So Queen Esther daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. Sermons
I. The memorial feast was in recognition of a great DELIVERANCE. The deliverance effected by Mordecai and Esther for the Jews, hints at that effected for us by Jesus. There are points of great similarity. The Lord's Supper is not only a feast of love, but in memory of our great deliverance from sin and death. II. The memorial was ordained READILY. Gratitude led to this. A further object was a desire to stimulate to similar faith in God in further circumstances of trial. III. The memorial was to be PERPETUAL. How faithfully have the Jews of every age kept that which was "ordained." We should keep that which Jesus instituted. Parents may lay upon their children certain moral obligations, but not now ceremonial burdens. That which they enjoin should be first observed by "themselves." - H.
The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities. The Jews acted —1. Wisely. They acted in unison. "They gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives." Union is power: concentration of strength is mighty for good and for evil. How awful the extent of the mischief perpetrated by the evil spirits, because they act it, concert — unitedly: whereas disunion would cause even their kingdom to fall. Union and co-operation are likewise powerful for the production of good. Hence copies of the Divine writings are flying to all parts of the world, and missionaries to unfold their precious contents to those who are perishing for lack of knowledge. What would individual efforts do in cases like these? 2. Manfully. "They laid hands on all such as sought their hurt, and no man could withstand them." They were acting legally: for the royal law permitted them to defend themselves. Trust in God, in His power and faithfulness, is the only source of true magnanimity. It is this alone that makes man undaunted on rational grounds. St. Paul tells us of the ancient believers, that "out of weakness they were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens." And this, he tells us, was the effect of relying on God. 3. Moreover, they acted forbearingly, or self-denyingly. They merely defended themselves, and Seized not upon the spoils of their enemies: "On the spoil they lay not their hand." They wanted only their lives and their own possessions, and not the riches of their neighbours. We find that great believer, Abraham, acting thus self-denyingly in Genesis 14. The victory which the Jews obtained on this occasion was a very signal one. "The Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them." "In Shushan, the palace, the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men." At the request of the queen, three hundred more were slain in the royal city. And in the different provinces of the empire they slew of their foes seventy and five thousand. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! Behold the fruits of the wickedness of one individual! (J. Hughes.) II. DIVINE HELP FOSTERS AND SUCCEEDS SELF-HELP. Divine help must first work, and then there can be successful self-help. These Jews helped themselves — 1. By cooperation. 2. By active agency. 3. By a name of power. 4. By aggressive measures. III. SELF-HELP SECURES THE HELP OF OTHERS. (W. Burrows, B. A.) People Abihail, Adalia, Ahasuerus, Aridai, Aridatha, Arisai, Aspatha, Dalphon, Esther, Haman, Hammedatha, Mordecai, Parmashta, Parshandatha, Poratha, VajezathaPlaces SusaTopics Abihail, Ab'ihail, Acts, Along, Authority, Confirm, Confirming, Daughter, Establish, Esther, Force, Full, Giving, Jew, Letter, Mordecai, Mor'decai, Order, Power, Purim, Queen, Writeth, Written, WroteOutline 1. The Jews slay their enemies, with the ten sons of Haman.12. Xerxes, at the request of Esther, 14. grants another day of slaughter, and Haman's sons to be hanged. 20. The two days of Purim are instituted. Dictionary of Bible Themes Esther 9:29 5216 authority, nature of Library Of the Practice of Piety in Holy Feasting. Holy feasting is a solemn thanksgiving, appointed by authority, to be rendered to God on some special day, for some extraordinary blessings or deliverances received. Such among the Jews was the feast of the Passover (Exod. xii. 15), to remember to praise God for their deliverance out of Egypt's bondage; or the feast of Purim (Esth. ix. 19, 21), to give thanks for their deliverance from Haman's conspiracy. Such amongst us is the fifth of November, to praise God for the deliverance of the king and … Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Tiberias. Some Miscellaneous Matters Respecting the Face of the Land. Place of Jesus in the History of the World. Esther Links Esther 9:29 NIVEsther 9:29 NLT Esther 9:29 ESV Esther 9:29 NASB Esther 9:29 KJV Esther 9:29 Bible Apps Esther 9:29 Parallel Esther 9:29 Biblia Paralela Esther 9:29 Chinese Bible Esther 9:29 French Bible Esther 9:29 German Bible Esther 9:29 Commentaries Bible Hub |