The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 99

guilt. Yet he ventures into the Divine presence; and when he remembere that God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, he is confident that hie suit will not be in vain. But we are struck, in the second place, with several points of contrast. 1. Tlie peniU;'l.t i..s encouraqed by God's expres_s inmt<I!,i<Yfl,-Est~r h<z:d no encouragement of the hnd. For various reasons the kmg desired that hie privacy should be undis- turbed. Hence the severity of the law in reference to intruders. But God's heart yearns o~er the penitent, and, like the prodigal's father in the parable eagerly watches for his approach. "Look unto me," saith he, " and be ye saved, all' the ends of the earth ; for I am God, and th_ere ~s none else.:: "Come unt? me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 2. The penitent appeals to God with the certainty of being heard-Esther had no certainty of the kind. Her confidence at best amounted to no more than a hope; and we can easily conceive that this hope varied in strength, from hour to hour, according to her frame of mind. But not a shadow of doubt need ever cross the penitent's mind. He can lay hold on the Divine promises-promises whose foundations are firmer than those of the eternal hills. 3. The penitent can appeal to God tchenever and wherever he will-Esther had to wait her opportunity. The king, no doubt, had his own way of spending his time, with which Esther must have been well acquainted. He would not be seen anywhere and at any time even by those who might venture into his presence without permis- sion. A.nd had he been far from home at this very time, a circumstance which sometimes happened, access to him would have been absolutely impossible. But God is not subject to the limitations of time and space. At midnight as at midday, in the wilderness as in the city, in adversity as in prosperity, the penitent can always find him. "Out of the depths," saith the Psalmist, "have I cried unto thee, O Loni."-R. EXPOSITION. § 9. gate of the king's throne-room, intending to CHAPTER V. attract his regard.· It happened that the Alu.suERUS RECEIVING EsTHER FAVOUR- king was seated on his throne, looking down Al!LY, SHE INVI'~"U HD1 AND HAMAN TO A the pillared vista towards the door (ver. 1), BA..-,,QuET. ALLoWED TO ASK WH.A.TEVER which was of course open, and his eye rested BOON SHE LIKES, SHE INVI'TES THEM BOTH on the graceful form (eh. ii. 7) of his young TO A SECO:t,,"D BANQUET (eh. v. l~)- Esther, wife with surprise, and at the same time with we mllSt suppose, kept her fast religiously pleasure (ver. 2). Instantly he held out to for the time that she ha.d specified (eh. iv. her the golden sceptre, which showed that 16), and then, "on the third day," made her her brea.ch of etiquette we.s forgiven ; and, venture. It ha.s been e.sked, Why did she assuming that nothing but some urgent need not request an audience, which any subject would have induced her to imperil her life, migl:.t do, e.nd then prefer her request to the he followed up his act of grace with a.n king? But this would proba.bly have been inquiry a.nd a promise-" Whe.t is thy re- wholly contrary to Persian custom ; and to quest, queen Esther 1 It shall even be given do such a thing may not even have occurred thee totheha.lfofthe kingdom" (ver. 3). The to her DB e. possible course. Set audiences reader expects an immediate petition on the were for etrangere, or at any rate for out- part of the queen for the life of her people; siders, not for the members of the court circle. but Esther is too timid, perha.ps too we.ry, to To have demanded one would have set all the venture all at once. She will we.it, she will court l!UBpecting and conjecturing, and would gain time, she will be sure that she has the certainly not have tended to predispose the king's full affection, before she mo.kes the king in her favour. She took, therefore, the appea.l that must decide everything ; and so step which had seemed to her the one pos- for the present she is content with inviting sible thing to do from the time that Mordecai AhasueruB e.nd He.man to e. "banquet of mnde his application to her, and entering the wine" (ver. 4). It is not quite clear why i..u.ner court, stood conspicuously opposite the she associa.tcs Haman with the king ; but Ott. v. 1-8.] THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 103