The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 130

its own punishment. He.man died on e. gallows of hie own construction ; eo ehe.11 every impenitent sinner perish through his own we.ywe.rdnese. "Thine own wicked- ness ehall correct thee, e.nd thy backslidings shall reprove thee. "-R. Vers. 1-6.-.A.ccmed and C(Y111oi,cted. I. TARNISHED GTI.T, Haman would hardll go " merrily " to Estber's second banquet. His heart would be heavy with the day s disappointments, and his ears would be haunted with the gloomy vaticinations of his friends. The glory of the honour which had so inflated him we.a dimmed. Worldly delights that a.re ardently anticipated may be robbed of their promise even before they a.re touched. II. WHETTED CURIOSITY. The king's desire to hear Esther'e petition grew with delay. For a third time he asked her to speak, e.nd encouraged her by the largest promise. Idle curiosity is a wee.ln1ess e.nd a snare. There me.y be a legitimate and even dutiful curiosity, and that too in connection with individual cases. A loving desire to give help will often justify even a seeming intrusion into the privacy of a friend's sorrow. A sympathetic word may cause a secretly-burdened heart to open and relieve it.self, and thUB give an opportunity of affording it the benefit of wise counsel and timely succour. Our Saviour has "a fellow-feeling with our infirmities," and desires the full confidence of his people, that he may help them in their" time of need." III. UNIIURDENED DESIRE. The queen knew that the time had come for her to speak. She could no longer delay without injuring her cause. If it is well to know· when to be silent, it is also well to know when to speak. It is folly to expose e. great matter to e. heart that may be cold or hostile. Esther's matter was exceedingly great, and she could not subject it to any needless risk by a premature disclosure. But now the king was so favourable to herself, and so interested in her secret, as to make it plain that she must tell all. So she laid before the king the weighty burden she had been silently carrying. What a relief to open a secret sorrow to those who can feel for us and give us an effective solace I We can at e.ll times speak to God. Whatever barriers of fear and distrust stand between us and him e.re of our own making. The Redeemer of men is ready to share our every burden and to exceed our largest desires. IV. POWERFUL PLEADING. Much wisdom and much pathos mark the words in which Esther presented her petition. Observe-I. How heroically she united herself with her people. It was for her own life and the life of her people that she prayed. That the queen was a Jewess would be startling news to the king and Haman, e.nd would certainly quicken the fears of the latter. Esther calmly elected to be numbered with the Israelites, and to die with them if they were to die. She only cared to live if they were permitted to live. It was a strong way of putting the matter before the king. It is better to suffer with God's people than to share the splendours of their enemies. The example of Moses is suggested (Heh. :x:i. 24-26). That of Joshua too (Josh. :x:x:iv. 15). Especially that of Christ, who made himself one with us that he might redeem us from evil. 2. How energetically she described the doom contrived for her people. She used the very words of the royal proclamation-" To destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish "-showing the ruthless det.ermination of the enemy. Then there was an indignant al11IBion to the bribe. "We are sold, I and my people," to be thus destroyed. A further sting to the listening Haman. Hatred of wrong and pity for the oppressed give force to the tongue of the advocate, when it is free to speak. Strong feeling can only express itself in strong words. Direct and plain are the utterances of a heart that is breaking with a desire to save the innocent. Happy are the victims of evil who have an advocate like Esther. She reminds us of the great Advocate, the one Mediator between God and man. Our elder Bro!her, the vanqnish~.r of the giant oppressors of our race, ever works and pleads for his people (Heh. v11. 25; 1 John ii. 1). 3. How pathetically she pleaded the submissive spirit of herself and her race. If it had been only bondage that was threatened she would have been ,silent. Her scattered people were used to b:i.rdships, and had been trained to quiet submission. Yet, as she gently insinuated, even if the enemy had been c~ntent to reduce the Israelites to serfdom and poverty, he would not have saved the kmg from damage. A free, orderly, and indUBtrious people was of more value to the state than a race of slaves. This was a far-sighted truth much in advance of her day. Insub• OH. VII. 1-10.] THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 137