1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters 3 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: dot com. You're listening to the Chapter a Day Audio Bible. 4 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: I'm John Stangey, and today we're in Esther chapter four, 5 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: and we'll be reading from the New English translation. Now, 6 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: when Mordecai became aware of all that had been done, 7 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: he tore his garments and put on sackcloth and ashes. 8 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: He went out into the city, crying out in a 9 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,279 Speaker 1: loud and bitter voice. But he went no further than 10 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: the King's gate, for no one was permitted to enter 11 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:47,520 Speaker 1: the King's gate clothed in sackcloth. Throughout each and every 12 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: province where the king's edict in law were announced, there 13 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: was considerable mourning among the Jews, along with fasting, weeping, 14 00:00:55,800 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: and sorrow. Sackcloth and ashes were characteristic of many. When 15 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,759 Speaker 1: Esther's female attendance and her eunuchs came and informed her 16 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: about Mordechai's behavior, the queen was overcome with anguish. Although 17 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: she sent garments for Mordecai to put on so that 18 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: he could remove his sacloth, he would not accept them, 19 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,679 Speaker 1: So Esther called for hathak one of the king's eunuchs 20 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 1: who had been placed at her service, and instructed him 21 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 1: to find out the cause and reason for Mordechai's behavior. 22 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: So Hathak went to Mordecai at the plaza of the 23 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 1: city in front of the King's gate. Then Mordechai related 24 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: to him everything that had happened to him, even the 25 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,039 Speaker 1: specific amount of money that Hayman had offered to pay 26 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: to the King's treasuries for the Jews to be destroyed. 27 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: He also gave him a written copy of the law 28 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 1: that had been disseminated in Susa for their destruction, so 29 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: that he could show it to Esther and talk to 30 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: her about it. He also gave instructions that she should 31 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: go to the king to implore him and petition him 32 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: on behalf of her people. So Hathak returned and related 33 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: Mordechai's instructions to Esther. Then Esther replied to Hathak with 34 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: instructions for Mordecai. All the servants of the King and 35 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: the people of the King's provinces know that there is 36 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:25,119 Speaker 1: only one law applicable to any man or woman who 37 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: comes uninvited to the King in the inner court. That 38 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: person will be put to death unless the King extends 39 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: to him the gold scepter, permitting him to be spared. Now, 40 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 1: I have not been invited to come to the king 41 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 1: for some thirty days. When Esther's reply was conveyed to Mordecai, 42 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 1: he said to take back this answer to Esther. Don't 43 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: imagine that because you are part of the king's household, 44 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: you will be the one Jew who will escape if 45 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 1: you keep quiet. At this time, liberation and protection for 46 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: the Jews will appear from another source while you and 47 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: your father's household perish. It may very well be that 48 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: you have achieved royal status for such a time as this. 49 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:22,399 Speaker 1: Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai. Go assemble all 50 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: the Jews who are found in Sousa and fast in 51 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: my behalf. Don't eat and don't drink for three days 52 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: night or day. My female attendants and I will also 53 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: fast in the same way. Afterward, I will go to 54 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: the king, even though it violates the law. If I perish, 55 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: I perish. So Mordecai set out to do everything that 56 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: Esther had instructed him. Let's pray, Lord, we thank you 57 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: for your word, and we thank you for the privilege 58 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: of being able to look at this portion of scripture today, 59 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: and Lord, we could see some things at work here 60 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: that took great faith in you and also give evidence 61 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: to the fact that you had in mind to protect 62 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: the Jewish people in the midst of this time of adversity. Lord, 63 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 1: you raised up Esther to be in the position that 64 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: she was in at a particular time, in a particular context, 65 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 1: so that your people could be protected. You showed her favor, 66 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: and you caused the king to be favorably disposed to her. 67 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: And Lord, it's also fascinating to see this portion of 68 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: scripture speak about how people were not generally welcomed into 69 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:37,840 Speaker 1: the king's presence and that they could die if they 70 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: entered into the king's presence without specific permission. And yet 71 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: here we are, Lord, coming into your presence, being welcomed 72 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: into your presence right now. Even though you are holy 73 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: and by nature we are sinful. You welcome us into 74 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: your presence on the basis of the work of your 75 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 1: son Jesus Christ and the fact that through faith in 76 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: Jesus we have been granted his righteousness, and now we 77 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 1: can come before you. And in fact, in your word 78 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 1: it tells us that we can even come before you, 79 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: boldly confidently entering into your presence, knowing that we are 80 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: welcomed here. So Lord, we're grateful for that fact. We're 81 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: grateful for your love. We're grateful for the righteousness of 82 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,479 Speaker 1: Christ that we've been granted through faith. And we commit 83 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 1: this day to your care, Lord, and we thank you 84 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,919 Speaker 1: for your presence with us in it. We pray this 85 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: all in Jesus' name. Amen.