The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 138

ag-ain~t the Jews." This expression, "putting away mischief," is striking and 11uggestive. I. THERE IS SOME MISCHIEF WRICH, ONCE DONE, CANNOT DE UNDONE. Set a huge stone rolling down a mountain's side, and you cannot stop its descent until it rench the lake below the precipice. Open the sl1;1ic~, or make a breach in the dyke, and you ca!lnot keep ou~ t~e flood of ""'.aters. So if m anger you s!ay a man, if in lust you rum a woman, if m wanton wickedness you corrupt and mislead a child, the evil is largely irretrievable. A bad book, once issued~ does its deadly work ; a false report, once spread, creates misery and distress. ll. THERE ARE CASES IN WHICH MISCHIEF MAY, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, BE PUT AWAY, A misstatement may be corrected ; a calumny may be retracted ; an alarm may be contradicted. Restitution may be made for theft ; reparation for injury. Govern- ments which have done harm by unjust and unwise enactments may undo something of the harm by repealing bad laws, and replacing them by laws that are righteous. Amendment and reversal are permissible, and are indeed morally obligatory, where evil has been wrought or intended. Ill. THE WISDOM OF GoD HAS DEVISED .A WAY FOR PUTTING .AWAY THE MISCHIEF OP SIN IN :HE 'YORLD. ~ God ~ho is just, and the Justifier of the ungodly who repents and believes m Jesus, IS a Bemg who demands our grateful and lowly adoration. In Christ Jesus he "reconciles the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." Practical lessons :-1. The consideration of the difficulty there is in undoing mischief should make us cautious, and watchful, and prayerful that no evil in society may originate in us. 2. Yet this difficulty should not deter us from making strenuous effort to repair mischief when mischief has been done. Esther and Mordecai were, with God's blessing, successful in their efforts, partially at all events, to undo Haman's mischief. Let their example stimulate and encourage us in every benevolent task and undertaking. Ver. 6.-Patrwtum. Esther's life was now safe, and probably her cousin's too. But that was not enough. Her nation was still in danger. The royal decree had delivered the Jews throughout the empire into the hands of their enemies. Ina few months, unless measures were meantime taken to check and hinder the malice of their foes, thousands of Israelites might be exposed to violence, pillage, and massacre. The thought was to Esther cruel beyond bearing. " How," said she, " can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people, the destruction of my kindred? " This was patriotism indeed. I. PATRIOTISM IMPLIES A SENTIMENT OF SYMPATHY. Esther felt for her people, her kindred. Every lover of his country will not only rejoice in its prosperity, cherish a glow of pride and satisfaction in any great deeds of his countrymen, but will grieve over national calamities and mourn over national sins ; will "sigh and cry for the abominatious that are done in the land." lL p .ATBIOTISM DETERS MEN FROM DOING .ANYTHING TH.AT CAN INJURE THEIR 0OUNTRY. If personal advantage can be secured by any harm to his country, the patriot will spurn the thought of so profi~ing hiniself at ~he expe:°se of the nation. As a _citize~, whose life must have some influence, he will refram from conduct by which his countrymen might suffer. III. TRUE PATRIOTISM WILL LE.AD MEN TO BEEK NOT ONLY THE MATERIAL PROSPERITY, BUT THE BEAL .AND MORAL GREATNESS OF THEIR COMMON COUNTRY. They cannot con- template uninterested, unmoved, a state of society " Where wealth accu.mula.tes, and men decay." The progress of knowledge, of virtue, of true religion amongst their kindred will be sought with ardour and zeal. IV. P.ATBIOTIBM WILL LE.AD TO PRACTICAL El!'FOBT TO .AVOID THREATENING DANGERS. The patriot is unwilling to contemplate, to anticipate evil. But mere s~ntime~t is insufficient, and he will exert hiniself to avert the evil he dreads. Espec111Jly will he use any influence he possesses with those who have the means, the power, the oppor- tunity of assisting tc; Bi-Cure the safety and welfare of the country. 'fhe examples CH, VIII, 1-17,] THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 145