Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc18/v20700

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 8KB | 143 lines

20703
 #21-23 Good subjects must not conceal any bad design they know
 of against the prince, or the public peace. Mordecai was not
 rewarded at the time, but a remembrance was written. Thus, with
 respect to those who serve Christ, though their recompence is
 not till the resurrection of the just, yet an account is kept of
 their work of faith and labour of love, which God is not
 unrighteous to forget. The servant of God must be faithful to
 every trust, and watchful for those who employ him. If he appear
 to be neglected now, he will be remembered hereafter. None of
 our actions can be forgotten; even our most secret thoughts are
 written in lasting registers, #Re 20:12|.
20706
 * Haman seeks to destroy the Jews. (1-6) He obtains a decree
 against the Jews. (7-15)

 #1-6 Mordecai refused to reverence Haman. The religion of a Jew
 forbade him to give honours to any mortal man which savoured of
 idolatry, especially to so wicked a man as Haman. By nature all
 are idolaters; self is our favourite idol, we are pleased to be
 treated as if every thing were at our disposal. Though religion
 by no means destroys good manners, but teaches us to render
 honour to whom honour is due, yet by a citizen of Zion, not only
 in his heart, but in his eyes, such a vile person as Haman was,
 is contemned, #Ps 15:4|. The true believer cannot obey edicts,
 or conform to fashions, which break the law of God. He must obey
 God rather than man, and leave the consequences to him. Haman
 was full of wrath. His device was inspired by that wicked
 spirit, who has been a murderer from the beginning; whose enmity
 to Christ and his church, governs all his children.

20712
 #7-15 Without some acquaintance with the human heart, and the
 history of mankind, we should not think that any prince could
 consent to a dreadful proposal, so hurtful to himself. Let us be
 thankful for mild and just government. Haman inquires, according
 to his own superstitions, how to find a lucky day for the
 designed massacre! God's wisdom serves its own purposes by men's
 folly. Haman has appealed to the lot, and the lot, by delaying
 the execution, gives judgment against him. The event explains
 the doctrine of a particular providence over all the affairs of
 men, and the care of God over his church. Haman was afraid lest
 the king's conscience should smite him for what he had done; to
 prevent which, he kept him drinking. This cursed method many
 often take to drown convictions, and to harden their own hearts,
 and the hearts of others, in sin. All appeared in a favourable
 train to accomplish the project. But though sinners are
 permitted to proceed to the point they aim at, an unseen but
 almighty Power turns them back. How vain and contemptible are
 the strongest assaults against Jehovah! Had Haman obtained his
 wish, and the Jewish nation perished, what must have become of
 all the promises? How could the prophecies concerning the great
 Redeemer of the world have been fulfilled? Thus the everlasting
 covenant itself must have failed, before this diabolical project
 could take place.
20721
 * The Jews lament their danger. (1-4) Esther undertakes to plead
 for the Jews. (5-17)

 #1-4 Mordecai avowed his relation to the Jews. Public
 calamities, that oppress the church of God, should affect our
 hearts more than any private affliction, and it is peculiarly
 distressing to occasion sufferings to others. God will keep
 those that are exposed to evil by the tenderness of their
 consciences.

20725
 #5-17 We are prone to shrink from services that are attended
 with peril or loss. But when the cause of Christ and his people
 demand it, we must take up our cross, and follow him. When
 Christians are disposed to consult their own ease or safety,
 rather than the public good, they should be blamed. The law was
 express, all knew it. It is not thus in the court of the King of
 kings: to the footstool of his throne of grace we may always
 come boldly, and may be sure of an answer of peace to the prayer
 of faith. We are welcome, even into the holiest, through the
 blood of Jesus. Providence so ordered it, that, just then, the
 king's affections had cooled toward Esther; her faith and
 courage thereby were the more tried; and God's goodness in the
 favour she now found with the king, thereby shone the brighter.
 Haman no doubt did what he could to set the king against her.
 Mordecai suggests, that it was a cause which, one way or other,
 would certainly be carried, and which therefore she might safely
 venture in. This was the language of strong faith, which
 staggered not at the promise when the danger was most
 threatening, but against hope believed in hope. He that by
 sinful devices will save his life, and will not trust God with
 it in the way of duty, shall lose it in the way of sin. Divine
 Providence had regard to this matter, in bringing Esther to be
 queen. Therefore thou art bound in gratitude to do this service
 for God and his church, else thou dost not answer the end of thy
 being raised up. There is wise counsel and design in all the
 providences of God, which will prove that they are all intended
 for the good of the church. We should, every one, consider for
 what end God has put us in the place where we are, and study to
 answer that end: and take care that we do not let it slip.
 Having solemnly commended our souls and our cause to God, we may
 venture upon his service. All dangers are trifling compared with
 the danger of losing our souls. But the trembling sinner is
 often as much afraid of casting himself, without reserve, upon
 the Lord's free mercy, as Esther was of coming before the king.
 Let him venture, as she did, with earnest prayer and
 supplication, and he shall fare as well and better than she did.
 The cause of God must prevail: we are safe in being united to
 it.
20738
 * Esther's application received. (1-8) Haman prepares to hang
 Mordecai. (9-14)

 #1-8 Esther having had power with God, and prevailing, like
 Jacob, had power with men too. He that will lose his life for
 God, shall save it, or find it in a better life. The king
 encouraged her. Let us from this be encouraged to pray always to
 our God, and not to faint. Esther came to a proud, imperious
 man; but we come to the God of love and grace. She was not
 called, but we are; the Spirit says, Come, and the Bride says,
 Come. She had a law against her, we have a promise, many a
 promise, in favour of us; Ask, and it shall be given you. She
 had no friend to go with her, or to plead for her; on the
 contrary, he that was then the king's favourite, was her enemy;
 but we have an Advocate with the Father, in whom he is well
 pleased. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace.
 God put it into Esther's heart to delay her petition a day
 longer; she knew not, but God did, what was to happen in that
 very night.

20746
 #9-14 This account of Haman is a comment upon #Pr 21:24|.
 Self-admirers and self-flatterers are really self-deceivers.
 Haman, the higher he is lifted up, the more impatient he is of
 contempt, and the more enraged at it. The affront from Mordecai
 spoiled all. A slight affront, which a humble man would scarcely
 notice, will torment a proud man, even to madness, and will mar
 all his comforts. Those disposed to be uneasy, will never want
 something to be uneasy at. Such are proud men; though they have
 much to their mind, if they have not all to their mind, it is as
 nothing to them. Many call the proud happy, who display pomp and
 make a show; but this is a mistaken thought. Many poor cottagers
 feel far less uneasiness than the rich, with all their fancied
 advantages around them. The man who knows not Christ, is poor
 though he be rich, because he is utterly destitute of that which
 alone is true riches.