February 26 Stand

Esther 3:15-4:4 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion. 4:1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 Mordecai went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth. 3 And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 When Esther’s young women 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. 
 
 WE see here the contrast between those who decree evil and the decree’s victims. Haman and King Ahasuerus have committed enormous physical resources to the Jews’ destruction. Then they relax and have a drink! There is no conscience, no remorse and no regret. They are happy in their evil ignorance.
    Then, as you can well imagine, Mordecai reacts to the news with extreme grief. He sees the death promise against his people, and he puts on sackcloth – a covering of coarse camel or goat hair – to proclaim his mournful heart. Mordecai is grieving for his people, and perhaps he is blaming himself.
    Yes, he could have seen his decision to not bow before Haman as the possible cause for this great disaster. Mordecai had acted in faith to obey God’s commands to worship only God (Exodus 20:4). In response, Haman had become angry with the righteous Mordecai, the Jew. Haman then transferred his anger to all Jews. Evil hates God’s goodness and will strive to destroy God’s people.
    We can apply this to our own lives in this way: When you stand for Jesus and his church as Mordecai stood for God in Persia, you can anticipate that evil will come against you. Read in Acts of the many ways the Jews, then the Romans persecuted the first century church. Even more, history records Christian martyrs through every century and to this very day. People who stand to worship only God die to glorify his name. Spiritual warfare becomes deadly visible through Christian martyrdom.
     Mordecai lived in faith each day, trusting his God to care for him. We must do the same. After all, as we confess Jesus, we are under his promise to eternally worship him.    
 
Prayer: In times of my distress, Father, strengthen me stand for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.