The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 146

reputation, or a power which it has t&ken long to build up ma1. fall in n day. 2. By their comp[~. What may have seemed durable as time it.eel£ pBBeee awny and lea:ee no memorial. 11 Like the base~ese fabric ?fa vision," magnificent empires have penshed. and left ·• not a wrack behind 11 (Ps. 1x. 6). 3. By tJu rapi,d succesA<m of ~ tnhidi kad vp f.o them. Our narrative includes in the history of one dny the king's sleeplessness, the reading of the chronicle, the adoption of Haman's device, the honouring of Mordecai, the humiliation of Haman, Esther's banquet the accusa- tion, conviction, and death of Haman, the bestowal of Haman's wealth ~n the queen, the promotion of Mordecai to Haman's place, and the successful intercession on behalf of the Jews. God may bear long and patiently with the wicked, but when J,i,s time arrives, 11 then sudden destruction cometh upon them 11 (1 These. v. 3). n. IT JS l'LEASA.NT TO BESTOW AND RECEIVE JUST REWARDS. When the king gave to E~1 her "the house,'' or rather the possessions, of Haman, he expressed thereby his senRe of the danger and anxiety to which his folly had exposed her ; his sense too of the faithful and wise manner in which she had delivered himself from the toils of a guileful and presumptuous man. There was an evident stroke of justice in the awarding to Esther the wealth of the man who had promised to the king the wealth of the Jews as the price of their blood. Justice never sleeps. Ill. GRATITUDE IS THE SIGN OF ATRUE HEART. Some easily forget benefits received. A change of position or a lapse of time will often cause the remembrance of past favotll'1! to fade. But Esther never forgot what she owed to Mordecai, and now she told the king "what he was ro her; 11 how much he had been and still wne to her I The very simplicity of these words gives them a peculiar depth and tenderness of meaning. The queen's gratitude to Mordecai was shown-1. In explaining her own indebtedness to him. 2. In describing him as the real instrument of securing the exposure of Haman and the present felicity. 3. In winning for him favour and promotion. 4. In setting him, as her manager, over the house of Haman. She could not do too much for the man who had done eo much for her. The gratitude which lives unfadingly in the heart, and ie ever prompt to show it.eel£ in action, is a beautiful feature of character. What gratitude ie due to God I How should we remember and esteem him who "loved us and gave himself for us I " " What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits? ' (Ps. cxvi. 12-14). IV. How SWEET THE FREEDOM WHICH PERMITS A TRUE HEART TO POUR ITS CON- FIDENCES INTO THE EAR OF AFFECTION I Till now Esther feared the king, and dared not give him her confidence. She had secrets in her breast which oppressed her, but which she could not divulge. But the removal of Haman, the enemy and obstacle, brought her near to the king, and ehe felt free to tell him all that wae in her heart. The benefit and happiness of the marriage tie are sadly marred by the poeeeeeion of secrets on either side, or by the want of a free, full, and loving confidence. The charm of friendship too ie in proportion to the freedom it gives to the opening of the heart. There is no enemy on the part of our God and King to ehut hie heart against us. All enemies have been destroyed in Jeeue Christ. It ie because we will not, if we have not the freedom of intercourse with God which belong to children-" the glorious liberty of the sone of God." ' V. THE PROMOTION OF THE WISE AND GOOD TO POWER IS A BLESSING TO THE WORLD. The king gave the seal which he had taken from Haman to Mordecai: . Hencefo!1h the sagncious and capable Jew was to occupy the place of grand vizier, or chief friend and coun;;ellor. Here again justice notched a conepicuoue mark. The humble and heroic man for whom Haman had erected a g11llowe wae put in the wieked favourite's place-made second to the king. From that time the monarch and his empire had some real ground of proRperity and pence. Mordecni's influence grew and extended until it became a paramount power und blessing in all the hundred nnd twenty and seven provinees. Happy the monarch and nation that are under the g-uidnnce of a wisdom that is simple-hearted, clear-sighted, experienced, nnd godly. How mnny examples have we in the l1iHtory of the world of the benefit conferred on 11atione by tl1e promotion of the wise und good to oflicee of power, and of the misery un<l ruin effected by the promotion of the wicked I VI. THE DENEFJ'J'S RECEIVED DY A 'J'RUE HIIAR'l' Wll,L ENLARGE ITI BYMPA1'HlllB ll'OR OTHERS WBO ABE JN SUJl'FERING A11D NEED. There is 11 joy over obtained g-ood which is on. vm. 1-17.J THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 153