sther's application received. (1-8) Haman prepares to hang
Mordecai. (9-14)
Verses 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.
Verses 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.
sther's application received. (1-8) Haman prepares to hang
Mordecai. (9-14)