The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 166

I. THE STATESMAN'S OFFICE. 1. It is the expression of government. If man wero o_nly greg_arious, he ":'ould need, and undoubte?lY be subjected to, &"overnment. ALL hnng thmgs nre subJect to government, need 1tt and are rapidly being brought under ~1e rule of man, acc~rding to ~he charter originally giv:en to ma!1· 2. It is the expres- sion ?f order. ~an 1s emph~tical!J' D?t merely gregarious i. h~ 1s social. The variety of !us sympathies a~d antipath1_es 1s very large, a~d ~lle1r range amazing. Sa much so, that the ~aymg, "The ch1efest study of mankmd 1s man," might, if reversed, ~xpress _to ~~rfect1on_ a great trut~ for some, and read, "The ch.ie~est s~udy of man 1s mankmd. 3. _It 1s the expression of concentrated purpose, of mtelhgent, united adrnnce. The highest and most beneficent results of SOCIETY would without it be unattaina~le by the human species. Development of society is always tending toward Ingber developments of government. And the beneficial reaction is some- times abundantly evident. Again, the higher-developed form of government is always tending to render possible higher social results. 4. It is in some degree the expression of morality and religion. \Vhere the religious sense is lowest, then it is lowest, and mce versd,. It has been well said that "the organisation of every human community indicates some sense of a Divine pre8ence, some consciousness of a higher law, some pressure of a solemn necessity." Government (and therefore the chief personage of government) is the outcome of the most elementary necessities of humanity in some of the very highest aspects of that same humanity. From the very first this was testified ; and through exceedingly various forms, lower and higher in type, the principle has ever held its ground, and still excites attention and in- t.erest second to not one of the profoundest problems. II. So~!E OF THE GENERAL REQUISITES FOR IT. 1. A certain passion for humanity as considered in large masses. 2. A natural gift for discerning the genius of a people. 3. Natural qualifications for e.xercising rule. (1) Sympathy strong. (2) Justice clear and inviolable. (3) Authority, often indefinable in its elements, but evidencing its O"<f-:n existence conclusively. (4) Temper and moderation. 4. Care- fully-trained ability to calculate the effects of certain legislative treatment on whole communities of people, and on their mutual adjustments. 5. Favourableness of position, as marked out by Providence. III. SOME OF THE MORE SPECIALLY MORAL AND BENEFICENT REQUISITES OF IT. 1. The "greatness " v;.hich it inevitably marks will be, as far as possible, free from the taint of personal ambition. Surely there was a minimum of tliis in. Mordecai, as there was a loathsome 'TTUL:Cimum of it in Haman. The very way in which high position is attained will be a happy omen, or the reverse. 2. Its "greatness " will partake largely of the moral element. (1) It will have ready for the hour of special need of it an in- flexible moral courage. What an illustration of this Mordecai gave before he attained high office, and when he would not bow to wrong, and, when wrong became more wrong, still refused to "move," though dread punishment overhung. (2) The natural temper and gift of authority will more and more become transmuted into moral authority, and become superseded by moral influence. Express mention is made of this in the career of Mordecai. "The fear of him," of the moral power that was behind him, spread over enemy and grew comfortingly in friend. 3. Its greatness will lay itself out in practical devotion to the interests of the crowded multitude. Mordecai "sought the wealth of his people," and it made him "accepted of the mul- titude of his brethren." 4. Its greatness will speak the things of peace. Special emphasis is laid on the fact that Mordecai "spoke peace to all his seed." The statesman is not to seek to give the impression of CO,JJte. He is not to flourish upon war or strife. He is not to propagate the methods and the ideas of the high-handed; but all the contrary. Like the spiritual teacher, he also must not" cry, Peace, peace, when there is no peace ; " but he is to make peace as far as may be possible by breathing peace upon all. IV. SOME OF ITS REWARD. Beside all such as he will have in common with every obscurest fellow-man who is faithful, in the satisfaction of fulfilling duty, in peace of conscience, and in ajersuasion of Divine approval, he may reckon upon-1. ~he joy of seeing a prospere community, due in some part to his work. 2. The gratitude of " discerning people growing round his accumulating years. 3. An honourable, en• duriug place on the best of the pages of history.-B. en. x. 1-3.J THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 175