Reflections on the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder.

May 25th, 2020, a community lost a member, while a family lost a son, brother and dad.

The Nation responded in division, and the Church followed suit. What can we learn from this? How can the church respond to injustice?

First, we must read the Story of Esther.

3:12 Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king’s satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

Mordecai is devastated and responds alongside the Jews…

4:1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry.

…tore his clothes,… in the midst of the city, and he cried out…

Here we see Mordecai protesting and lamenting over the King’s decree. We could argue he even does so peacefully, and within the confines of the law not entering the king’s gate:

2 He went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

3 And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

There was great mourning among the Jews. They responded with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many followed Mordecai’s example.

Esther becomes deeply distressed, and even tries to “cover up” Mordecai.

4:4 When Esther’s young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

Esther sends out her servant to find answers…

7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction,[a] that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him[b] on behalf of her people. 9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.

Esther understands but first responds saying she can’t help and that she may die if he goes to the king without being called. (v. 10 & 11)

12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Mordecai knows relief and deliverance will rise, but challenges Esther to consider her role and position which he believes is for such a time as this.

15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

Esther responds: fast and pray.

I would argue that in light of current injustices, the victims of racism are in many ways like the Jews in this story. That there is a deep and systemic evil that is oppressing many people.

I would argue that there are those members of this community, who are among those oppressed by racism who are protesting, weeping and lamenting like Mordecai. Even now they stand at the king’s gate.

I would argue that in many ways the Church is similar to Esther. We have heard the cry of the people. We have all seen the shame and ugliness of racism, and even in good conscience we have attempted to clothe it at the kings gate. We have all at some point said “I can’t do anything” much like Esther’s second response.

We now hear the plea of Mordecai. We the church stand in the gap between those that are oppressed and the king.

How do we respond: fast and pray.

This anniversary, join me in fasting and praying for the oppressed, and the victims of racial injustice in our Nation, so that we may go before the King of the universe and petition Him who is able.

The following video from Andrew Peterson is a wonderful work to reflect on: