Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
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Sadness
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Language Tone
Analytical
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Confident
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Tentative
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
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Tone of specific sentences
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Anger
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Sackcloth and Ashes
Remember from last time, the word had just gone out that on the 13th day of the 12th month of the year (Adar), all the Jews were to be killed, destroyed and annihilated!
Reminds me of an airline safety briefing - do not touch, tamper or disable the smoke detector.
You can imagine Mordecai, and in fact all the Jews, were pretty upset.
Tearing their clothes, putting on sackcloth and ashes was a common way to express dismay or morning.
Jacob tore his clothes and put on sackcloth when he was told Joseph had been killed.
When king David’s daughter Tamar was raped, she tore her rob and put ashes on her head.
This was a way to show everyone that you were in pain emotionally.
Those around the country fasted, wept and wailed.
It reminds me of the stories of Jewish families under Nazi rule.
Mordecai went as far as just outside the king’s gate.
No one went before the king expressing such sadness and grief.
It was common for kings to avoid seeing anything but happy people.
Just looking sad in front of the king made Nehemiah afraid.
Imagine coming into his house in sackcloth!
If coming before the king uninvited got you killed, imagine showing up to his house in sackcloth!
Esther hears about Mordecai’s state and what does she do?
She send him clothes.
Why would Esther send a change of clothes to Mordecai?
Did she think he was upset because he had nothing to wear?
Could she wish to cover up the obvious pain he was in?
When we see people in pain, our instinct is to do something to comfort them.
Like Esther’s offer of clothing, to often our attempts to comfort miss the point.
You know what she didn’t do at first, ask why Mordecai was in sackcloth.
Now Esther decides to find out what the problem is with Mordecai.
Have you ever tried to fix a problem before finding out what was really going on?
Esther tries to cover up the problem, only finding out what is going on after her offer is rejected.
Mordecai tells her eunuch about the decree and how Haman was paying the king to kill all the Jews.
Mordecai also gives Esther a copy of the decree.
This is not just rumor, here’s the proof.
Mordecai is not exaggerating or making outrageous claims.
He has proof.
Mordecai hopes to convince Esther to go to the king and plead for her people.
Esther has Hathach tell Mordecai the bad news.
You know that if someone goes into the king uninvited they will most likely be killed.
I haven’t been called into the king for a month.
I don’t know if I’m going to get a chance to help you, sorry.
Isn’t that how we react when someone asks something difficult?
Sure, few of us will be asked to risk our lives to help a family member.
But how many of us have made excuses rather than helping a friend or family member?
What about those brothers and sisters in Christ whose lives are threatened?
Do we life a finger to help them or do we tell them we can’t because it would be dangerous, or simply inconvenient?
Don’t think you’re getting off just because you live in the palace missy.
How many times have we seen someone’s life, health or lively hood threatened and we’ve done nothing?
It doesn’t effect me, so I shouldn’t get involved?
my brother’s keeper?
Well are you?
The New King James Version.
(1982).
().
Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
If you don’t stand up for God’s people, He will find someone who will.
Esther, if you don’t stand up for God’s people, He will find someone who will.
Do we look at what needs to be done and expect someone else will do it?
Do we stand aside, trusting that God will provide for them?
Yes, God may send someone else to save the day,
But what have you lost by not following God’s command?
But, you and your whole family will die.
Think about that missy!
Who knows, maybe you are where you are for just this reason.
Ever wonder why things happen to you?
We don’t seem to wonder why good things happen to us.
Esther, ever wonder why you were taken from you home to be paraded before the king?
But let things go wrong or plans fall through as we start asking God why!
Maybe those things are putting in you the right place for such a time as this.
The king gets rid of his queen and looks for another.
Esther gets picked up for the royal beauty pageant.
Esther gets chosen as queen.
Coincidence?
I don’t think so, and neither does Mordecai!
Jewish mothers may be known for guilting their sons into doing things, but they have nothing on Mordecai.
Esther agrees to go see the king.
But first, get all the Jews together and pray and fast for me.
She and her maids will also pray and fast.
I’ve heard it said that there will be prayer in the classroom as long as there are tests.
I’m reminded of a story about a WWI soldier.
Before Esther risks her life, she wants some serious prayer on her side.
“If I perish, I perish!”
What will you risk to do what is right?
Do we trust God will take care of us, whether we live or die?
This is quite a leap from covering up Moredcai’s pain and telling him she can’t help.
It reminds me of Daniel’s friends:
What will you stand up for?
What will you defend, even with your life?
All of us have, or will, find ourselves in a serious, even dangerous situation.
It may be the consequence of our own actions, or we may be completely innocent, like Job.
It may be that we are the one in trouble or we may be asked to help someone who is.
The question we should ask ourselves is, what will we do?
Will we express our grief like Mordecai did?
Will we look for help from others?
Are we willing to help those who are in trouble?
Even though it may cost us greatly.
Will we stand up for what is right, or will we make excuses?
Will we fast a pray for God’s guidance and protection or just go it on our own?
Do we believe that God will do what is best for us, even when things look bad?
Will we trust God or our own lying eyes?
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