Verse 1

CONTENTS

This very short chapter, being unconnected with the history of the church, seems to have been inserted here only to record the advancement of Mordecai, and the happy state of God's people under his favor.

Verse 1-2

(1) ¶ And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea. (2) And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

The greatness and power of this Persian prince would not, I venture to believe, have been noticed in the scripture, had it not been from the situation of the church of God connected with it. The Bible is only careful to carry on the thread of history, respecting the several kingdoms of the world, as they succeeded each other, by way of showing how they ministered to the introduction of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. Daniel was commissioned to tell the king of Babylon, that the God of heaven, in the days of these kings, would set up a kingdom which should never be destroyed. Therefore the Reader of the sacred scriptures is led by the hand to observe just so far, and no further, as might enable him to trace the divine footsteps marking the way through these temporary kingdoms, in which the Lord setteth down one, and putteth up another; all ministering, though they thought not so, neither did they intend it, to the bringing in that kingdom of our Lord Jesus, which shall stand forever. Hence, the Persian succeeded to the Babylonian; and the Roman (which about this time began to make a little appearance in the world) was to succeed the Persian; in the most peaceable and flourishing part of which, Christ was to Come. Daniel 2:44.

Verse 3

(3) For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

What a delightful character is given of Mordecai! Accepted of his brethren; seeking their happiness, and speaking peace to all his seed. Think, Reader what a blessing such a man must have been in his days.

But oh! forget not to look to One infinitely higher, infinitely greater, infinitely surpassing every other, both in love, and grace, and mercy. Thou, O blessed Jesus, art the happiness of all creation, and of thy church, in a most peculiarly sweet way: accepted indeed of all thy brethren, for their happiness thou seekest, and thou not only speakest peace to all thy seed, but thou thyself art our peace, and our portion forever. Micah 5:5.

FAREWELL Mordecai! blessed be a faithful God in covenant for his faithfulness to thee and his people. Sharp were thy exercises, and deep the waters of tribulation, which broke in upon thee; when under the pressure, a loud and bitter cry issued from thy very soul. But oh! how hath the Lord brought thee out, and led thee through fire and water, until he hath brought thee into a wealthy place. See, my soul, and in the view always take confidence in the contemplation, how certain the issue is in all the appointments of the Lord. Not one thing hath failed, neither can ever fail, of God's covenant engagements to his people; but all are come to pass as it is this day. And shall not all the promises in Christ Jesus be sure to all his seed? Did Mordecai utter a loud and bitter cry in the midst of the city, while in the very moment the Lord was bringing about all the gracious purposes that followed: and shall my soul forget the unequalled cry of Jesus in the garden, when in an agony the sweat of his sacred body was as great drops of blood falling down to the ground! Was the Son of God thus afflicted, and his soul exceedingly troubled, in the very moment when, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, he was to be taken, and by wicked hands crucified and slain, that by his stripes we might be healed, and by his death our souls live forever: and shall my heart despond, or doubt the efficacy of his blood, and the security of his righteousness? Oh! Lord, henceforth give me more firmness, more assurance of faith, that I may behold thee in those sacred seasons accomplishing redemption, sure to all thy seed. Thou must see the travail of thy soul. The solemn word, the solemn oath is gone forth; Men shall be blessed in thee; all nations shall call thee blessed. Hail! holy, blessed, almighty Jesus! In the Lord have I righteousness and strength. To thee do I come, and in thy salvation make my boast. Thou art the Lord my righteousness, the hope of Israel, and the Saviour thereof. Amen.