末底改披麻蒙灰—-以斯帖記4:1-17［末底改知道所做的這一切事, 就撕裂衣服, 穿麻衣, 蒙灰, 在城中行走, 痛哭哀號…王的諭旨所到的各省各處, 猶太人大大悲哀, 禁食哭泣哀號, 穿麻衣躺在灰中的甚多.］這是為猶太民族祈禱. 哈曼得了亞哈隨魯王允許後, 即傳諭旨到各省, 吩咐各人在一日內把猶大人殺戮滅絕. 諭旨一出, 末底改就撕裂衣服, 披麻蒙灰. 他請人叫以斯帖入宮見王, 因而展開了全猶大人為自救而發起的愛族祈禱運動.這是專切的禁食祈禱, 其力量足以感動神拯救的手. 要禱告蒙應允, 應當專切, 並需禁食. 這是極度悲傷的祈禱, 王的諭旨所到之處, 猶太人沒有不悲傷哀哭的. 這些眼淚和聲音, 在神的面前才是真心誠意的. 這是三晝夜不吃不喝, 警醒仰望, 同心的禱告. 有兩三個人同心禱告, 神尚且應允, 何況整個民族同心合意的禱告. 這是犧牲捨己的禱告, 以斯帖三畫夜違例見王, “我若死就死吧！” 這樣捨己的禱告, 上帝豈能不聽？ 披麻蒙灰的禱告, 挽救了猶太人的命運. 雖然一切全都在神的掌管中, 但末底改與以斯帖選擇為上帝工作, 實現上帝的計劃. 採取行動, 全情投入. 上帝在每個人身上部有奇妙的安排, 為的是見證祂拯救的愛. 上帝賜給我們今天的成就, 不是只用在我們自己身上, 而要我們為祂拯救的福音作見證.
Mordecai in sackcloth and ashes – Esther 4:1-17 [When Mordecai knew all these things that he had done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and walked through the city, weeping and wailing…King In all the provinces where the edict came, the Jews mourned greatly, fasting, weeping, and wailing; many of them were clothed in sackcloth and lying in the ashes.] This was a prayer for the Jewish nation. After Haman received permission from King Ahasuerus, he delivered the edict He went to each province and ordered everyone to kill the people of Judah within one day. As soon as the decree came out, Mordecai tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes. He invited Esther to come to the palace to see the king, thus launching a campaign for all Judah. A movement of loving-kindness prayer launched for self-rescue. This is a dedicated fasting prayer, and its power is enough to move God’s saving hand. To receive answers to your prayers, you must be dedicated and fast. This is an extremely sad prayer, the King’s Wherever the edict came, there were no Jews who did not grieve and weep. These tears and voices are sincere before God. This was three days and nights without eating or drinking, watching and looking up, and praying with one heart. Two or three people were of the same mind. God answers prayers, not to mention the prayers of the whole nation with one heart and one mind. This is a prayer of self-sacrifice. Esther violated the law on the third night and went to see the king, saying, “If I die, I will die!” How could God accept such a self-sacrifice prayer? Do not listen? Praying in sackcloth and ashes saved the fate of the Jewish people. Although everything was under God’s control, Mordecai and Esther chose to work for God and realize God’s plan. Take action and devote yourself to it. God is in every moment There are wonderful arrangements in the human body in order to bear witness to His saving love. The achievements God has given us today are not just for ourselves, but for us to bear witness to His saving gospel.