Esther Chapter 4 Part 1 - Mordechai and his leadership - Esther goes to the king

[Music] shalom and welcome to via israel a hebrew phrase which means you shall love israel we hope you'll stay with us for the next 30 minutes as our teacher dr baruch shares his expository teaching from the bible dr baruch is the senior lecturer at the zehra avraham institute based in israel although all courses are taught in hebrew at the institute dr baruch is pleased to share this weekly address in english to find out more about our work in israel please visit us on the web at loveisreal.org that's one word loveisreal.org now here's baruch with today's lesson are you being led by god unless you are committed to his will unless you desire to serve him you are not going to be led by god it's only those who have taken hold of his truth who understand his revelation and who desire to submit to these things that god is going to position in his will as i've said many times a person will never just stumble upon god's will god's purpose is god's plan for for their life it's only a submissive following that will cause you to be led and positioned by god take out your bible and look with me to the book of esther and chapter 4. now we're going to begin this chapter this evening we'll complete it god willing next week but this fourth chapter is a marvelous chapter especially next week we're going to learn some key theological principles that really show and manifest that that one particular theological perspective is not of god it is a false teaching we'll say more about that next week but i want you to look at chapter four verse one and we're going to focus in on mordecai's leadership and how he was one who heard from god acted in accordance to the truth of god and influenced others to do that same thing chapter 4 verse 1. notice what it says here and mordecai he knew all which had been done now what are we speaking about he knew about haman he knew about this plot he knew about this money that had been paid into the king's treasury he knew that there was now in force moving through its fulfillment this plan to exterminate all the jewish people in this empire so we read in verse 1 and mordecai knew all what had been done and notice his response we read in the second part of this verse and he tore that as mordecai tore his garments and he put on he clothed himself and in sackcloth and in ashes this means he put ashes upon his body and set upon them as well and then we're told he goes out he went out into the midst of the city and what that is said next is of great great significance we read yes which means he cried out zakah a great and bitter cry or scream might be a more appropriate way to understand this now this word for scream whether we deal with the verb or the noun both appear here they begin these two words same root they begin with the same letter a sein that's why about there's another word in hebrew that that has the same meaning in a simple way but it's not za aka but rather instead of a sign it's a sade instead of a z sound it's a t z or t very similar in hearing but there's a slight difference now mordecai when he heard about all these things that it was now in force things were moving along this plan this plan of haman he went out and publicly in sackcloth and in ash he cried out he screamed a loud and bitter scream now i want us to turn to another passage of scripture look if you would to the book of genesis for a moment the book of genesis and chapter 27. now there's another one who did something most similar but here's the difference instead of it being exactly written like mordecai did with a zine it's with that sade so here we find that that asav that is esau esau the new testament says that he is a perverse and wicked man look sometime at the book of hebrews esau god hated now it's amazing to me that there are individuals for example andy stanley ravi zacharias obviously before he passed away and a few others of of renown within the christian community and they always when they look at genesis 27 they praise esau and they condemn jacob yaakov this shows that they do not know the word of god they do not agree with the perspective of god because jacob he had purchased the birthright and with that birthright comes the blessing it was not jacob who was the sir planner meaning the deceiver but it was esau he sold it but yet he tried to get the blessing why well when asav heard that jacob had already been blessed what did he do well look at this passage and i'm reading from genesis 27 verse verse 34. it says kismo esav et devre aviv when esau heard the words of his father what did he do it's now what's the difference well it's very simple esau he cried out why because the will of god was in fact being done learn something everything that yah yakov that is jacob he did he did because his mother rifka rebecca she received prophetic instruction from god and she read carefully genesis 27 she instructed jacob what to do and god moved in this exactly as he said he was going to do the problem is people forget the prophetic instruction that god gave rebecca for these two sons jacob was submissive esau was rebellious esau was the deceiver and i don't know why it is but so many times when i share this we have such a harsh and angry response from supposedly believers does not the scripture say that esau was a perverse and wicked man god hated him but god loved jacob we don't see ever the expression the god of esau but we see repeatedly in the scripture the god of jacob let's be biblically sound let's agree with god rather than agreeing with propaganda from those who do not know the truth of god do not study things in the language of the scripture so instead of it being vy it's it says ah very similar but that difference means that esau was upset that the will of god was being fulfilled with jacob and when mordecai cried out that different letter implies that he was grieved he was screaming for that which was against god's will esau wanted that which was against god will mordecai did not let's go back to our passage in esther chapter 4 and we're now ready for verse 2. we read and he came unto before now that sounds odd in english but that's what it says and he came unto before the gate of the king for there is not to come meaning it's not allowed to come to the gate of the king dressed how dress in in sackcloth verse 3. now mordecai he was there publicly mourning repenting grieving screaming out because what had been done this evil plan that's now enforced and we read just like mordecai was grieved notice what it says in verse three and in every providence and providence a place meaning every place where the word of the king and his edict that means his law arrives what happened that edict came and there was evil gadol the eudem there was morning this means mourning like one who had died morning great morning to the jews and fasting and weeping and lamentation with sackcloth and ash that was spread out and the last word is what does that mean by many or it can be expressed which means publicly now this emphasized something and that's this when something is in conflict with the will of god we're supposed to be grieved about that and let others know it do it publicly we're not called to to be pushed aside but we're called to be vocal visible when things are against the purposes of god let others know that you stand against it that's what mordecai did and the message of the texas he was doing it and this led others in all the jewish communities in this empire to do so publicly verse 4. we read here and the young women remember esther she had seven young women probably teenage girls assigned to her and they came and also the the servants these are the eunuchs her eunuchs and they told her so these young women and the eunuchs that were assigned to her they came to her and they told her and notice what it says and she was and there's many different interpretations definitions for this word word but it means to be hollowed out now some bibles say she was confused she was bewildered she was was greatly afraid when she heard what mordecai was doing that he was there publicly lamenting and in sackcloth and ash crying out in a public way she was deeply concerned about this and we'll see why in a moment but look again at verse 4 the young women of esther and her eunuchs they came and they told her and then we read the queen was bewildered greatly and she said this could be a word for being afraid as well or or not in agreement almost being angered by this disagreement so she sent clothes to dress mordecai she didn't want him in this outfit to remove his sackcloth from upon him but notice what it says at the end of verse 4 below kibel he did not receive now we have in this chapter something unique all her life from the moment that mordecai brought her into his household and loved her like his daughter and trained her like a godly man trains his children she was submissive now she's a queen and she's always been in this whole process leading up to her being queen she's always been submissive but now she sees something and she doesn't like it she's not in agreement with it she's confused by it it disturbs her and therefore she sends these clothes but he would not receive it verse five and esther she called to a man by the name of hatach and he was one of the the eunuchs meaning the servants of the king which stood before her meaning she and him they were in that same location in the palace and he was a trusted official of the king but also esther she as we know knew him as well and she commanded him concerning mordecai to know what this is and why this is so what is this and why concerning what is this so she didn't understand why he would do what he was doing and why he refused the garment she she sent him so it's very important i want to get this correct it says here at the end of verse 5. ladat to know maze what is this and concerning what this is meaning why is he doing this verse 6 in obedience to esther we find that he went forth to mordecai to the square of the city the most public place of the city which is before the gate of the king verse 7. and and mordecai told him all which had happened to him now this means everything that that he was aware of from his perspective this meant about hamad's promotion this law that everyone had to bow down to him and how haman was angry and that he had this plot to exterminate all the jewish people and that he gave this large sum of money assert kikarim uh keseph ten thousand talents of silver into the king's treasury so we read that all that happened to him the the amount of money which haman said to be paid out literally to be weighed out into the royal treasury and and this was all for the purpose meaning with this money the jews they were to be destroyed so we see undeniably haman is responding to what haman has put into force verse 8. he didn't stop there it says look at verse 8 and the copy that was written of the king's edict this is the law which was given throughout shushan and what did this edict this law say to destroy them meaning destroy the jewish people it was given to him to show esther so haman excuse me mordecai what haman wrote mordecai took one of these written edicts and gave it to hatak in order that he would show to esther and tell her and to do something else to command concerning her that she would go to the king and to beseech him and to seek from him concerning her people now two very important things first of all it's been emphasized that mordecai said do not reveal who your people are now at this time is the right time god is at work in giving instruction to mordecai it was god to led him to say to esther don't tell anyone your heritage your people she was obedient it could have cost her her life cost her being queen she could have been punished severely but yet she obeyed mordeca and now he's saying this is the time for you to reveal it but you have to go before the king and notice how significant that commandment from mordecai to esther is look now if you would to verse verse 9. we read and mordecai told hataktas to tell esther and we read hatakh he came and he said to esther the words of mordecai so everything is now being told to her that she might know verse 10 and esther said to hatach and commanded him to mordecai meaning esther she heard this and she responded she gave a command to hatak that he would go to return to mordecai with this instruction now verse 11 is a very important verse it's a verse that tells us of a quandary that esther's going to be in what we're going to emphasize in great detail next week because next week we're going to begin with this same verse so notice what she is called to do she is called at that moment to go to the king reveal to him her people and in regard to this edict that's gone forth to intercede to him to beg and to seek relief from the king but notice what she says look now to verse 11. see you might hear that and think well this is a reasonable thing to do but if esther does this exactly as mordecai says she is putting her life tourists now two things are gonna be told us look at verse 11. all the servants of the king and and the implication is all the people of the providences of the king all know something what does all the servants and all the people of this empire know that everyone whether it's man or woman which comes to the king to that that inner courtyard which was not called meaning this esther she's queen but she cannot just at any time she wants go into the king's presence she can only go into the king's presence with his permission everyone knows as a matter of fact that if someone approaches the king without permission there's one thing that's going to happen to him everyone knows that and what is that goes on and says one is the law for such a person and that is to put to death that one so esther is saying mordecai if i obey you and i simply go at this moment with urgency to the king and say to the king what you want me to do i'll come into his presence and i don't have his permission and he can give the order and one is the law just one outcome and that is i will be put to death now there is an exception the next word is lavad meaning alone there's one thing alone that can be done for such a person that does that it says except if the king stretches for forth by him this this golden scepter if so that person lives she says i'll live now you would think for a moment that it would be reasonable to think that if esther this this queen of achashvirosh this one who has found favor and grace in his sight if she came before him might be reasonable to to assume that he would stretch forth this golden scepter and receive her and she would live but notice how this verse concludes it says here but i and this is emphatic but i have not been called to come to the king these thirty days now there are two predominant interpretations of what she's saying here first of all think of this 30 days have gone by and she has not seen the king's faith been in his presence now if i were to tell you oh by the way my wife who lives in the same place i do but i haven't seen her for 30 days you would probably think there's a problem and you would be right that's not normal for us so what she's saying is this many scholars believe that she's saying the king is angry with me he's not interested in me and if i come before him uncalled uninvited he will use this law in order to put me to death so it's not wise that i do this and notice she says 30 days in the scripture 30 relates to death we know for example when when miriam died the congregation of israel moored for her for 30 days also when her brother aharon aaron the brother of moses and miriam when he died same thing also we see in the scripture that 30 30 pieces of silver is what judas received to betray yeshua to death and also it says that yeshua began his ministry approximately at the age of 30 30 relates to death it's to tell us that his ministry he was sent into this world to die so she's saying here and the text is hinting if she goes she is going to die this is what she believes now that's the first and the primary interpretation there is a another one from the rabbis and what do some of them say because the first one is the predominant rabbinical view the second one is also well known but probably less persuasive what she's saying is this i haven't been called by the king in 30 days that's a long time and probably if if not not uh tonight maybe tomorrow if not tomorrow the next day but soon it's been 30 days so soon he's bound to call me i don't need to go in uninvited i don't need to respond to your word i'll just wait until he calls me it'll be soon and then i'll share this she didn't want to risk her life now realize a very important biblical principle and that's this when you are a servant of god you may be called to lay down your life you should never let the the possibility of death persecution suffering something in any way cause you dissuade you from obeying god esther had a policy what the scripture is saying is that she had a history of being submissive to mordecai now she's questioning that in this circumstance she ought not and this is a vital question what is esther going to do is she going to obey and risk her life and go with urgency in obedience to the instruction of mordecai the man of god risking her life to share this with the king her husband or is she going to wait in fear in order that she can do so without any concern of of retaliation by the king now i want to end our study tonight with a a hebrew idiom it's it's root nephesh the word is is passing it's it's turning over giving and and nefesh is is one's uh essence life in this context so mr nefesh is is really laying down your life giving yourself over this is what paul was speaking about in romans chapter 12 when he says that it's your your well-pleasing service to god to offer your life up as a living sacrifice we never worry about the consequences i've said this before and i'll say it again one of my favorite biblical principles has been taught to me by charles stanley who says and if you've watched him at all almost all of us have he has said obey god and hopefully you know how to end and lead the consequences to him what wisdom so simple but so very profound obey god and leave the consequences the outcome the results to him this is what esther is being challenged what is she going to do is she going to obey the man of god who speaks for god in her life mordecai this authority that loves god that serves god that loves her that's been a blessing to her is she going to do what he says or is she going to throw off the submissiveness that has has positioned her at this location and as we'll see for such a time i share this with you because this might esther this scroll of esther it has such practical truth in it for us as we approach the last days we need to approach our life always but even more so in these last days with this mesirut nephesh this willingness to lay down our life to lose our life for obeying the truth of god well esther has a decision to made to make and you as well if not today tomorrow if not tomorrow the next day you will be put into a position where you're called to make a decision do i value my life more than i value obedience to god we're all going to be challenged if we live long enough with that question let's make the decision right now god i don't value my life more than i i value your word and obedience to your instruction this is where life is found remember what messiah taught those who save their life ultimately will lose it but those who lose their life for his sake will find it find it in an eternal form eternal life in the kingdom of god when we think of it in that that vein the answer is so simple always obey god don't worry about the consequences don't think if i do this what you don't know god knows walk with him and you'll never regret it while close with that until next week shalom from israel well we hope you will benefit from today's message and share it with others please plan to join us each week at this time and on this channel for our broadcast of love israel.org again to find out more about us please visit our website love israel.org there you will find articles and numerous other lectures by baruch these teachings are in video form may download them or watch them in streaming video until next week may the lord bless you in our messiah yeshua that is jesus as you walk with him shalom from israel

Channel: LoveIsrael.org

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Keywords: Mordechai, The book of Esther explained, Esther chapter 4, leadership, God, bible, Jesus, Christ, the Queen Esther, Old testament, the jewish people, prophecy, the Will of God, The king against the jews, bible teaching, bible scripture, the decree of the king, loyalty, bible explained, Esther is obedient, Mordechai is a leader, Haman, exterminate all the jews, book of the bible, Haman gives money, will of god

Id: UyolUXeYNqU

Length: 35min 11sec (2111 seconds)

Published: Sun Jul 04 2021