Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Esther
Book: Esther
Chapter: 7
Overview:
Esther accuses
Haman.
(1-6) Haman hanged
On his own
Gallows.
(7-10)
1-6 If the
Love of
Life causes
Earnest pleadings with those
that can only kill the body, how fervent should our prayers be
to Him, who is able to destroy both body and soul in
Hell! How
should we pray for the
Salvation of our relatives, friends, and
all around us! When we petition great men, we must be cautious
not to give them
Offence; even just complaints must often be
kept back. But when we approach the
King of
Kings with
reverence, we cannot ask or expect too much. Though nothing but
wrath be our due,
God is able and willing to do exceeding
abundantly, even
Beyond all we can ask or think.
7-10 The
King was angry: those that do things with self-will,
reflect upon them afterward with self-reproach. When angry, we
should pause before we come to any resolution, and thus rule our
own spirits, and show that we are governed
By reason. Those that
are most haughty and insolent when in power and prosperity,
commonly, like
Haman, are the most abject and
Poor-spirited when
brought down. The
Day is coming when those that hate and
persecute
God's
Chosen ones, would gladly be beholden to them.
The
King returns yet more angry against
Haman. Those about him
were ready to
Put his wrath into execution. How little can proud
men be sure of the interest they think they have! The enemies of
God's
Church have often been thus taken in their own craftiness.
The
Lord is known
By such judgments. Then was the
King's wrath
pacified, and not till then. And who pities
Haman hanged
On his
own
Gallows? who does not rather rejoice in the Divine
Righteousness displayed in the
Destruction his own art brought
upon him? Let the workers of iniquity tremble, turn to the
Lord,
and seek
Pardon through the
Blood of
Jesus.