning? Repentance? How could a reintroduction of fasting be beneficial for the people of God? Are the people of God free to develop new rites? Why? For what purpose must the rite exist? What does Paul recommend in 1 Timothy 4:8?
· What counsel does Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Peter 4:7-11 provide when we wonder and ponder our vocations in this life? For what purpose is God employing our temporal positions and accomplishments?
· From where does our help come? Read Philippians 3:20-21; what hope do these words give in the light of the Judahite situation in Esther? Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; how does the LORD turn our fasting into feasting and how does He wipe away our tears?
Closing
