8 'Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: 'let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 12 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. THIS chapter relates some other of those interesting circumstances, which form so many links, in the order of divine providence, as developed in the history now before us. Among which we observe, the restlessness of the king "that night," so that he could not sleep; the desire he felt, in that restless night, to have the records of the kingdom read before him; the discovery of Mordecai's kindness in preserving his life; the inquiry he made to know what had been done for him; the king's determination to honour him; the coming of Haman, at that very time, to ask for Mordecai's death; the question the king put to him; the answer he gave; the command to honour Mordecai in the manner he intended for himself; the mortification he felt on that account; the sorrow with which he hastened home to tell his wife and friends; their fearful apprehensions on that account; and the message which came just at that moment to hasten him to the banquet. All these are circumstances which can be accounted for in no other way than this, that as all hearts, so all events, are at the Lord's disposal; and that he turneth about the one, and overruleth the other, as seemeth best to his godly wisdom. See here how many things may depend on one sleepless night! The safety of a devoted people, doomed to death, depended on those restless hours. It was one of the links in the chain of God's providence for defeating the bloody design. Does not God often speak to men in the visions of the night? Does he not often seal instruction upon the heart in the solemn stillness of the midnight hour? Is not sin often remembered then? Is not the heart often touched there? Is there not desire for mercy often felt there? Is not many a cry for salvation sent up to heaven in many a weary night, and from many a sleepless bed? Does not God often meet his people in those solemn hours? Is not many a hardened sinner then made to tremble; many a backslider there convinced of the evil of his ways; many a poor wretched worldling made to see the vanity of his pursuits; yea, and many a crowned head and royal brow made to know, that neither kingdoms, nor crowns, nor sceptres, can insure a moment's quiet repose? Ah! let men hearken to God's midnight instructions; let them imbibe the solemn lessons then taught; let them improve the many timely cautions and awakening alarms which then reach their heart. And let them learn to be wise in time; and seek the Lord while he may be found; and call upon him while he is near. (See Job xxxiii. 14—33.) CHAPTER VII. 1 Esther, entertaining the king and Human, maketh suit for her own life and her people's. 5 She accuseth Haman. 7 The king in his anger, understanding of the gallows which Haman had made for Mordecai, causeth him to be hanged thereon. be S See here, also, how evidently they are condemned who exclude the sovereign Ruler of all from his own dominions; and vainly think, or wickedly assert, that time and chance happen alike, to all people, and in all things. How can you account for these recorded facts, but upon the exercise of an all-wise, superintending, and controlling power? Why could not the king sleep on that night? Why did he wish, in that night, to have the records of the kingdom brought before him? Why was it then discovered, that no reward had been given to Mordecai for saving the king's life? Why, just then, did he ask, who was in the court? Why, just at that moment, did Haman come to ask for Mordecai's death? Why was Haman forced to honour the man whom he despised and hated? Were all these things brought to pass by chance? Was there no overruling hand therein? Does not the Lord claim this supreme prerogative to himself? Does not his word assert it? Does not the history of the world, and of the church in all ages, prove it? To say that the king himself knew nothing of all these things, is nothing to the purpose. Perhaps, neither Mordecai nor Esther, at the time, fully recognised this truth. But that he acted upon this principle is obvious. The words, "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (ch. iv. 14), convey no other meaning. And if it be so in one case; then it is so in all. Yes, the Lord always reigns over all; and always careth for his people; and, therefore, let us always put our trust in him, in whose hand are all our ways, and without whose will and pleasure not a hair can drop from our head, nor a sparrow fall to the ground; and who can as easily make all things work for our good, as he can defeat the schemes of his enemies, and turn the wrath of man to his praise. O the king and Haman came 'to banquet with Esther the queen. 2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. 3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: 4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although damage. the enemy could not countervail the king's 5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? 6 And Esther said, 'The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. 5 7¶ And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. 8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also 'before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows Then that he had prepared for Mordecai. was the king's wrath pacified. hasten him to the banquet, which Esther had prepared. And here, in this chapter, you are told what took place when he was there. The very thing which God intended to do, and which Haman's friends fearfully prognosticated, came to pass. He fell before the man whom he hated. He was hung on the gallows which he prepared for another. How wonderful are these ways of the Lord! Are they not calculated to inspire the sinner's heart with awe? Are they not designed to fill the believer's bosom with hope, confidence, and joy? Who will not fear to touch or injure any of the people of God, when they see to what an awful end Haman came? Who will not hope and trust in the Lord's goodness and mercy, when they consider what wonderful deliverances he hath wrought, and what goodness and mercy he can bestow upon all who trust in him? artful and wicked favourite, filled the king with indignation. And when Haman saw that evil was determined against him by his abused master, and stood up to beg for his life at the queen's hand; and when the king's indignation was still further roused thereby, and the attendants mentioned to the king the preparations which Haman had made for Mordecai's death on the gallows, orders were immediately given to hang him thereon (v. 7—10). Here we discover one of God's righteous modes of dealing with men in this world, as an earnest of what will take place hereafter. How truly might Haman say, as he swung upon that gallows, "As I have done, so God hath requited me." (Judges i. 7.) As I intended for others, so God hath intended for me. Is not this a token and earnest of God's righteous judgment upon men? May you not here see that he will surely render unto men according to their works? Look at Pharaoh, Absalom, Ahithophel, Haman, Judas, Herod. Such instances are, indeed, remarkable in their kind; but they are so many sure and certain pledges, that all the wicked shall receive their just doom at last, and that all the godly will be crowned with his favour and blessing. Let us, then, always remember the apostle's words: "Who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God." (Rom. ii. 6-11.) Let us trace these blessed truths in the facts before us. The king, Esther, and Haman, are all at the banquet, as the queen had desired. The request, which she had intimated to the king it was her intention to make, had not yet been preferred. Now was the time for its being done. But oh, what surprise and astonishment were felt on the part of the king and Haman, as Esther told her touching tale! The king's amazement and indignation were raised to the highest pitch, when he found that he had been artfully entrapped into a measure which involved the death of his beloved queen and all her people. Haman's surprise and astonishment. were equally great, when he discovered that the queen of that mighty prince belonged to the race whose death had been decreed on the fixed day. The possibility of such being the case had never entered his mind. It now burst upon him with the suddenness of a thunder clap. He could not but see that his own ruin would be most certainly ef fected thereby. Judge of the visible surprise of all parties when, in answer to the question asked by the king, "Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?" Esther replied, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman" (v. 5, 6). To discover in this manner the consequences of his own plot, filled Haman with fear. To that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came find that he had thus been duped by an CHAPTER VIII. 1 Mordecai is advanced. 3 Esther maketh suit to reverse Haman's letters. 7 Ahasuerus granteth to the Jews to defend themselves. 15 Mordecai's honour, and the Jews' joy. N before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. 2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. 3¶ And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre. toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, 5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: 3 6 For 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? 7¶ Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. 8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse. 9 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. 10. And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: 11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, 12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. 13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace. 15¶ And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of 'blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. 16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. 17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell them. upon (3) Or, who wrote. (4) Heb. be able that I may see. (5) Heb. revealed. (6) Or, violet. We have seen Haman's death. The enemy of the Jews was no more. On the gallows prepared for the man whom he hated was he hung. Still, what was to be done? The wicked decree for the destruction of the Jews was yet in existence. Might that be stayed? If not, their destruction would be still as certain, as if nothing had been done to Haman. But how could such a step be brought to pass? The law of the Medes and Persians was, that no decree, once passed, could be altered. (Dan. vi. 15.) Another law might be passed to counteract such decree; but the decree itself must stand. Would the king pass such a law? Would he thus censure his own royal authority, by enacting one law to countervail another? Let us see how matters turn; and how, in this respect also, the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, and he turneth it about as he sees fit, and as it seemeth best to his godly wisdom. The first thing the king did, was to give the house of Haman, the Jews' enemy, unto Esther the queen; and Mordecai came before the king exalted to honour. So far the Lord wrought well. Still, there was the decree. Again Esther preferred her request; and the king promised to grant it. What was the nature of this further plea? "If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: for 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? (v.5, 6.) Immediately the request was granted. The law was passed, and the messengers were dispatched throughout the provinces to make the king's pleasure known. This measure occasioned great joy, both at Shushan the palace, and in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment, and the king's decree, came. The Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them (v. 15-17). Note here, again, the finger, and observe the hand of God. How encouraging is it to trace merciful dealings in your own case; and not see how often, how wonderfully, how mercifully, and graciously, the Lord hath interposed to save you from danger; to deliver you from perils; to crown you with blessings? Let this recollection or discovery of the Lord's unmerited goodness lead you to admire his love; to prize his mercy; to confide in his truth; to rejoice in his salvation. Never despair in any emergency. Never say, My hope is lost; and I am cut off from my parts. Never say, The Lord's hand is shortened, that it cannot save; and his ear is become heavy, that it cannot hear. Trust, believe, pray; wait on the Lord, and he will put a new song into your mouth, even thanksgiving unto our God. And if such be the blessed effect of such discoveries in this world; what will be our joyful sensations hereafter, when we shall behold all the Lord's wonderful dealings with us, and love, praise, and adore him for ever and ever! CHAPTER IX. 12 1 The Jews (the rulers, for fear of Mordecai, helping them) slay their enemies, with the ten sons of Human. Ahasuerus, at the request of Esther, granteth another day of slaughter, and Haman's sons to be hanged. 20 The two days of Purim are made festival. these precious tokens of the Lord's loving NOW in the twelfth month, that is, the kindness and tender mercy! Is not the Word of God full of such instances of his tender love and watchful care? Can you read the preservation of Moses in the ark of bulrushes; or the safety of Israel amidst the oppressions of Egypt; or their triumphant deliverance from the hand of their enemies; and not see the care and love of Israel's God? Can you read the history of David in his perils with the lion and the bear; in his conflict with Goliath; in his preservation from Saul; and not trace the same overruling power and merciful hand? Can you behold the infant Redeemer, exposed to the murderous rage of Herod, yet saved from death by Joseph's flight into Egypt; and not see the same truth most gloriously displayed in that singular deliverance? Or can you review the perils and dangers of the church of God, and the wonderful deliverances from age to age vouchsafed on her behalf; or the Lord's month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them ;) 2 The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people. 3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and 'officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. 5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. |