home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Bible Heaven
/
Bible Heaven.iso
/
online
/
mhcc18
/
v20650
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-03-02
|
4KB
|
81 lines
20652
#23-31 If either parent be ungodly, corrupt nature will incline
the children to take after that one; which is a strong reason
why Christians should not be unequally yoked. In the education
of children, great care should be taken about the government of
their tongues; that they learn not the language of Ashdod, no
impious or impure talk, no corrupt communication. Nehemiah
showed the evil of these marriages. Some, more obstinate than
the rest, he smote, that is, ordered them to be beaten by the
officers according to the law, #De 25:2,3|. Here are Nehemiah's
prayers on this occasion. He prays, "Remember them, O my God."
Lord, convince and convert them; put them in mind of what they
should be and do. The best services to the public have been
forgotten by those for whom they were done, therefore Nehemiah
refers himself to God, to recompense him. This may well be the
summary of our petitions; we need no more to make us happy than
this; Remember me, O my God, for good. We may humbly hope that
the Lord will remember us and our services, although, after
lives of unwearied activity and usefulness, we shall still see
cause to abhor ourselves and repent in dust and ashes, and to
cry out with Nehemiah, Spare me, O my God, according to the
greatness of thy mercy.
20661
** We find in this book, that even those Jews who were scattered
in the province of the heathen, were taken care of, and were
wonderfully preserved, when threatened with destruction. Though
the name of God be not in this book, the finger of God is shown
by minute events for the bringing about his people's
deliverance. This history comes in between #Ezr 6; 7|.
* The royal feast of Ahasuerus. (1-9) Vashti's refusal to
appear, The king's decree. (10-22)
#1-9 The pride of Ahasuerus's heart rising with the grandeur of
his kingdom, he made an extravagant feast. This was vain glory.
Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of
wine, with all the noise and tumult that must have attended it.
But except grace prevails in the heart, self-exaltation and
self-indulgence, in one form or another, will be the ruling
principle. Yet none did compel; so that if any drank to excess,
it was their own fault. This caution of a heathen prince, even
when he would show his generosity, may shame many called
Christians, who, under pretence of sending the health round,
send sin round, and death with it. There is a woe to them that
do so; let them read it, and tremble, #Hab 2:15,16|.
20670
#10-22 Ahasuerus's feast ended in heaviness, by his own folly.
Seasons of peculiar festivity often end in vexation. Superiors
should be careful not to command what may reasonably be
disobeyed. But when wine is in, men's reason departs from them.
He that had rule over 127 provinces, had no rule over his own
spirit. But whether the passion or the policy of the king was
served by this decree, God's providence made way for Esther to
the crown, and defeated Haman's wicked project, even before it
had entered into his heart, and he arrived at his power. Let us
rejoice that the Lord reigns, and will overrule the madness or
folly of mankind to promote his own glory, and the safety and
happiness of his people.
20683
* Esther chosen queen. (1-20) Mordecai discovers a plot against
the king. (21-23)
#1-20 We see to what absurd practices those came, who were
destitute of Divine revelation, and what need there was of the
gospel of Christ, to purify men from the lusts of the flesh, and
to bring them back to the original institution of marriage.
Esther was preferred as queen. Those who suggest that Esther
committed sin to come at this dignity, do not consider the
custom of those times and countries. Every one that the king
took was married to him, and was his wife, though of a lower
rank. But how low is human nature sunk, when such as these are
the leading pursuits and highest worldly happiness of men!
Disappointment and vexation must follow; and he most wisely
consults his enjoyment, even in this present life, who most
exactly obeys the precepts of the Divine law. But let us turn to
consider the wise and merciful providence of God, carrying on
his deep but holy designs in the midst of all this. And let no
change in our condition be a pretext for forgetting our duties
to parents, or the friends who have stood in their place.