Esther 5:13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. Haman's wealth, honour, power, palace, friends, etc., failed to satisfy and make him happy. "There be as many miseries beyond riches, as on this side of them." "Pleasure is like lightning, a flash and away. The world is like an artichoke — nine parts of it are unprofitable leaves; about it there is a little picking meat, and, in the midst, there is a core enough to choke them that devour it." It may be said of the world, as of Athens, "It is a fine place to pass through, for there is much to be learned there; but it is a bad place to live at, there are so many dangers in it." The pleasures of sin are momentary and unsatisfying; its punish. ment is eternal and terrible. Adrian, a pope of Rome, said, "I had great hardships and troubles in early life, but none gave me such misery as the papal crown." Diocletian, a Roman emperor, gave up his sovereignty, and retired to private life for comfort and happiness. It would be very foolish to pay genuine golden sovereigns for base counterfeit farthings. It is incredible that an angel should come from heaven to seek enjoyment with a baby's toys. And the soul should seek satisfaction and blessing from God. (H. Burton.) Parallel Verses KJV: Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.WEB: Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." |
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