News reaches Mordecai of Haman’s orders. His response is to go into public mourning, tearing his clothes, putting on sackcloth and covering his head with ash. As news spreads, other Jews do the same. This was a cry to God for mercy and deliverance. It is important not to treat Mordecai as somehow to blame. This is not an indication of regret on his part. At no point does the author or any of the other players in the story hold him responsible. Haman alone was responsible for his wicked actions. This is crucial because, there can be a temptation today to blame people for evil because we think that they acted unwisely. We may be right to question the wisdom of others at times (note the author does not question Mordecai’s wisdom) but we should never place blame anywhere other than where it belongs, firmly on the shoulders of those who chose evil (Esther 4:1-3).
News reaches Esther that Mordecai is in mourning. This upsets her but it seems, that she hasn’t yet heard the full details of why he is in mourning. She sends new clothes to him. It seems that she is uncomfortable with his distress. Perhaps she’s afraid that his behaviour will draw unhelpful attention to herself. He refuses to be comforted or to receive the new clothes. He remains in mourning. There are perhaps practical lessons here about how we come alongside those who grieve, whether due to bereavement or other distress. We cannot rush someone out of grief and nor should we expect them to conform to our needs (4:4).
Esther now sends a messenger to find out what the cause of Mordecai’s grief is. He sends the messenger back with details. It is possible too, that Mordecai’s show of mourning, unlike the natural outpouring of grief amongst the wider Jewish population was intended to get Esther’s attention. He looks to God to deliver but he expects deliverance to come through human agency (4:5-9).
Our response to sin and evil should be grief. Jesus said that “blessed are those who mourn” with the focus specifically on spiritual mourning. Just as with grief due to bereavement though, we do not mourn as those without hope because we look to God for deliverance.
Faithroots 