Esther W Kelly

8/9/2019 Esther W Kelly

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The Book Of Estherby William Kelly

http://www.biblecentre.org

Introduction

The Book of Esther is one of those few portions here and there of the word of God whichare remarkable for the absence of His name. This has often surprised many: the Jewsthemselves were not able to understand it and there are many !hristians who are notmuch better" so much so that it has been the habit especially in these latter times forsome to treat the book with a certain measure of distrust as if the absence of the name ofthe #ord were a $ust suspicion%as if it could not be of God because God&s name was notthere. 'ow I hope to show that it is a part of the e(cellence of the book that the name of

God is not there" for there are occasions when God veils His )lory. There is no occasionwhere He does not work but He does not always permit His name to be heard or Hisways to be seen. I shall show that it is precisely what the character of the book re*uires%that the name of God should not be there" and this therefore instead of weakenin) theclaim of Esther to its place in the holy volume will rather show the perfectness of theways of God even in so e(ceptional a fact as the absence of His name in an entire book.

+e must understand then what God has in view. ,nd the answer is this: He is herespeakin) of His ancient people under circumstances where He could not name His namein connection with them as their position was wholly irre)ular. -roperly speakin) in theBook of Esther they have no position at all. +e could not say that e(actly about those

Jews who had )one up from Babylon accordin) to the leave that !yrus the -ersian )avethem in fulfilment of the prophets. It is true that even as to the remnant God does notcall them my people. In allowin) 'ebuchadne//ar to sweep the land of the house of0avid and the tribes that still continued faithful to their alle)iance God took away fromthem their title for a short time and that title is not yet )iven back to them. 'everthelessit is in sate keepin). He means to restore them to the land of their inheritance" but thetitle%deed for the time has disappeared. It is not that it is lost but reserved. It is keptsecretly for them by God. +hen the day comes for Israel to be brou)ht back God will)radually brin) them into their proper place and into their due relationship and then willcome the days of heaven upon earth. But it was far from bein) so yet even with theremnant that went up from Jerusalem. There as we know the Book of E/ra shows them

centrin) round the altar of God and buildin) His house" and the Book of 'ehemiah presents them markin) their distinction. Even thou)h they had lost their title still theyhad not lost their God. If God would not call them His people they at least would callHim their God. 1aith clun) to what God was to them when God could not call them Hisown. Therefore did they build the walls of Jerusalem that His people mi)ht have even intheir feebleness the sense of their separation to Himself. This has characterised all theirlife. It was not merely their reli)ious life but their whole life. E/ra looks at the reli)iouslife: 'ehemiah looks at all their life consecrated to Jehovah. But the Book of Esther


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brin)s out *uite a different view. +hat became of the Jews that did not )o up toJerusalem2 +hat became of those who were deaf to the leave or valued not the liberty to)o up to the land where God&s eyes rested and where yet He means to e(alt His name %His 3on the 4essiah%as well as the people of His choice then indeed to be manifestlyowned by Him2

The Book of Esther is the answer to that *uestion and shows us that when God could notown them in any way whatever %and where too they were not ownin) Him publicly %when there was no si)n on God&s part nor on the people&s part%where the name of Godtherefore is now entirely in the secret%is not named once throu)hout the book%yet wherethere is all this there is seen the hand and workin) of God secretly in favour of His

people even in the most irre)ular condition in which they can be found. This is the natureof the book and this I believe is the solution of the difficulty as to the name of God not

bein) once named in it. +e shall see abundant confirmation of what I have referred towhen we look into the book. I $ust )ive so far a little intimation of its character in orderthat we may take heed to it the more as the various incidents come before us.

Esther 5

+e at once plun)e into a remarkable feast made by the kin) ,hasuerus who I presumeis the one who is known in profane history as 6er(es. That is a matter of no )reatconse*uence%whether it was 6er(es or ,rta(er(es or even another who has been putforward as the true answer to it. +e must remember that the title of ,hasuerus was a)eneral one $ust as -haraoh was the )eneral one in E)ypt and ,bimelech amon) the-hilistines" that is there were many -haraohs and many ,bimelechs. 3o also amon) the-ersians there were several that bore the name of ,hasuerus. +hich ,hasuerus is meantis a *uestion but it is a matter of no importance" if it were God would have told us. I

presume however that it was really 6er(es partly because of the character of the man%aman of prodi)ious resources unbounded wealth immense lu(ury and vanity%a man tooof the most arbitrary and capricious character. +e shall see this in his conduct towards hiswife" we shall see it too in his conduct towards the Jew. +e shall see accordin)ly thehistory of a remarkable part of this capricious monarch&s rei)n" for if there was a sin)le-ersian kin) with whom it mi)ht have been supposed to )o hard with the Jew it was thisone. 0arius was a )reat admirer of !yrus and conse*uently a )reat friend of the Jews.6er(es was a friend of nobody but himself. He was $ust simply a man who lived to pleasehimself%to )ratify his tastes and passions accordin) to the ample means which the

providence of God had placed in his hands but which he wasted on his own lu(ury asalas I most men do.

+ell he is here shown to us in that epoch of the -ersian empire when it consisted not of578 provinces only which was the case when 0arius the 4ede and !yrus the -ersianrei)ned. +e find in the Book of 0aniel that there were seven provinces added afterwardsthrou)h con*uest. 6er(es rei)ned at a time therefore when the -ersian empire was in thehei)ht of its )lory and its resources and he has all the pomp and circumstance of theempire around him%all the )randees and satraps of his vast empire. 9nder thesecircumstances it is that he calls for ashti who refuses to come. This provoked the


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capricious and arbitrary monarch. ashti disobeyed the kin). 3he refused accordin) to the peculiar love of retirement which characterised -ersian women. 3he refused to meet hiswishes. He would display her beauty to all the world and she declined. The conse*uencewas that the kin) seeks counsel with his nobles and one of them ventures upon very boldadvice namely the dismissal of ashti. This accordin)ly is the first )reat step in the

providence of God brou)ht before us in the book and all the remarkable issues follow.

'ow this of itself even is of the )reatest interest" but then there is more than this. The book not only is a book of providence%God&s secret providence%when He could not nameHis name in behalf of His people%in behalf of the Jews in their poor and dispersedcondition amon) the Gentiles" but further it is typical of the )reat dealin)s of God thatare yet to be because what mainly does the book open with2 This%the )reat Gentile wifeof the )reat kin) is discarded and the sin)ular fact comes that a Jewess takes her place. Icannot doubt myself that it is what will follow when the Gentile has proved himselfdisobedient and has failed in displayin) the beauty that should be in the testimony ofGod before the world. In short it is what is )oin) on now" that is at this present time the

Gentile is the one that holds a certain position before God in the earth. The Jew as youare aware is not the present witness of God but the Gentile. The Gentile has utterlyfailed. ,ccordin) to the lan)ua)e of the 55th of ;omans the branches of the wild olive%the Gentile%will be broken off and the Jew will be )rafted in a)ain. +ell ashti is theGentile wife that is discarded for her disobedience and failure in displayin) her beauty

before the world. That is what !hristendom ou)ht to do. The Gentile I say will be broken off and dismissed and the Jew will be brou)ht in. This is what is represented bythe call of Esther. 3he becomes the ob$ect of the )reat kin)&s affections and displacesashti who is never restored. But I merely )ive this remark by the way to show thetypical connection of the book with the )reat course of God&s counsels in scripture.

Esther 7 'ow I return to e(pound a little the facts that are traced in it as the )rand development ofsecret providence when God&s name cannot be named. God can work where He cannot

proclaim Himself and this is remarkably illustrated in the fact that when the commandwent forth for the youn) maidens to be sou)ht for the kin) for him to take his choiceamon)st others in 3hushan the palace there was a certain Jew whose name was4ordecai the son of Jair the son of 3himei the son of %?@.


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,nd in short when the turn of the different maidens came and amon)st others Esther&sturn she not only found favour in the eyes of the chamberlain but still more in the eyesof the kin). Esther was taken unto kin) ,hasuerus into his royal house in the tenthmonth which is the month Tebeth in the seventh year of his rei)n =ver. 5A@. I mayobserve by the way that it is a remarkable confirmation of these transactions of

,hasuerus belon)in) to the time of 6er(es that it was in the third year of 6er(es&s rei)nas history tells us that he held a )rand council of all the )randees of his empire. The political ob$ect was his attempt to con*uer Greece and he returned a)ain in the seventhyear of his rei)n%the very same dates that are mentioned in this book of Esther. 0urin)that time he was away from his country and was occupied with that vain effort whichended in the most complete destruction of the -ersian fleet and the overthrow of theirarmies by the comparatively little power of the Greeks. But however that may be Imerely make the remark by the way as showin) the wonderful manner in which God&s

providence preserves even the dates and the way in which the facts fit in. That howeveris a small point but the )reat matter is this %that the Jewess was preferred to all others.The Jewess is the one who alone will be the bride on earth of the )reat


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It is only a type%only a shadow and not the very ima)e. In the millennial day there will beno Haman. Till that day come whatever may be the vivid picture of comin) blessin)there is always a dark shadow. There is an enemy" there is one that tries to frustrate all the

plans of God: and of all the races of the earth there was one that was particularly hostileto God&s people of old %the ,malekites %so much so that Jehovah swore and called upon

His people to carry on perpetual war a)ainst that race. He would blot them out fromunder heaven. The ,malekites were the peculiar ob$ect of God&s most ri)hteous $ud)ment because of their hatred of His people. 'ow this Haman belon)ed not only to,malek but even to the royal family of ,malek. He was a descendant of Hammedathathe ,)a)ite as it is said and ,hasuerus advances this noble to the very hi)hest place. Butin the midst of all his thick honours there was one thorn 4ordecai bowed not. Theconse*uence was that 4ordecai became an ob$ect of reproach. The kin)&s servants askedhim +hy trans)ressest thou the kin)&s commandment2 ,nd after this went on for atime Haman hears of it. He told them that he was a Jew.

Esther C

There was the secret. God does not appear. There is no intimation in the history that Godhad spoken about Haman Det here was the secret reason" but the only public reason thatappears is that 4ordecai was a Jew. ,nd when Haman saw that 4ordecai bowed notnor did him reverence then was Haman full of wrath. ,nd he thou)ht scorn to lay handson 4ordecai alone for they had showed him the people of 4ordecai" wherefore Hamansou)ht to destroy all the Jews that were throu)hout the whole kin)dom of ,hasueruseven the people of 4ordecai =Esther C: > A@" and Haman accomplishes it in this manner.He reports to the kin) as bein) the principal noble in favour that there was a certain

people scattered abroad amon) the peoples in all the provinces . . . their laws are diversefrom all people neither keep they the kin)&s laws" therefore it is not for the kin)&s profit

to suffer them. If it please the kin) let it be written that they may be destroyed" and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the char)e of the business to brin) it into the kin)&s treasures =vers. ?@.

The kin) accordin) to the character I have already described made very small difficultyof this tremendous re*uest of Haman. He took his rin) from his hand he )ave it toHaman and told him to keep his silver. He sent out the scribes to carry out this re*uestso that the posts went throu)hout all the kin)&s provinces. The -ersians you know werethe first ori)inators of the postal system that we have continued to this day. #etters weresent by posts into all the kin)&s provinces to destroy to kill and to cause to perish allJews both youn) and old little children and women in one day even upon the thirteenthday of the twelfth month. The kin) and his minister sat down to drink but the city of3hushan was perple(ed.

Esther F

+ell mi)ht there be a )reat cry )oin) forth from the Jew. Their doom was sealed. 3o itappeared. The more so as it was always one of the ma(ims of the -ersian empire that alaw once passed was never revoked% accordin) to the law of the 4edes and -ersians that


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altereth not. 'othin) then it mi)ht appear could possibly have saved the people. Themaster of 57 provinces had )iven his royal word si)ned with his seal and sent it out by

posts throu)hout the whole len)th and breadth of the empire. The day was fi(ed" the people named. 0estruction seemed to be certain" but 4ordecai rends his clothes and putson sackcloth and )oes into the midst of the city and cries with a loud and bitter cry

=Esther F: 5@ and if God&s name is not written and does not appear God&s ears none theless heard. 4ordecai came unto the kin)&s )ate for none mi)ht enter into the )ate clothedwith sackcloth. He came before it not within it and Esther heard. They told her and the*ueen was e(ceedin) )rieved little knowin) the cause of the )rief. ,nd Esther sendsthrou)h one of the chamberlains and 4ordecai tells him of all that had happened untohim and of what Haman had promised to pay and the destruction that was impendin)over the Jew.

Esther upon this we are told )ives Hatach commandment to 4ordecai tellin) him thehopelessness of the case. The ob$ect was that she mi)ht )o and make supplication to thekin). But how2 It was one of the laws of the -ersian empire that nobody could )o into the

kin)&s presence. The kin) must send and the kin) had not sent for the *ueen for thirtydays. It was a)ainst the law to venture there. ,ccordin)ly 4ordecai sends her a mostdistinct but severe messa)e. Think not with thyself said he that thou shalt escape inthe kin)&s house more than all the Jews. 1or if thou alto)ether holdest thy peace at thistime then shall there enlar)ement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place.

'ot a word about God. He is hidden. He means God but so perfectly is there a preservin)of the secrecy of God that he only va)uely alludes to it in this remarkable manner% Thenshall there enlar)ement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place" %for Godwould look down from heaven" but 4ordecai only speaks of the place and not of the

person% but thou and thy father&s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whetherthou art come to the kin)dom for such a time as this2

Esther accordin)ly is brou)ht to a due sense of the situation. 3he enters perfectly into4ordecai&s feelin) for the people and his confidence of the enlar)ement that would comefrom another place. 3o she bids 4ordecai &&Go )ather to)ether all the Jews that are

present in 3hushan and fast ye for me and neither eat nor drink three days ni)ht or day.3he also as she says will do this. I also and my maidens will fast likewise" and so will I)o in unto the kin). 'ot a word about the perfumes now. 'ot a word about the sweetodours to prepare herself for the presence of the kin). To that she had submitted" it wasthe kin)&s order" but now althou)h she does not mention God it is evident where herheart is. 3he )oes with this most sin)ular preparation but an admirable one at such atime%fastin)%a )reat si)n of humiliation before God" yet even here God is not named.Dou cannot doubt that God is above and that God is behind the scenes" but all thatappears is merely the fastin) of man and not the God before whom the fastin) was. ,ndif I perish I perish. Her mind was made up.

Esther >

,ccordin)ly on the third day =Esther >@ Esther put on her royal apparel and stood inthe inner court of the kin)&s house over a)ainst the kin)&s house and the kin) sat upon


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his royal throne in the royal house over a)ainst the )ate of the house. ,nd it was sowhen the kin) saw Esther the *ueen standin) in the court that she obtained favour in hissi)ht" and the kin) held out to Esther the )olden sceptre that was in his hand for faithwas )reat in the )oodness of God. ,ll that appears is merely man yet the unseen handwas there. This she looked for and this she found. 3o Esther drew near and touched the

top of the sceptre. Then said the kin) unto her what wilt thou *ueen Esther2 and what isthy re*uest2 it shall be even )iven thee to the half of the kin)dom. 3o Esther answers If it seem )ood unto the kin) let the kin) and Haman come this day unto the ban*uet that Ihave prepared for him. God )ave her wisdom. 3he does not at once brin) out what wasso heavy a burden on her heart. He that believeth shall not make haste. The unseen Godwho was the ob$ect of her trust enabled her soul to wait. 3he asks not only the kin) to the

ban*uet but the kin) and Haman. How constantly this is the case. 3o with the #ord whenHe )ives Judas the sop even before that terrible betrayal which led to the cross. #ittle didHaman know what the God who did not appear was preparin) for him. ,nd at the

ban*uet the kin) a)ain returns to the *uestion for he ri)ht well knew that there wassomethin) more than the ban*uet in the mind of *ueen Esther. &&+hat is thy petition and it

shall be )ranted thee. +hat is thy re*uest2 Even to the half of the kin)dom it shall be performed.

,)ain the *ueen asks that she may have their company at another ban*uet. ,nd I will dotomorrow as the kin) hath said. 3o Haman )oes forth that day &&$oyful and with a )ladheart but when he sees 4ordecai the Jew and that he did not stand up or move for himhe was full of indi)nation a)ainst 4ordecai. 'evertheless Haman refrained himself.+hen he )oes home to his wife and his friends and tells them of the )lory of his richesand the multitude of his children and all the thin)s wherein the kin) had promoted himand how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the kin) he names as thecrown of all the special honour paid in *ueen Esther&s invitin) him to a ban*uet where

none came but the kin) himself. ,nd tomorrow says he ,m I invited unto her withthe kin) also. Det all this availeth me nothin) %such was the bitterness of his heart andhatred% so lon) as I see 4ordecai the Jew sittin) at the kin)&s )ate. 3o the wife with theweakness that belon)s to her nature su))ested that a )allows should be made for thiswicked 4ordecai. #et a )allows be made of fifty cubits hi)h and tomorrow speak thouunto the kin) that 4ordecai may be han)ed thereon" then )o thou in merrily with the kin)unto the ban*uet. The thin) pleased Haman well and it was done.

Esther A

But the unseen God was at work that ni)ht. The kin) could not sleep =Esther A@ else therehad been a bitter feast for Esther before the feast with the kin). n that ni)ht the kin)could not sleep. He asked for the record of the kin)dom. The providence of God was atwork. It was found written that 4ordecai had told of the treacherous chamberlains andthe kin) asks +hat honour and di)nity hath been done to 4ordecai2 'othin) saidthe servants. ,t that very moment Haman comes to the court. He wanted to see the kin)to ask for 4ordecai&s life. #ittle did he know what was in the kin)&s heart. He is usheredinto the presence of the kin) at his re*uest and the kin) full of what was in his own


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heart was providentially led to ask what he was to do for one that he wished to honour.+hat shall be done to the man whom the kin) deli)hteth to honour2

Haman had no thou)ht of any one but himself. Thus he was cau)ht in his own snare. Heasked with no stint. He su))ested to the kin) the hi)hest honours%honours hi)her than

ever had been )iven to a sub$ect before. 1or the man whom the kin) deli)hteth tohonour let the royal apparel be brou)ht which the kin) useth to wear and the horse thatthe kin) rideth upon and the crown royal which is set upon his head" and let this appareland horse be delivered to the hand of one of the kin)&s most noble princes that they mayarray the man withal whom the kin) deli)hteth to honour and brin) him on horsebackthrou)h the street of the city and proclaim before him Thus shall it be done to the manwhom the kin) deli)hteth to honour =vers. %?@. 3o the kin) at once says to Haman4ake haste and take the apparel and the horse as thou hast said and do even so to4ordecai the Jew that sitteth at the kin)&s )ate" let nothin) fail of all that thou hastspoken.

h what a downfall +hat horror of horrors must have filled the heart of this wickedman that he whom he most hated of all men livin) was the very one whom he himself as

the chief noble of the empire was compelled to pay this honour to accordin) to his ownsu))estin) However it was impossible to alter the kin)&s word. Then took Haman theapparel and the horse and arrayed 4ordecai and brou)ht him on horseback throu)h thestreet of the city and proclaimed before him Thus shall it be done unto the man whomthe kin) deli)hteth to honour. ery differently did Haman return to his wife and friendsthat day. Haman hasted to his house mournin) and havin) his head covered. ,ndHaman told eresh his wife and all his friends every thin) that had befallen him. Thensaid his wise men and eresh his wife unto him If 4ordecai be of the seed of the Jews

before whom thou hast be)un to fall thou shalt not prevail a)ainst him but shalt surely

fall before him. 3uch is the secret feelin) of the Gentile as to the Jew. It may be all verywell for the Gentile as lon) as the Jew is driven out of the presence of God but when theday comes for e(altin) the Jew Gentile )reatness must then disappear from the face ofthe earth. The Jew is the intended lord here below. The Jew will be the head % the Gentilethe tail.

Esther

3o the ban*uet proceeds =Esther @ and the kin) and Haman are found for there was notime to lose. The chamberlain had come and summoned Haman to the ban*uet and nowthe kin) for the third time demands from the *ueen her petition. +hat is thy petition*ueen Esther2 and it shall be )ranted thee" and what is thy re*uest2 and it shall be

performed even to the half of the kin)dom. Then Esther the *ueen answered and said If Ihave found favour in thy si)ht kin) and if it please the kin) let my life be )iven me atmy petition. +hat was it come to this2 the *ueen to be a be))ar for her life #et mylife be )iven me at my petition and my people at my re*uest" for we are sold I and my

people to be destroyed to be slain and to perish: but if we had been sold for bond%menand bond%women I had held my ton)ue althou)h the enemy could not countervail thekin)&s dama)e. 3he had struck the ri)ht chord. 'ot only all the affections of the kin)


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burst out at this insult that was done to the one that he loved above all in the kin)dom" but more: there was the audacious presumption that should attempt the destruction of the*ueen and all the *ueen&s people%of all her people without even the kin)&s knowled)e.+ho could be the traitor2

Then the kin) ,hasuerus answered and said unto Esther the *ueen +ho is he andwhere is he that durst presume in his heart to do so2 ,nd Esther said The adversary andenemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid %as well he mi)ht be% before thekin) and the *ueen. ,nd the kin) arisin) from his ban*uet of wine in his wrath went intothe palace )arden. +ell did Haman know that it was sentence of death that was

pronounced upon him. ,nd Haman stood up to make re*uest for his life to Esther the*ueen for he saw that there was evil determined a)ainst him by the kin). ,nd when thekin) returns he finds Haman in his a)ony fallen upon the bed where Esther was and thekin) willin)ly puts the worst construction upon it. The word )oes forth from his mouthand they cover Haman&s face for immediate e(ecution. ,nd Harbonah one of thechamberlains su))ested to the kin) the )allows that was already made in Haman&s own

premises and this also meets the kin)&s wishes. Then the kin) said Han) him thereon.3o they han)ed Haman on the )allows that he had prepared for 4ordecai. Then was thekin)&s wrath pacified.

Esther

But this was not all. It is not only that God thus completely cau)ht in his own toils thecruel adversary of His people but God would care for the Jews throu)hout the wholedominions of the kin) where they were still under sentence of death. The deliverancewas not yet complete. The prime enemy was destroyed but they were still in dan)er" andso 4ordecai it is said came before the kin) =Esther .@ 1or Esther had told what he was

unto her. The kin) takes off his rin) and )ives it to 4ordecai. The Jew accordin)lycomes now into the place of )overnment in the earth. Their enemies are destroyed butstill they have to be vindicated and to be delivered completely throu)hout the empire.,nd Esther falls down at the feet of the kin) and beseeches him with tears to put awaythe mischief of Haman and the kin) a)ain holds out the )olden sceptre and Esthere(plains that the posts that had )one forth with the kin)&s letters were carryin) destructionto the Jew throu)hout his provinces. The kin) answers Behold I have )iven Esther thehouse of Haman and him they have han)ed upon the )allows because he laid his handupon the Jews. +rite ye also for the Jews as it liketh you in the kin)&s name and seal itwith the kin)&s rin)" for the writin) which is written in the kin)&s name and sealed withthe kin)&s rin) may no man reverse =vers. @.

How then was the thin) to be met2 In this way%that throu)hout the whole empire by afresh post are sent out letters wherein the kin) )ranted the Jews which were in every cityto )ather themselves to)ether 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 onesand women and to take the spoil of them for a prey. 3o it was done. ,nd 4ordecaiwent out from the presence of the kin) now with every si)n of real honour. ,nd theJews had li)ht and )ladness and $oy and honour. ,nd in every province and in every city


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whithersoever the kin)&s commandment and his decree came the Jews had $oy and)ladness a feast and a )ood day.

Esther ?

3o accordin)ly it was done =Esther ?@. The Jews did )ather themselves to)ether and laidtheir hand upon all that sou)ht their life. 'o man could withstand them. It is the evidenttype of the day when the Jew will be a)ain restored to his due and proper placethrou)hout the earth. ,nd 4ordecai was )reat in the kin)&s house and his fame went outthrou)hout all the provinces" for this man 4ordecai wa(ed )reater and )reater. Thus theJews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword and slau)hter and destructionand did what they would unto those that hated them. ,nd so we have the account )iven.But there is more. The kin) said unto Esther the *ueen The Jews have slain anddestroyed five hundred men in 3hushan the palace and the ten sons of Haman" what havethey done in the rest of the kin)&s provinces2 'ow what is thy petition2 and it shall be)ranted thee" or what is thy re*uest further2 and it shall be done. Then said Esther If it

please the kin) let it be )ranted to the Jews which are in 3hushan to do tomorrow alsoaccordin) unto this day&s decree and let Haman&s ten sons be han)ed upon the )allows.

There are many that cannot understand this. ,nd no wonder They take Esther as the typeof the #ord&s dealin)s with the church. ne sees at once what profound confusion is made

by that. 'ot so. It is the Gentile discarded and it is the Jew called in" but ri)hteousnesswill be the character of the rei)n of the kin)dom by and by. Grace is what suits thechurch now. It would be perfectly unintelli)ible therefore to have Esther representin) thechurch now. The e(ecution of ri)hteous ven)eance would be alto)ether incompatiblewith the callin) of the !hristian%with the church&s place. But with the Jew called in toshare the kin)dom by and by%called into the honours of the kin)dom% it is e(actly in

season. Then%when 4essiah shall rei)n and Jerusalem shall be His *ueen%will be foundthat word verified The nation and kin)dom that will not serve thee shall perish.

3o it was in this day. Thus you see whenever we )et the truth the word of God falls intoits due place. +e understand it and we distin)uish between thin)s that differ" we ri)htlydivide the word of truth. +hen on the contrary we in our an(iety apply thin)s to thatwhich concerns ourselves we fall into )reat mistake and destroy the proper place of thechurch of God and our share of God&s heavenly affections. ur proper place now is to actsuitably to Him who is at the ri)ht hand of God. But when the #ord Jesus leaves heavenfor the earth%when He comes to rei)n then ri)hteousness will be the character of Hiskin)dom and terrible thin)s will be done in ri)hteousness accordin) to the F>th -salm.Thus the e(ecution of the ten sons of Haman is not the smallest difficulty when this isunderstood for the #ord will not only smite at the be)innin) but there will be arepetition of the blow: there will be a thorou)h clearance of the adversary and of all thatrender but fei)ned obedience. The #ord will deal with them in that day that is comin).

,nd so the kin) commanded and the Jews )athered themselves for another day. 'ot onlythose in 3hushan but the other Jews that were in the kin)&s provinces )atheredthemselves to)ether and stood for their lives and slew of their foes seventy and five


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thousand but they laid not their hands on the prey.&& 3o that $oy and )ladness then fill theheart of the Jew. ,nd 4ordecai writes and sends letters to all the provinces and thus the

$oy is spread throu)hout the whole earth. 'ot only so but the Jews as we are toldfounded a feast upon this remarkable intervention of the providence of God.

Esther 58

The book closes in the ne(t chapter =Esther 58@ with an account of the )reatness of therealm of the kin) and also of 4ordecai his minister. 1or 4ordecai the Jew. was ne(tunto kin) ,hasuerus and )reat amon) the Jews and accepted of the multitude of his

brethren seekin) the wealth of his people and speakin) peace to all his seed. Thusworthily closes this most remarkable book. The Jew delivered from all his distresses is

brou)ht into the nearest place to the )reat kin) and instead of bein) himself the victim of the hatred of the Gentile he has authority over all to e(ecute ven)eance upon all thatwould slay the seed of ,braham.

4ay the #ord )ive us to deli)ht in the ways of God 4ay we read His word and profit byHis word in all wisdom and spiritual understandin) +e shall not find the less profit fromthe book because we understand it. To apply it to ourselves is only to deceive ourselves.+e see the place of the ancient people of God when the proud Gentile will be put down

because of his disobedience and when the Jew will be brou)ht in all the loveliness thatGod can put upon him into his own proper place before the earth. These are the prospectsthat this book )ives us. Det not this only but the beautiful feature I think you will seecompletely preserved from first to last%that all this was )iven durin) the day of the cloud%of the darkness %of the dispersion%of the non%reco)nition of the Jew. The name of God isentirely absent from it. It is the secret power of God workin) throu)h circumstances thatmi)ht seem awkward. But what a comfort to us +e too have to do with the same

providence of God%not indeed workin) to the same end" for God&s ob$ect is not to )ive usven)eance upon the foe is not to e(alt us into earthly )reatness but we have )ot to dowith the same God" only%thank God He does not disown us. He has brou)ht us into arelationship which never can be lost %a relationship which depends upon !hrist and whichis sealed by the Holy Ghost. !onse*uently He never refuses that we should call uponHim ur God and 1ather " nor does He ever refuse to own us as the children of Hislove.

Thus you see the book does not in the smallest de)ree apply to us in what is meant byEsther" but we are surely $ustified in takin) all the comfort of God&s mi)hty hand. +heremen see but circumstances passin) around us we know that all thin)s work to)ether for)ood to them that love God to them that are the called accordin) to his purpose. +emay not see the way but we know the God we see the God we can draw near to the Godthat controls all thin)s in our favour. In short therefore the providence of God is auniversal truth till the day come when the dealin)s of God will be public and manifestand His name will be named upon His people. 4eanwhile we can count upon this forIsrael. +e know that now they are dispersed%that now they are in a wholly anomalouscondition but the day will come when God will set aside the Gentile and brin) in Israelonce more and our hearts can re$oice. It will be no loss to us even if that were the motive.


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But in point of fact it will be no loss to us. +e shall be with the #ord Jesus on hi)h andit will be only after that that God will $ud)e the Gentile and call back the Jew.

+illiam

Esther W Kelly

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