Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Esther
Book: Esther
Chapter: 4
Overview:
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.
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.