The Bible makes it clear that God in His providence will carry His

people through trials, even if it's not exactly how we might expect it. What does

God do when we are reluctant to risk our personal security, our safety, to stand

up for Him or to stand up for His people? We'll find out today on Truth for

Life as we continue our study in the Book of Esther. Alistair Begg is teaching

from the opening verses of chapter 4.

The word was out that on a certain day this pogrom was to take place. Those who named the

name of God were to be swept up and carried away into extinction. And chapter 4 begins with

the reaction of Mordekai to this. Let's just notice in verses 1, 2 and 3 Mordekai's

reaction. His outfit with torn clothes and sanc cloth and ashes is not a fashion statement.

Read the Old Testament and you discover that this was a commonplace reaction by the people

of God. It was a public display of mourning, of agitation, of consternation. Now look at

the pathetic picture of Him there, crying aloud and His actions are duplicated throughout

the provinces where the news has spread. Once again you will see that the response of

the people is not one of celebration but one of consternation. There was great mourning

among the Jews, verse 3 says there was fasting and weeping and lamenting and many of them

were lying around in sack cloth and in ashes. Lawson, the old commentator, makes the point

and I think it's helpful. The faith of God's people does not interfere with the exercise

of emotion, suited to mournful dispensations of providence. And that ought to be for some

of us a real liberation, especially if we're hanging around with a group of people who

have told us that if you were a real solid, faithful, believing soul, you would not be

lying around on the ground, wailing and mourning and lamenting and creating such a ruckus.

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