Desperate Times Call For "Desperate Cries."
When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king's gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it.
In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
When Esther's eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.
Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king's eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. Esther 4:1-5
In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
When Esther's eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.
Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king's eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. Esther 4:1-5
It is bad enough to live as a foreigner with seemingly no hope of ever returning to the land of your birth or ancestors. It is painful enough to have to explain to your children that others despise you because of your refusal to live and act like everybody else. It is difficult to live a separate life under the glaring and scornful eyes of the rest of society because your life is dedicated to the only true God, Yahweh. Your ways are different. Your customs are different. Your faith in God compels you to ignore the norms of the society you live in because they contradict the moral and ethical values of God. That was the pressure under which the Jews lived as exiles.
But then, how do you respond when you wake up one morning to be told that the king in whose land you live has issued an order that on a certain date, at a particular time, you and all the members of your family and community are to be put to death in every city in which members of your nationality live? How do you respond when you hear your neighbors whispering among themselves about the fact that they will soon plunder your property? What do you tell your children? How do you respond to such terrifying news? Where do you turn to?
The response of Mordecai and the Jews is full of worthy insights. Let's look at three of them:
First: Mordecai "Tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly." Mordecai knew that the situation was a desperate one and so he took very desperate measures to call attention to his plight and that of all the Jews. To him, a dire situation of that nature was no time to walk around quietly in fine clothes. It was a time for desperate measures: He tore his fine clothes, put on sackcloth, a rather uncomfortable outfit, and put some ashes on his body as well. This was a sign of great mourning, pain, and distress.
Second, Mordecai "went into the city wailing loudly and bitterly. The entire city was already bewildered by the command to kill the Jews. Mordecai launched a public protest by his loud and bitter public wailing. He roamed the streets of the city to draw attention to the injustice that was about to befall his people. Mordecai laid his dignity aside by his loud public protest.
Third, "In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes." Even though prayers are not directly mentioned, one can conclude that the fasting and wailing were accompanied by prayers. They cried out to God in their desperation!
Desperate times call for desperate cries:
God responded to the desperate cries of the Israelites and sent Moses to their rescue: "I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them..." (Exodus 3:7-8). Blind Bartimaeus cried out in desperation and Jesus stopped and healed his sight. Even our Lord Jesus Himself cried out to Father God when he was overwhelmed in the Garden of Gethsemane as he faced the cross and God sent angels to strengthen him (Luke 22:39-44).
Question: Are you facing a rather desperate situation? Is it an unfulfilled desire or need? Is it a health crisis? A financial situation? An unsaved loved one? A ministry need or challenge? An unfulfilled vision? A difficult job situation? A challenging exam or school situation? A messy marriage or family situation?
Cry out to our God! Our God knows and understands your situation. Jesus Himself identifies with your struggle. He Himself cried out in desperation when things got discouraging for Him. He will come to your rescue!
But then, how do you respond when you wake up one morning to be told that the king in whose land you live has issued an order that on a certain date, at a particular time, you and all the members of your family and community are to be put to death in every city in which members of your nationality live? How do you respond when you hear your neighbors whispering among themselves about the fact that they will soon plunder your property? What do you tell your children? How do you respond to such terrifying news? Where do you turn to?
The response of Mordecai and the Jews is full of worthy insights. Let's look at three of them:
First: Mordecai "Tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly." Mordecai knew that the situation was a desperate one and so he took very desperate measures to call attention to his plight and that of all the Jews. To him, a dire situation of that nature was no time to walk around quietly in fine clothes. It was a time for desperate measures: He tore his fine clothes, put on sackcloth, a rather uncomfortable outfit, and put some ashes on his body as well. This was a sign of great mourning, pain, and distress.
Second, Mordecai "went into the city wailing loudly and bitterly. The entire city was already bewildered by the command to kill the Jews. Mordecai launched a public protest by his loud and bitter public wailing. He roamed the streets of the city to draw attention to the injustice that was about to befall his people. Mordecai laid his dignity aside by his loud public protest.
Third, "In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes." Even though prayers are not directly mentioned, one can conclude that the fasting and wailing were accompanied by prayers. They cried out to God in their desperation!
Desperate times call for desperate cries:
God responded to the desperate cries of the Israelites and sent Moses to their rescue: "I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them..." (Exodus 3:7-8). Blind Bartimaeus cried out in desperation and Jesus stopped and healed his sight. Even our Lord Jesus Himself cried out to Father God when he was overwhelmed in the Garden of Gethsemane as he faced the cross and God sent angels to strengthen him (Luke 22:39-44).
Question: Are you facing a rather desperate situation? Is it an unfulfilled desire or need? Is it a health crisis? A financial situation? An unsaved loved one? A ministry need or challenge? An unfulfilled vision? A difficult job situation? A challenging exam or school situation? A messy marriage or family situation?
Cry out to our God! Our God knows and understands your situation. Jesus Himself identifies with your struggle. He Himself cried out in desperation when things got discouraging for Him. He will come to your rescue!
Prayer: Lord, I cast all my cares upon you today because I know you are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I can ever ask or think. Amen