When Bad News Comes

O. T. #1090  "When Bad News Comes"
Nov. 1, 2017
Esther 4
And I search for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.  Ezekiel 22:30

LET IT GLOW

I'm sure we have all had our share of bad news. It comes in various forms with different news that we dread to hear. It can be an accident, illness, terminal disease, loss of a job, divorce, even death. Will we allow it to dissolve our faith in God? Or will we allow it to make our faith stronger? Queen Esther gets the bad news in today's lesson. How does she react?

Will God allow His people to be destroyed? The city of Susa was perplexed, in confusion.
Wicked Haman influenced King Xerxus with his promises to pour money into his treasuries if he could rid the land of the Jews who do not bow down and worship you as the king. This was the makings of the worse holocaust. Mordecai and the Jews went into mourning in one city, Susa. They wailed loudly and bitterly, as well as fasting. Sorrow was widespread. Mordecai was not allowed beyond the king's gate because he was clothed in sackcloth.

Esther probably knew nothing of the new edict. Mordecai made himself visible at the king's gate hoping to get the Queen's attention and inform her of the situation. After all, she was a Jew, too, and would b killed along with her people. Of curse, they were the only two people who knew that.

But Esther no longer had outside contacts now that she was Queen of Persia. That included no direct speaking to Mordecai; no comforting him either.

This year our brothers and sisters in our nation have experienced hurricanes, floods, fires, riots. We have banded together to help them in their time of need.  When others are in sorrow from loosing a loved one or things, do we respond with love?


LET IT GROW

In verse 4, Esther is told what has happened. She was exceedingly grieved. She even sent clothing to Mordecai to take away his sackcloth, but he did not accept it. Was she embarrassed? Did Esther send him a new suit? Was she thinking that Mordecai would try to speak to the king and get the law changed?
Mordecai gave the guy who brought the clothing a copy of the decree, old him to show Esther, and charged her to go to the king, interceding for her people. Hatach did as Mordecai requested. Would she go plead for mercy for her people? If it did not change, Esther would die with the Jews.
Wait, what about God's promise to David that one of his descendants would always be on the throne?
Nest time we will find out.

LET IT GO

Go to those who are hurting with the promises of God.
Keep our faith strong.