Esther: Silent but Sovereignনমুনা

When faced with distressing news, we may react in a variety of ways. One response is to lock ourselves away in private grief, paralyzed by despair or fear. Another is to bury our heads in the sand, denying the reality of our situation. Alternatively, we can blow up in anger at our situation and those around us. 

Mordecai was deeply grieved by the King’s edict, but he was not paralyzed by his grief. ‘… he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes [the outward sign of mourning], and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly’ (v. 1). 

Mordecai didn’t stay home and grieve privately. He didn’t hide away in case anyone found out he had been the reason for this edict. But neither did he wander around aimlessly. He went to the king’s gate (v. 2). He couldn’t enter the gate because of his sackcloth (it was considered impolite to express sadness in the king’s presence), but nevertheless, he went to the king’s gate. Why? Because he wanted to communicate with Esther. Because he believed that God could use her to deliver His people. Because he believed that, in His providence, God had ordained the crowning of Esther for this very reason. 

Mordecai didn’t end up at the king’s gate by chance. When Hathak went out to Mordecai to find out what was troubling him (vv. 5, 6), ‘Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury’ (v. 7). He must have done some research to find this out. He had also taken with him a copy of the text of the edict to pass on to Esther. His intent was to persuade Esther to approach the king and intercede for the Jews (v. 8). 

It might seem surprising that Mordecai would choose to go to a public place where he was known to be Jewish. It would also have been known at the king’s gate that his refusal to bow to Haman instigated the planned genocide of the Jews across Persia. He risked both mockery from his enemies and accusation from his fellow Jews as he made his way to the city square. But Mordecai was not preoccupied with his own fate; he was prepared to act on behalf of all of God’s people. 

Verse 3 communicates the bewildered and desperate response of Jews all over the kingdom of Persia as they received news of their impending destruction. But despite the devastating news of an imminent holocaust, Mordecai’s faith in his faithful God spurred him into thoughtful activity. 

In times of distress, we can trust completely in God’s unchanging love for us and His great power to work for us. We also need to be wise and thoughtful so that our outward behavior is evidence of our inward faith.

Reflection

Pray Psalm 62 for yourself.