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In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.
During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.
Esther 2:19-23
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As the second chapter of Esther opens, the search for a new queen to replace Vasti resulted in a Jewish virgin Esther winning the king’s favor and thus the crown. You’ll recall that Esther’s Jewish ethnicity was concealed and only known by her caregiver Mordecai, who takes center stage at the end of Chapter 2. This point is reinforced again in this passage.
Scripture tells us that Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate when “the virgins were assembled a second time.” The king’s gate was the main gate of the city was the major commerce and judicial point where many events took place like the market, the court or speeches by the king.
While at the gate, Mordecai overheard something very troubling. “Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway” had become “angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.” No reason was given for their disdain but the matter brought Mordecai great concern for the king. We also get no sense that Mordecai had any special connection to King Xerxes outside of Esther now being the queen. In other words, Mordecai’s actions after hearing the threat came out of his desire to do the right thing and save a life, if possible.
So what did Mordecai do?
We read where he went and “told…Esther, who in turn reported it to the king”, not taking credit for it herself but giving credit where credit was due…to Mordecai. The report spawned an investigation which validated the plot and resulted in the two conspirators “impaled on poles,” the preferred form of execution for the Persians.
And that was where this part of the story ends. Notice anything missing?
I found it interesting that King Xerxes does nothing to reward Mordecai for saving his life. Given all the king’s riches, you would think that some form of positive recognition might take place but we read of nothing. Moreover, we don’t read anything about Mordecai begrudging that he wasn’t recognized.
Why? I think it’s because Mordecai did what was right for all the right reasons. He didn’t view his need for action based on what he might receive from the king. He wasn’t seeking riches or stature. He wasn’t trying to elevate Esther any higher in the king’s eyes. No, he did what he did because he wished to save a life…and I would wager that he would have done it for anyone, king or otherwise.
Indeed, there’s much we can learn from Mordecai. Yes, he had heard of a possible murder scheme and reported it. We may never hear anyone conspire to kill another. But what about other wrongs we witness? Do we do the right thing and take action? Or do we pretend we didn’t see or hear something and just go on with our business?
As we think about this matter of doing what is right, we shouldn’t sit and think about what we think is right but rather think solely on what God thinks is right. As we face matters of right and wrong, we are to always seek the Lord’s guidance as to what to do. This is the only way we can ensure we will always do the right thing and for the right reasons.
Thanks be to God for Mordecai and his example revealed through the scriptures.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
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