Esther 2:21-23 “Why Should I?”

Here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

²¹In the days the those and Mordecai one dwelling in the gate of the king. Bigtan and Teresh were angry, the two eunuchs of the king, ones watching the threshold. They were seeking to send a hand in the king Xerxes. ²²And the matter was made known to Mordecai and he told to Esther the queen and Esther said to the king in the name of Mordecai. ²³And the matter was sought and it was found. And the two of them were hanged on a tree and it was written in the book of the matters of the days to the face of the king.

There is a great deal to observe and learn from these three simple verses. First of all, observe what we have. A very wicked, selfish, godless king unknowingly has in his employment two believers. He thinks he is the master of his own destiny. He thinks he is a god himself. He is completely oblivious to the spiritual war that is raging about him and utterly does not realize that all his plans and his very life itself hang by a thread. Yet in spite of all that, here are these two people, two gifts from the Lord Himself—two people who are there to do him good, to be his faithful servants, no doubt to pray for him, and to seek God’s favor upon his kingdom.

This should always be true of us believers, wherever we may find ourselves. Jeremiah urged the people: “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (29:7). Yes, you and I live in a very wicked world. Yes, the people who lead it may be cruel, selfish, godless people, yet the Lord would have us be good workers and good citizens. He would have us to pray for “kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful, quiet lives” (I Tim. 2:2).

A.B. Davidson observed: “Every follower of Christ, in whatever sphere he moves, may do incalculable good to those around him, even to those who are placed high above him. If you cannot do so much as you would, a consistent and faithful life, spent in all the unobtrusiveness of true humility, will be a lesson to some that may be productive of vast benefit.” Even in our workplaces and even under unbelieving bosses, we are to be people who sincerely try to be assets, to seek to prosper those bosses and that company. Like Xerxes, they may never appreciate the advantages and successes they enjoyed specifically because the Lord had some of His people there, but we should do it anyway.

And look what a benefit Xerxes enjoyed! We don’t know what Bigtan and Teresh were mad about and we don’t know how Mordecai learned of their plot, but such information could not have fallen on better ears. Here is case in point. Palaces (and corporate headquarters) may seem like pinnacles of success, but they invariably are inhabited by a whole variety of sycophants, flatterers, deceivers, and even traitors. They smile in each other’s faces and stab each other in the back. They’re each one “in it for themselves.” But Mordecai and Esther are different.

We need to observe too that this isn’t as simple as it might appear. When Mordecai discovers this plot, next he needs to figure out who to tell. He probably did not have direct access to Esther, so somehow had to get the information to her in some kind of message. Even Esther did not have direct access to the king (note later she cannot enter his presence without hazarding her very life!), so she too probably had to get the information to Xerxes as some kind of message. At each step, you wouldn’t know who is actually involved in this coup. If Mordecai picked the wrong messenger, they no doubt could just quietly kill him and be free to proceed with their plans. If Esther picked the wrong messenger, they could have simply not delivered her warning to the king. As soon as he was dead, she had no standing anyway.  It is a very dangerous thing to get involved in the intrigue that goes on especially in leadership circles.

As David bemoaned, “I am a man of peace, but they are for war.” The people of this world are constantly fighting. We believers don’t want anything to do with their fights but it is the world we live in and so, even in simply doing our jobs, we often end up seeming to “side” with one bunch or the other. That can then land us in trouble. Mordecai, as a believer, should do the right thing and protect the king. He is the king. He may be wicked and selfish, but he is the king. And so Mordecai does do the right thing and our Esther does the right thing, the evil plan is thwarted and the perpetrators are executed.

But then, here is another thing to ponder about it all. One could easily argue, in all this intrigue, the question of who is right and who is wrong. What I mean is, this is a selfish, wicked king. Maybe he should be deposed? On the other hand, the people who would steal his throne are just as wicked as he is. They’re all wicked. So who does a believer side with? Once again, I would suggest we are people who simply do our jobs. Whoever is in charge (today) we seek to serve and support. We have to leave it all in God’s hands who will be in charge tomorrow—and what that will mean for us.

Mordecai and Esther did their jobs. They guys who were supposed to be guarding the king did not.

Now, here’s the next thing to ponder. After doing the right (but dangerous) thing, Mordecai and Esther were both richly rewarded, right? Wrong. What did they get for the risk they took? Nothing. Mordecai just goes on “sitting in the gate,” and Esther just goes along being the queen. Us believers must accept that we may receive no recognition at all for doing our jobs or even for significant sacrifices we make or dangers we face. As Jesus instructed us, we must learn to say, when we’ve done it all, “I am an unprofitable servant, I have done only what was expected of me.” Whatever we do, we are to do it “heartily, as unto the Lord, knowing that of the Lord we will receive the reward of the inheritance.” The Lord Himself is “our Shield and our exceeding great Reward.”

Of course, we know from reading the story that it did get written down and the time will come when Mordecai’s dedication will be rewarded—but he doesn’t know that now. Like us, he has to leave it all in God’s hands and just keep doing his job. Like Mordecai, you and I really have no idea what the Lord is up to. We need to serve Him faithfully today and be willing that our work may go unnoticed and unrewarded. The fact is, our God does see and He knows and He is more than able to make whatever we do weave its way into His great eternal plans.

All of this highlights the difference we find, living in this world where God doesn’t exist. Without Him, this world is a hopelessly confusing ball of dog eat dog, of clamoring for rewards and battling for wealth and position. What else can they do? But those who see the unseen God have Someone to trust. We have the wonderful freedom to do what’s right, to be patient, to be kind to people whether it does us any good or not, to do our jobs well whether we’re ever recognized or not. Because, for us, Someone does care. And it does matter.

Mordecai and Esther live in this world where God doesn’t exist, but look what a difference it makes in their lives. See what admirable people they become. You and I can do the same if we’ll simply see Him who is unseeable. We don’t have to ask, “Why should I?” We live all day every day with that question already answered!