The Study and the Pulpit Esther 4:15-17 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,… I. THE PREPARATION: fasting and prayer. 1. Fasting is abused by the Church of Rome, therefore disused by many who belong to the Church of Christ. Deep feeling will make fasting natural. Moses (Exodus 34:28), Elijah (1 Kings 19:7, 8), Christ (Matthew 4:2), fasted forty days each. See Ezra's fast (Ezra 8:21, 23). Directions how to fast (Matthew 6:16-18). Paul was given to fasting (2 Corinthians 6:4, 6; 2 Corinthians 11:27). Fasting is useless without faith. The Pharisee (Luke 18:12). 2. Prayer. Three days' special prayer. The Jews in their synagogues. Esther in the palace. With what humility, sorrowful confession, and earnestness did they pray! II. THE RESOLUTION: "So will I go in unto the king," etc. There are some points of resemblance and of contrast between the case of Esther and that of the poor sinner. 1. Points of resemblance. (1) She was in extreme danger (ver. 13). So with the sinner (Psalm 7:11-18). (2) There was no other way for her escape. "By no means" (Psalm 49:7). (3) This way seemed full of difficulty and danger. Haman's influence. the king's temper. The royal guards. 2. Points of contrast. (1) She went into the presence of an earthly monarch who was partial, changeable, irritable, weak. God is always the same. (2) She was uninvited. The sinner pressed to come. (3) The law forbade her to come. (4) The king has apparently forgotten her for thirty days. (5) She might have been stopped by the guards. (6) She might have been misunderstood. (7) She might have failed by going the wrong time.Lessons — 1. Warning. Danger threatens. 2. Instruction. Prepare. 3. Encouragement. (The Study and the Pulpit.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, |
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