The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 147

utterly selfish. It ie self-abeorbed, 11nd has no consideration for the effect it may have on others. It m11y be natural enough, yet nothing ie more hateful. The true ~odly soul will long to ehnre ite own joys with those whom it loves. Beyond that, 1te own sense of joy will quicken its sympathy with all the dietreeeed, and its desire to bring the light of its joy into the regions of darkneee and death. Hence EB'ther was not content with her own happineee. She could not feel happy until ehe had emancipated her people from the doom that threatened them. Her own deliverance from the enemy stimulated her to work out that of Israel. So long ae the edict agninet the Jews was in force, the purpose for which ehe had ventured all was unac- complished. It is only when our Lord eh all have redeemed all hie people and brought them to everlasting honour that he shall "see the travail of hie soul and be aat,i,afied" (Isa. !iii. 11).-D. Vere. 3-6.-An effective advocate. A second time Esther entered into the king's presence unbidden. A second time the king's sceptre wae extended to her. Her own safety and queenly state had been secured, but her people were still exposed to the murderous decree which Haman had beguiled the king to seal and promulgate. She now appeared as an advocate for Israel. Learn here-- I. THAT ADVOCACY SHOULD BE CLEAR AB TO ITS OROtll'IDS. The grounds on which Esther pleaded were such as the following:-1. That the edict of extermination was the device of the enemy Haman. The wicked man himself having been exposed 11nd punished, his evil design should be countermanded. 2. That all her people through- out the empire were as innocent, and therefore as unworthy of death, as herself. Justice 11nd mercy combined in calling for a reversal of the cruel edict. 3. That the destruction of a numerous people scattered through the empire would create universal alarm and confusion, and inflict irreparable loss on the king's estate. Esther'e grounds of appeal were clear and strong. She had a good case. II. THAT ADVOCACY SHOULD BE DISINTERESTED. The queen had gained much by the death of Haman and the restored affection of the king, but she w11s willing to sacrifice all on the altar of her people's deliverance. Personal honour and wealth were as nothing to her so long as Israel was trembling under the uplifted sword. She presents us with a type of Christ, who " emptied himself of his glory" and offered up his life on the cross for the salvation of a condemned world. Advocacy, to be effective, must have no be.ck-look on self. III. THAT ADVOCACY SHOULD BE EARNEST AND PERSUASIVE. The body in all its expressions is responsive to the soul that animates it. Cold feeling will be content with cold words and impassive features ; but when the heart is swayed by strong emotion the whole outward frame will yield itself to the power of the inward force. Words, looks, movements, geeticul11tions, te11rs will 1111 unite in expressing a desire thnt commands the spirit. Thus Esther, when, against the law, she ag11in entered uninvited into the king's presence, "fell at hie feet and besought him with tears." Earnestness makes short work with restrictive formalities. A full heart when once unlocked c11nnot but be persuasive. The whole attitude of Esther w11s eloquent. Such ndvocacy could not fail to move even nn Ahasuerus. We nre reminded by it of Christ's sweet, yearning, solemn prayer in behalf of his disciples ns gh-en in John ::i:vii. IV. THAT ADVOCAOY SHOULD BE IN FOLL SYMPATHY WITH '!'HE CAUSE IN WHICH IT IS EMPLOYED. No advocate can be perfectly effective unless he can put himself in the place of those for whom he is pleading, and can plend for them as if he were plending for himself. Listen to Esther:-" How can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred ? " She thus identified herself with her people and kindred. If they suffered, she would suffer; if they we1e destroyed, how could she live? The queen took on herself the burden of her n11tion. Again we think of Christ, the Divine Advocate. He became "bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh," "took on himself our like- ness," that he might enter into our experiences, and bear our burden before God, and beoomo an effective and prevailing Advocate. Hence his sympathy, his "fellow- feeling," his oneness, and his all-poworful intercession (Hob. ii. 17, 18; iv. 15, 16). V. 1'nA·r ADVOCACY JJ'OR THE SUllllERINO AND PERISIIINO IS '!'HE DUTY AND PRIVILF.OR or 'l'HE OODLY. History affords many examples of noble advocacy in belrnli of the  154 THE BOOK OF ~STHER. [OH. VIII. 1-17. -- --------------------- justly_ doomed and the unjustly oppressed. Such Bible instances as .Abraham's plead mg for the cities of the plain, Moses' intercession for rebellious Israel and Paul's "'illingne~s to lose himself for the sake of hie unbelieving kindred, readily occur. In modem times the long and arduous advocacy of the emancipation of the slave has become memorable. To the Christian, as to his Master, Christ, "the field is the world." Me~ are "perishing for lack of ln1owledge." Multitudes everywhere are in bondage to sm and death. It should be our part to do what we can to bring II deliverance to the captives," and to "save them who are appointed to die;" and with our labours we should unite the earnest prayer of the advocate. "The effectual fervent prnyer of I\ righteous man availeth much" (James v. 16-2O).-D. Ver. 17 --:-Re?ig!,ous prosperity. Persecution always defeats its own object. Viewed as mere policy, It IS the worst ~hat_can be employed. Persecute error, and it will spread tenfol~; persecute truth, an~ It WIil spread a hundredfold. Unless, therefore, you wish the prmc1ples you bate to gam ground, persecute not at all. Haman, while be brought utter ruin upon himself by his cruel attempt to exterminate the Jews raised the latter into an incomparably better position than they occupied before. The Jews in their triumph were likely to adopt the same persecuting policy as had been exercised against themselves. It wonld have been simply the natural resnlt of the treatment they bad received. The Romisb persecution of Protestants in our own country led Protestants in their tum to persecute the Romanists. The people of the land were, therefore, not without reason, in mortal fear; and many of them through fear became proselytes to the J ewisb religion. But a profession of faith made under such circumstances was about the most worthless that could be imagined. The Church of God has bad a most chequered history. Sometimes, like the noonday sun, it has shone with unrivalled splendour; sometimes, like the cloud-wrapped moon, its light has been lost in darkness. In the captivity of Egypt it was trodden down by its oppressors ; under the leadership of Moses it struggled again into freedom. In the reign of Solomon a temple was built to Jehovah; in the reign of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, the calves were worshipped at Bethel and Dan. .And we may add that under the new dispensation, even as under the old, its fortunes have been variable to the last degree. The text contains a graphic description of THE CHURCH IN PROSPERITY. In times of religious depression it is customary with good people to pray for better things-a revival of the religious spirit, an outpouring of the Holy Ghost, an increase of godly enthusiasm. But frequently, when this takes place, those who desire it most are greatly disappointed, just because the form it takes is contrary to their expectation. For ages the Jews longed for the advent of the Messiah, but when he came they put him to death. It is important, therefore, that in seeking, religious prosperity our minds should be free from misconceptions. This leads us to notice- I. THE NATURE OF RELIGIOUS PROSPERITY. It implies-I. An increase of spiritu- ality among professing Ghristuzns. Beware of supposing that the success of a Church is identical with increased membership. This is a fatal mistake, and has led to the most lamentable consequences. True religion consists in spiritual-mindedness. It is the result of a change of heart produced by the Spirit of God. " Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 11 It follows that a Christian is separate from the world. He views everything in the light of the world to come. He rejoices to su1fer affliction with the people of God, for he has respect unto the recompense of the reward. No genuine revival can take ph.ce apart from increased purity and unworldliness. 2. An increase of good w<r'°?cs among professing Ghristuzns. Good works are the necessary concomitants of spmt- 0