‏ Esther 1

** We find in this book, that even those Jews who were scattered

in the province of the heathen, were taken care of, and were

wonderfully preserved, when threatened with destruction. Though

the name of God be not in this book, the finger of God is shown

by minute events for the bringing about his people's

deliverance. This history comes in between #Ezr 6; 7|.

* The royal feast of Ahasuerus. (1-9) Vashti's refusal to

appear, The king's decree. (10-22)1-9 The pride of Ahasuerus's heart rising with the grandeur of

his kingdom, he made an extravagant feast. This was vain glory.

Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of

wine, with all the noise and tumult that must have attended it.

But except grace prevails in the heart, self-exaltation and

self-indulgence, in one form or another, will be the ruling

principle. Yet none did compel; so that if any drank to excess,

it was their own fault. This caution of a heathen prince, even

when he would show his generosity, may shame many called

Christians, who, under pretence of sending the health round,

send sin round, and death with it. There is a woe to them that

do so; let them read it, and tremble, #Hab 2:15,16|. 10-22 Ahasuerus's feast ended in heaviness, by his own folly.

Seasons of peculiar festivity often end in vexation. Superiors

should be careful not to command what may reasonably be

disobeyed. But when wine is in, men's reason departs from them.

He that had rule over 127 provinces, had no rule over his own

spirit. But whether the passion or the policy of the king was

served by this decree, God's providence made way for Esther to

the crown, and defeated Haman's wicked project, even before it

had entered into his heart, and he arrived at his power. Let us

rejoice that the Lord reigns, and will overrule the madness or

folly of mankind to promote his own glory, and the safety and

happiness of his people