The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 96

of its desert of wrath, and tremblingly afraid of death, he.s often found it~ way nright to the cross, though to use words carrying the most impossible of significa- tions for e.ny, once arrived there-'' If I perish, I perish I" 4. Whatever we may justly admire of the spirit of Esther here displayed, and of the steps by which she rose to it as she contemplated her own possible and, as she thought, likely sacrifice, how glad we e.re to turn o.we.y to the tremendously favourable contrast of him whose vicarious sufferings, whose infinite love, whose eternal sacrifice, was ce:rtain, was voluntary, was cheerful amid surpassing anguish, and patient with the patience of the lamb sacrificed.-B. Ver. 16.-Prayer and resolve. "Go, gather together all the J ewe that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me," &c. I. ESTHER's FAITH IN PRAYER. She looks to God, not to man. She has faith not only in her own prayers, but in those of others. She feels her need of the prayers of others. She is ready to she.re that which she enjoins on others. II. ESTHER'S PIETY KNOWN IN THE PALACE. Her maidens are BO under her influence that she knows the.t they all will be ready to join in the observance of fasting and in offering prayer to the God of Israel. This was a remarkable thing, remembering that these maidens belonged to an Oriental and pagan court. III. EsTHER'S DECISION TO DARE ANYTHING FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS. Great her decision of character I She will not let the opportunity for helping others pass, and then strive to atone for her neglect by useless regrets. How great her devotion I "If I perish, I perish I" She would certainly have perished if she had not gone in to the king. The decrees of a Persian monarch were unalterable. Remember how Darius was sorf". disr leased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him, and laboured tt the going down of the sun to deliver him. He doubtless sought to devise means of maintaining the law and yet evading its import !Pto the den of lions Daniel, the king's favourite, was cast, and to the slaughter Esther, though queen, would have been, by ruthless decree, when the time was come; but prayer, fasting, decision, saved her. God interposed to soften the heart of the king, as well as to give him a sleepless night, perhaps from a disturbed conscit.nce.-H. Ver. 14.-Providence an</, human agency. We are very apt to under-estimate the value of our own lives. When we con~mplate the countless worlds which con- stitute the universe, the countless ages which make up duration, how unspeakably insignificant do we and our affairs appear I But we must not be misled by such reflections. Even as the presence of the least particle conceivable affects all material existence, so the most insignificant human life influences in some measure the eternal course of events. Mordecai wished to impress Esther with a due sense of her own responsibility. She was not an ordinary individual, but a queen ; she was allied to the man who swayed the destinies of nations ; her position invested her with boundless power for good or evil. The time he.d come when she must either act in a manner becoming her resources, must use the opportunities at her disposal to save her people, or incur the guilt of neglecting her duty at the most momentous crisis. As a Jew, Mordecai believed in Providence, but not in a Providence that weakened human responsibility. Let us consider the main points emphasised here. I. THAT PROVIDENCE IS INDEPENDENT OF HUMAN AGENCY. II For if thou altogether boldest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place." These words suggest-1. That Providence -is a well- e,st<ibli,shedfact. The.'confi.dence of Mordecai was doubtless begotten of a conviction the.t God governs the affairs of men. To him this we.s not a matter of speculation ; for, apart from the teaching of reason, he enjoyed the light of revelation, and was fe.milie.r with the wonderful history of his people. Some profess to derive comfort from their atheism. They rejoice to think the.t there is no God ; or, if there be one, that be he.a left the world to manage for itself. As well might the passengers in a re.ilwe.y train be jubilant because they he.d got rid of the engineer, e.nd were left to the mercy of an unguided locomotive. 2. That the designs of Providence are never thwarted. The Jews he.d not yet fulfilled their mission. The great Deliverer of man- kind who was to come out of Judah he.d not appeared. Mordecai knew that until H2  100 THE BOOK OF ESTHER. [ou. 1v. 1-17.