Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Esther Ch.8 / 10 Ch.s
ES:8
* Mordecai is advanced. (1,2) Esther makes suit for the Jews.
(3-14) Mordecai honoured, The joy of the Jews. (15-17)
#1,2 What Haman would have done mischief with, Esther will do
good with. All the trust the king had reposed in Haman, he now
placed in Mordecai: a happy change. See the vanity of laying up
treasure upon earth; he that heapeth up riches, knoweth not who
shall gather them. With what little pleasure, nay, with what
constant vexation, would Haman have looked upon his estate, if
he could have foreseen that Mordecai, the man he hated above all
men in the world, should have rule over all that wherein he had
laboured! It is our interest to make sure of those riches which
will not be left behind, but which will go with us to another
world.
#3-14 It was time to be earnest, when the church of God was at
stake. Esther, though safe herself, fell down and begged for the
deliverance of her people. We read of no tears when she begged
for her own life, but although she was sure of that, she wept
for her people. Tears of pity and tenderness are the most
Christ-like. According to the constitution of the Persian
government, no law or decree could be repealed or recalled. This
is so far from speaking to the wisdom and honour of the Medes
and Persians, that it clearly shows their pride and folly. This
savours of that old presumption which ruined all, We will be as
gods! It is God's prerogative not to repent, or to say what can
never be altered or unsaid. Yet a way was found, by another
decree, to authorize the Jews to stand upon their defence. The
decree was published in the languages of all the provinces.
Shall all the subjects of an earthly prince have his decrees in
languages they understand, and shall God's oracles and laws be
locked up from any of his servants in an unknown tongue?
#15-17 Mordecai's robes now were rich. These things are not
worth notice, but as marks of the king's favour, and the fruit
of God's favour to his church. It is well with a land, when
ensigns of dignity are made the ornaments of serious piety. When
the church prospers, many will join it, who will be shy of it
when in trouble. When believers have rest, and walk in the fear
of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, they will be
multiplied. And the attempts of Satan to destroy the church,
always tend to increase the number of true Christians.