Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc18/v20750

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 7KB | 139 lines

20752
 * Providence recommends Mordecai to the king's favour. (1-3)
 Haman's counsel honours Mordecai. (4-11) Haman's friends tell
 him of his danger. (12-14)

 #1-3 The providence of God rules over the smallest concerns of
 men. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without him. Trace the
 steps which Providence took towards the advancement of Mordecai.
 The king could not sleep when Providence had a design to serve,
 in keeping him awake. We read of no illness that broke his
 sleep, but God, whose gift sleep is, withheld it from him. He
 who commanded a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, could not
 command one hour's sleep.

20755
 #4-11 See how men's pride deceives them. The deceitfulness of
 our own hearts appears in nothing more than in the conceit we
 have of ourselves and our own performances: against which we
 should constantly watch and pray. Haman thought the king loved
 and valued no one but himself, but he was deceived. We should
 suspect that the esteem which others profess for us, is not so
 great as it seems to be, that we may not think too well of
 ourselves, nor trust too much in others. How Haman is struck,
 when the king bids him do honour to Mordecai the Jew, the very
 man whom he hated above all men, whose ruin he was now
 designing!

20763
 #12-14 Mordecai was not puffed up with his honours, he returned
 to his place and the duty of it. Honour is well bestowed on
 those that do not think themselves above their business. But
 Haman could not bear it. What harm had it done him? But that
 will break a proud man's heart, which will not break a humble
 man's sleep. His doom was, out of this event, read to him by his
 wife and his friends. They plainly confessed that the Jews,
 though scattered through the nations, were special objects of
 Divine care. Miserable comforters are they all; they did not
 advise Haman to repent, but foretold his fate as unavoidable.
 The wisdom of God is seen, in timing the means of his church's
 deliverance, so as to manifest his own glory.
20766
 * Esther accuses Haman. (1-6) Haman hanged on his own gallows.
 (7-10)

 #1-6 If the love of life causes earnest pleadings with those
 that can only kill the body, how fervent should our prayers be
 to Him, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell! How
 should we pray for the salvation of our relatives, friends, and
 all around us! When we petition great men, we must be cautious
 not to give them offence; even just complaints must often be
 kept back. But when we approach the King of kings with
 reverence, we cannot ask or expect too much. Though nothing but
 wrath be our due, God is able and willing to do exceeding
 abundantly, even beyond all we can ask or think.

20772
 #7-10 The king was angry: those that do things with self-will,
 reflect upon them afterward with self-reproach. When angry, we
 should pause before we come to any resolution, and thus rule our
 own spirits, and show that we are governed by reason. Those that
 are most haughty and insolent when in power and prosperity,
 commonly, like Haman, are the most abject and poor-spirited when
 brought down. The day is coming when those that hate and
 persecute God's chosen ones, would gladly be beholden to them.
 The king returns yet more angry against Haman. Those about him
 were ready to put his wrath into execution. How little can proud
 men be sure of the interest they think they have! The enemies of
 God's church have often been thus taken in their own craftiness.
 The Lord is known by such judgments. Then was the king's wrath
 pacified, and not till then. And who pities Haman hanged on his
 own gallows? who does not rather rejoice in the Divine
 righteousness displayed in the destruction his own art brought
 upon him? Let the workers of iniquity tremble, turn to the Lord,
 and seek pardon through the blood of Jesus.
20776
 * Mordecai is advanced. (1,2) Esther makes suit for the Jews.
 (3-14) Mordecai honoured, The joy of the Jews. (15-17)

 #1,2 What Haman would have done mischief with, Esther will do
 good with. All the trust the king had reposed in Haman, he now
 placed in Mordecai: a happy change. See the vanity of laying up
 treasure upon earth; he that heapeth up riches, knoweth not who
 shall gather them. With what little pleasure, nay, with what
 constant vexation, would Haman have looked upon his estate, if
 he could have foreseen that Mordecai, the man he hated above all
 men in the world, should have rule over all that wherein he had
 laboured! It is our interest to make sure of those riches which
 will not be left behind, but which will go with us to another
 world.

20778
 #3-14 It was time to be earnest, when the church of God was at
 stake. Esther, though safe herself, fell down and begged for the
 deliverance of her people. We read of no tears when she begged
 for her own life, but although she was sure of that, she wept
 for her people. Tears of pity and tenderness are the most
 Christ-like. According to the constitution of the Persian
 government, no law or decree could be repealed or recalled. This
 is so far from speaking to the wisdom and honour of the Medes
 and Persians, that it clearly shows their pride and folly. This
 savours of that old presumption which ruined all, We will be as
 gods! It is God's prerogative not to repent, or to say what can
 never be altered or unsaid. Yet a way was found, by another
 decree, to authorize the Jews to stand upon their defence. The
 decree was published in the languages of all the provinces.
 Shall all the subjects of an earthly prince have his decrees in
 languages they understand, and shall God's oracles and laws be
 locked up from any of his servants in an unknown tongue?

20790
 #15-17 Mordecai's robes now were rich. These things are not
 worth notice, but as marks of the king's favour, and the fruit
 of God's favour to his church. It is well with a land, when
 ensigns of dignity are made the ornaments of serious piety. When
 the church prospers, many will join it, who will be shy of it
 when in trouble. When believers have rest, and walk in the fear
 of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, they will be
 multiplied. And the attempts of Satan to destroy the church,
 always tend to increase the number of true Christians.
20793
 * The success of the Jews. (1-19) The feast of Purim in
 remembrance of this. (20-32)

 #1-19 The enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them by
 the former edict. If they had attempted nothing against the
 people of God, they would not themselves have suffered. The
 Jews, acting together, strengthened one another. Let us learn to
 stand fast in one spirit, and with one mind, striving together
 against the enemies of our souls, who endeavour to rob us of our
 faith, which is more precious than our lives. The Jews, to the
 honour of their religion, showed contempt of worldly wealth, that
 they might make it appear they desired nothing except their own
 preservation. In every case the people of God should manifest
 humanity and disinterestedness, frequently refusing advantages
 which might lawfully be obtained. The Jews celebrated their
 festival the day after they had finished their work. When we
 have received great mercies from God, we ought to be speedy in
 making thankful returns to him.