Haman had The King sign a petition to wipe out all the Jewish people living in the Kingdom. Mordecai relayed the message of impending doom to Esther in order that she might use her position to intervene. Esther feared for her life because it was not her time to approach the King. Mordecai reminded her she would be no safer in the palace than the Jewish people in the streets. Her response was filled with wisdom, moving and historically quotable...
Esther 4:16-17
“Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me. do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law. and if I perish, I perish. 17 So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him."
Matthew Henry Commentary on Esther 4:16-17
4:5-17 We are prone to shrink from services that are attended with peril or loss. But when the cause of Christ and his people demand it, we must take up our cross, and follow him. When Christians are disposed to consult their own ease or safety, rather than the public good, they should be blamed.
The story goes on to show how God granted Ester favor with the King, how she praised and honored him for Three days, and how the records were found that Mordecai, the Jewish Man, had formerly prevented an assassination of the king, but was never honored for that respectful act. It was then revealed that not only would he not be honored, but that he was sentenced to death by Haman. The whole plot turns around, the wicked Haman is executed, and The Jewish People not only survive, but thrive. This is the power of corporate prayer and fasting.
Read the story here, for we all have a place before The Throne of Grace as believers to ask God to intervene and intercede for God to stop the violence. Daniel also confessed his own sins and the sins of his nation (Dan 9:20). God says, "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, If My People who are called by My Name (That is Believers in Christ -- Christians) will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
http://www.biblestudytools.com/esther/
"May the word of the Lord spread rapidly and be glorified, even as it did in Thessalonica and may we be spared from perverse and evil people, for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen us and protect us from the evil one" (2 Thes 3:1-3), in Jesus' Name.
For a closer look at just what sins a Christian can fall short of God's Glory with, one might study sins of commission and omission in this Blog...
Esther 4:16-17
“Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me. do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law. and if I perish, I perish. 17 So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him."
Matthew Henry Commentary on Esther 4:16-17
4:5-17 We are prone to shrink from services that are attended with peril or loss. But when the cause of Christ and his people demand it, we must take up our cross, and follow him. When Christians are disposed to consult their own ease or safety, rather than the public good, they should be blamed.
The story goes on to show how God granted Ester favor with the King, how she praised and honored him for Three days, and how the records were found that Mordecai, the Jewish Man, had formerly prevented an assassination of the king, but was never honored for that respectful act. It was then revealed that not only would he not be honored, but that he was sentenced to death by Haman. The whole plot turns around, the wicked Haman is executed, and The Jewish People not only survive, but thrive. This is the power of corporate prayer and fasting.
Read the story here, for we all have a place before The Throne of Grace as believers to ask God to intervene and intercede for God to stop the violence. Daniel also confessed his own sins and the sins of his nation (Dan 9:20). God says, "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, If My People who are called by My Name (That is Believers in Christ -- Christians) will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
http://www.biblestudytools.com/esther/
"May the word of the Lord spread rapidly and be glorified, even as it did in Thessalonica and may we be spared from perverse and evil people, for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen us and protect us from the evil one" (2 Thes 3:1-3), in Jesus' Name.
For a closer look at just what sins a Christian can fall short of God's Glory with, one might study sins of commission and omission in this Blog...
