Esther 2:5-20 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish… The histories of Mordecai and Esther run side by side, like the two differently-coloured rivers — the Arve and the Rhone. But the course of the one is from time to time being crossed and coloured by the course of the other. Esther played a leading part in the deliverance of the Jewish nation, but she owed much to the teaching, influence, and directions of Mordecai. She was the seen and he the unseen worker. These latter often do the most important work. I. MORDECAI'S LOVNG SOLICITUDE. II. THIS LOVING SOLICITUDE WAS OF DIVINE ORIGIN. God makes use of human passions for the promotion of His merciful purposes. Human reasons may be given to account for Mordecai's love for Esther, but there were also Divine reasons. III. THIS LOVING SOLICITUDE QUICKENED MORDECAI'S DISCERNMENT. IV. THIS LOVING SOLICITUDE TAUGHT MORDECAI A TRUE CREED. Love is light. He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in a clear apprehension of Divine truth and of Divine methods. "Although he trusted God with his niece, yet he knew that an honest care of her might well stand with faith in God's providence. God must be trusted, but not tempted by the neglect of careful means" (Trapp). V. MORDECAI'S LOVE MADE HIM WATCHFUL. VI. MORDECAI'S LOVE MADE HIM SELF-FORGETFUL. VII. MORDECAI'S LOVE CONCERNED ITSELF ABOUT ESTHER'S HIGHEST WELFARE. (W. Burrows, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; |
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