Good afternoon brothers and sisters,
We
read about Mordecai hearing about Haman's plot to kill all the Jews. He
sends a message to Esther asking her to use her influence with the king
to save her people. We'll see today that she is afraid, because people
were only allowed to approach the king by invitation. Fortunately, in
her courage, she is supported by her community and by God. Is there any
thing you feel like Esther about? Have you come to a certain position or
situation "for just such a time as this?"
God bless,
Sam
Esther 4:10- 5:4
10Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai, saying, 11“All
the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if
any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being
called, there is but one law—all alike are to be put to death. Only if
the king holds out the golden scepter to someone, may that person live. I
myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days.”
12When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, 13Mordecai
told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace
you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14For if
you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will
rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family
will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just
such a time as this.” 15Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, 16“Go,
gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf,
and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids
will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is
against the law; and if I perish, I perish.” 17Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
5:1
On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner
court of the king’s palace, opposite the king’s hall. The king was
sitting on his royal throne inside the palace opposite the entrance to
the palace. 2As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in
the court, she won his favor and he held out to her the golden scepter
that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the top of the
scepter. 3The king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” 4Then Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet that I have prepared for the king.”
Showing posts with label genocide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label genocide. Show all posts
Friday, January 25, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
mourning and action
Good evening sisters and brothers,
We read yesterday that Haman, one of the highest officials in the kingdom, plotted to kill all the Jews because he felt slighted by Mordecai. In today's reading Mordecai finds out about Haman's plans and asks Esther to go to the king do prevent this tragic injustice.
God bless,
Sam
Esther 4:1-9
When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went through the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry; 2he went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 3In every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4When Esther’s maids and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed; she sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth; but he would not accept them.
5Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what was happening and why. 6Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate, 7and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and charge her to go to the king to make supplication to him and entreat him for her people. 9Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.
We read yesterday that Haman, one of the highest officials in the kingdom, plotted to kill all the Jews because he felt slighted by Mordecai. In today's reading Mordecai finds out about Haman's plans and asks Esther to go to the king do prevent this tragic injustice.
God bless,
Sam
Esther 4:1-9
When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went through the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry; 2he went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 3In every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4When Esther’s maids and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed; she sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth; but he would not accept them.
5Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what was happening and why. 6Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate, 7and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and charge her to go to the king to make supplication to him and entreat him for her people. 9Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.
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