Skip to main content

Sackcloth and Ashes





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. Esther 4:1 (NIV)


No chapter holds greater significance to Esther than chapter 4. Recall the God-ordained timing, Mordecai probably woke in the morning thinking of Passover, only to discover that “he and all his Jewish friends had been sentenced to die. The rope of bondage of the exile with which he had become so comfortable had now become a noose around his neck.”

Thus far Mordecai has been showcased as a very proud and capable man. Suddenly we see him wailing loudly on the public streets of Susa and tearing at his clothing. Think of the last time you saw someone “wailing loudly and bitterly.” How did you react inside and why?




Though the individual words appear many places in the Old Testament, the exact Hebrew phrase, “with fasting, weeping and wailing” in Esther 4:3 appears only in Joel 2:12. Though Joel falls after Esther in our Bible, it was undoubtedly written prior to it. Many scholars believe the reference was intentional and assumed that the readers of the Book of Esther would be familiar with the book of Joel.

“Mourning” is exactly the same Hebrew word translated “wailing” in Esther 4:3. Mordecai and the Jews that in Susa weren’t just grieving; they were demonstrating their desire to do something far more proactive.

From the beginning of our journey through Esther, we established that God’s name may not be in the book, but it is on it. The entire theology of the book erupts from the peculiar doctrine of divine hiddenness.

One of our goals is to search for clues of God and godly activity within this most unique of sacred scrolls. You’ve just stumbled onto a wonderful revelation of relationship between the Jews of Susa and their God.

Write Acts 3:19-20 on a note card or piece of paper and carry it with you. Then act on it and celebrate it.


He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:13a

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Canva

Created 2 Create Twitter Cover Image Design Canva - One of My Favorite Design Programs and Apps With Canva , you don’t have to be a design pro, it makes designing easy. You can use your own photos or you can you upload images from sites like Unsplash or Pexels  and download them on your computer totally FREE. Canva also offers an app for you phone. Canva lets you Create designs for Web or print: blog graphics, presentations, Facebook & social media covers, flyers, posters, invitations and many more.  The design options are endless, and the site is very user-friendly – you can modify one the their designs or create your own using one of the templates. Unsplash offers professional images that you can modify, edit and use as you desire. Again, totally free! Pexels ’ site is just like Upsplash , these are royalty-free photographs for you to use as you wish. These are some of the designs I created using Canva … Click on links belo

Good Friday

  Happy Good Friday   This is the day that we remember what Jesus did for us --- enduring beating, mocking, and being crucified.   I imagine his disciples did not consider it to be a “good” Friday at the time. But what makes it GOOD is what happened on Sunday --- when Jesus did the impossible and rose from the dead.    Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  ~ 1 Peter 1:18-19 ESV   One of the best ways of celebrating Jesus and His Resurrection…is through family traditions.    Family traditions can be as simple as attending  ️  church and having lunch or brunch together.    Jesus was a story-teller. I believe he knew the power of a story to capture hearts and bring joy while effectively delivering a specific message. He often used parables to teach.  Do you have a favorite Bible Story or family tradition? A G

Why God Wants to Bless You!

  Why God Wants to Bless You!   “For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Matthew 25:29, ESV). Do you know that God wants to bless you? He wants you to have abundance, lacking no good thing. But He doesn’t want that for you and me so we can merely enjoy our lives. He wants us to steward our resources so we can be better able to reach out to others and bless them in His name. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 (ESV),   “…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”   The goal is fruitfulness. The goal is God’s Kingdom. The goal is for God’s blessing to flow through us so we might be a blessing to others, to the glory of His name!