The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 98

sought in the language men employ, but rather in the principles which guide their conduct. There are circumstances which compel men to be real. In the presence of B great disaster, a great sorrow, or a great danger they manifest their true character. Esther had 11t this time compreheniled the awful poesib'lities of the situation; cruel, speedy, certain death stared her in the face ; and the first thing she did in her agony was to appeal to God, the God of her fathers, whom she now openly acknowledged as the arbiter of events. Observe- I. THAT THE BELIEVER NEVER ENTERS UPON A SOLEMN UNDERTAKING WITHOUT IN- VOKING THE l'AVOUR OF GoD. "Go and gather all the Jews," &c. The fast wns to be long and general, such as became the solemnity of the occasion. Fasting must be regarded as an Oriental custom, which well suits the demonstrative disposition of the people, who give vent to their griefs, their joys, and their religious ardour in extrava- gant outward manifestations. The custom is not enjoined upon us in Scripture, though doubtless it ought not to be prohibited in cases where it may be of spiritual advantage. But the principle which underlies the custom is universal, namely, that increased devotion gives strength for the performance of duty. 1. .Esther desired others to interest themselves in her behal,f. "Fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day." The human heart craves for sympathy, which, when obtained, gives it courage in the hour of trial. Thus the missionary in foreign lands, when he remembers that thousands of his brethren are pleading his cause with God at a certain appointed season, forgets his isolation and nerves himself afresh for his work Besides this, we have reason to believe that the fervent prayers of righteous men, even when offered for others, avail on high. 2. EKther, while she sought the sympath?/ of others, was careful also to perform her own part. " I also and my maidens will fast likewise." The aid of others is liable to be over-estimated, and thus may become a snare to those who seek it. No scene on earth is more deeply affecting than that presented by a minister of religion kneeling at the bedside of a dying sinner, praying God to have mercy upon his soul ; but if the dying man relies solely upon what the minister can do for him he is the victim of a terrible delusion. " The consolations of the Church," administered to the impenitent in his extremity, are sometimes worse than a mockery ; for a notion is entertained that the priest relieves him of all respons- ibility as regards his spiritual condition. The prayers of others may help our own, but can never make them unnecessary. Observe again- II. ESTHER'S APPEAL TO THE KING AS COMPARED WITH THE PENITENT'S APPEAL TO GoD. "And so will I go unto the king," &c. We are struck, in the first place, by several points of resemblance. 1. Esther was bowed down by a crushing load of sorrow. Her nation, her kindred, and even her own life, were in jeopardy. Their enemies were already making preparationEr for the ghastly carnival of blood. The thought of innocent babes and helpless women being dragged to the slaughter, amidst the derisive shouts of furious crowds, thrilled her heart with unutterable anguish. The penitent has been brought face to face with his lost condition. •Ruin, death, despair, encompass him round about. Like the publican, he smites upon his breast and cries, "Lord be merciful to me a sinner.'' 2. Esther felt that no one be- sides the king had power to help lier. To propitiate Haman would have been impossible, for the infamous plot was of his contrivance. To gain the favour of any other prince would have been useless Bo long as Haman occupied such an exalted position. There was no one left but the king to whom it was advisable to appeal. The penitent looks up to God as his only refuge. He abandons indifference, he renounces pleasure, he spurns self-righteousness ; for he perceives how utterly powerless they are to shelter him from the wrath to come. He is persuaded that if he is to be rescued it must be through the intervention of the Almighty. 3. Esther was willing to stake all upon one bold appeal. "If I perish, I perish I " She knew the stern law which ordained certain death for those who came unbidden into the king's presence, unless he held out the golden sceptre to them. She knew also the capricious temper of the king, who, after such ardent professions of attachment, had not wished to see her for the last thirty days. Still she had sufficient faith in his generosity to put it to the test, in spite of unfavourable appearances. The penitent is probably not without some misgivings when he first turns to God. Not that he doubts for a monwnt the ~-o,Hl- ness, mercy, and loving-kindness of God, but because he sees the enormity of his own  102 THE BOOK OF ESTHER. [OH. V, 1-8.