The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 12

con~cience, mind, and heart enlightened at the feet of him who said, "Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in he1trt." Best gifts and possessions, and truest springs of bonc>ur and happiness, in Jesus. Study his truth, his spirit, his life, 1md our 1dolntries of earthly good will shame us, and make us wonder how men with a Christ before them can sacrifice the benefits of a higher and nobler life for the material and perish- ing things of the present world. Our Lord himself presents the true test in Matt. :li:Vi. 26. III. THAT MEN ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE USE THEY MAKE OF THEIR WEALTH. Hos- pitality is a Christian virtue ; but it is often sadly abused-a feeder of vanity and an incentive to sin. While showing a liberal and kindly spirit, it should avoid all extravagance. How much of the money that is spent on rich, showy, and self-glori- fying banquets might be put to better use I A deep spirit underlies the words of our Lord in Luke xiv. 12-14. IV. THAT MUCH POWER IN ONE HAND IS A DANGEROUS THING. Nothing tries a man more than a flood of prosperity. Ahasuerus was to be pitied, and the empire which he governed still more. Few heads or hearts can stand strong and erect under the burden of anything approaching an absolute authority. How terribly is this taught by history I It is well for the happiness of nations that improved ideas of govern- ment are now the rule. But the individual man, whatever be his rank, is to be put on his guard against the intoxications of what may seem to him good fortune, and against the temptation to abuse whatever power he possesses. Many who have acted worthily in adversity have been carried off their feet by a tide of prosperity. V. THAT GOVERNMENTS OR EMPIRES ARE STABLE OB THE REVERSE ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLES AND LAWS THAT GOVERN THEM. It is hardly credible that the miserable nation whose Shah we have seen could ever have occupied a position like that described in our narrative. How great the contrast beween then and now I Not alone, however; other and greater empires have gone the same way. In ell edifices the foundation is the main thing. No empire, however strong, can last unless founded on Divine truth and righteollBness. " Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." As with nations, so with men. A living trust in God, a true fellowship with God's Son, is the only safeguard that will give victory to a human life over all the evils that assail it, and enable it to enter at last into full possession of the life everlasting.-D. Ver. 4.-The sated soverei,gn. It is believed that the festivities mentioned in this chapter were held prior to the invasion of Greece by Ahasuerue ; that it was a time of consultation before that disastrous event. I. SELF-COMPLACENCY .AND SINFUL INDULGENCE. It is not a,ways the difficulties we encounter which are severest tests of character; smooth prosperity is at times a fiercer crucible. Ahasuerus may hold his own against his enemies ; will he be able to gain victories over himself? From all we can learn of him, from the sacred book, and from contemporary history, he appears to have manifested much pride, vain- glory, self-indulgence, and extravagance. "He showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days 11 (eh. i. 4). For the space of six months he spread before the numerous guests every delicacy his kingdom could produce. It would have seemed probable that at the end of that time the king would have been wearied both with the exce11ses in which he must have indulged, and the adulation he must have re- ceived. If he became weary, he evidently r.esolved to overcome the fatigue, and to bear with the festivities other seven days, during which not only all officials, but all the people of the capital were to be invited. Oriental ideas of festivity and of pomp are to this day very extravagant. Illustrations of this might have been seen at the Durbar held on the occasion of the proclamation of our Queen as Empress of India, or at the opening of the Suez Canal. The writer, having been present at the latter event, was staggered at the lavish expenditure in festivities, and at the number of guests, from all countries, who, like himself, were feasted at the Khedive'e cost, not one day only, but as long as they cared to remain. The feast of the Persian king was most luxurious. The palace was not large enough to contain the guests. They overflowed to the court-yard, which had been fitted up for their reception. The OH. I. 1-9.] THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 9