The news of the massacre was devastating to the Jews, and Mordecai’s actions portrayed the feelings of the Jews. They had done nothing to deserve what was coming from the state.
When Mordecai learned what was going to happen, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, Esther 4:1. The sackcloth was made from rough material and had animal hair on it, and the ashes were a visible sign of their mourning.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Either sackcloth or ashes was a sign of deep mourning; but both together were indications of the most distressing grief possible.’
Notice that Mordecai did this in the middle of the city to show everyone what he thought about this decree, Esther 4:1. Some commentators suggest that it was considered a bad omen to the king; if anyone was sad in his presence, this could explain why Mordecai wasn’t permitted to enter the palace, Esther 4:2.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘He could not enter into the gate of the place where the officers waited, because he was in the habit of a mourner; for this would have been contrary to law.’
All the Jews greatly mourned, wept, and wailed concerning the decree, Esther 4:3. This is another moment which suggests that even though God isn’t mentioned by name, it’s clear God is involved because they were mourning and fasting for God to help them in this desperate situation.
It’s obvious that Esther didn’t have a clue about what was going on, but she did find out that her cousin Mordecai was in distress, Esther 4:4, and so, she sent some clothes for him to put on, in order that he might be comforted.
When he refused the clothes, Esther 4:4, she knew something was wrong, and so, she sent Hathak to find out what was going on with Mordecai, Esther 4:5. Mordecai goes ahead and tells Hathak all about it, including the money that Haman was offering the king, Esther 4:6-7 / Esther 3:9.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Throughout the Book of Esther, it is evident that Mordecai had access to any information that he requested, and this mention of the ten thousand talents of silver Haman agreed to pay the king indicates that, regardless of the king’s seeming refusal of it, it became finally a binding part of the agreement.’
Mordecai then sends a copy of this decree to the queen as proof because she wasn’t aware of it, Esther 4:8. Since such legal matters didn’t relate to the women of the kingdom, Haman and his men acted immediately in order to carry out the conspiracy against the Jews, though the day of the massacre didn’t come for several months, Esther 3:3-14.
It’s at this point that Mordecai reveals that Esther is a Jew because he tells Esther to go before the king so that her people might be saved. Mordecai stood up and spoke up for what was right, Esther 4:8 / 1 Peter 3:14-17. And so, Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said, Esther 4:9.
Straight after Hathak told Esther what Mordecai said, she sent him back to Mordecai to tell him of the consequences if she went before the king without an invitation, Esther 4:10-11.
The king had a golden sceptre that he kept with him, and if a person entered his room uninvited, he had the power to save their life if he held out his golden sceptre, Esther 4:11.
Some commentators suggest that this rule, Esther 4:11, was created as a protection against assassins. They also say, if anyone just ran into the private room of the king, they would likely be executed there and then on the spot, Esther 4:11.
The normal procedure was that the king, through his guards or another representative, often his cupbearer, would invite someone into his presence, Esther 4:11.
Notice that Esther didn’t know if she had any influence on the king any longer because he hadn’t called for her for thirty days, Esther 4:11. Remember that Esther is a Jew, but Haman didn’t know this, and so, she would be among those who were to be slaughtered.
He let her know that if she remained silent, she wouldn’t escape death because she was a Jew as well, Esther 4:12-14. She was willing to risk her life for the life of Mordecai, and the rest of the Jews, Esther 4:14.
Even if Esther had remained silent, I believe God would have used some other way to preserve these Jews, and if she refused to go before the king, she would have been guilty of sin, Esther 4:14 / James 4:17.
Mordecai’s faith is clearly seen here because he knows that God would deliver His people from this mindless plot of Haman. Mordecai believed that his people would be spared from the massacre in one way or another.
He believed that Esther didn’t become queen by chance; he knew she was the queen by God’s divine providence. He believed that if she went before the king, she could bring about the deliverance of her people.
The New Bible Commentary says the following.
‘Mordecai’s argument here was brutal in its clarity. Death awaited Esther whether or not she went in to the king. She had nothing to lose. If she failed, deliverance would come from some other place; but maybe, who knows, maybe God had made her queen just for the purpose of rescuing his people.’
When she received this message, she knew what she had to do, and so, she asked Mordecai to get all the Jews in Susa to fast for her for three days; she and her attendants would do the same, Esther 4:15-16. She asks the Jews to fast and pray to God so that she might be successful before the king, Esther 4:16.
Notice that the text doesn’t say anything about prayer, however, it is implied as prayer and fasting usually go together, Matthew 17:20. In times of distress, the people’s fasting and prayer were a proclamation of their faith that God continue to work among His people.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘What a strange thing, that still we hear nothing of prayer, nor of God! What is the ground on which we can account for this total silence? I know it not. She could not suppose there was any charm in fasting, sackcloth garments, and lying on the ground. If these were not done to turn away the displeasure of God, which seemed now to have unchained their enemies against them, what were they done for?’
Notice Esther committed herself to go before the king, whether she was put to death or not, Esther 4:16 / Matthew 10:28 / Acts 4:19-20 / Philippians 1:21. Esther was once again obedient to her uncle, who had brought her up from childhood. So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions, Esther 4:17.