Esther 4

The Scriptures speak of the woman's gaining upon the husband (1 Peter 3:1), seasoning the children (Proverbs 31:1; 2 Timothy 1:5), encouraging the servants in a way of godliness, especially of their own sex. 'Tis said (Esther 4:16), I also and my maidens will fast likewise: thes…

And upon any great judgment on the family, Church or commonwealth, to direct them in fastings and prayers, with readings, meditations, and use of the word, as may serve to give especial cause of humbling, and especial cause fit of comfort for that work. [Esther 4:16. Go gather t…

Thus when the Sea divided it self, just upon Israels cry to Heaven, Exodus 14:10 When so signal a victory is given to Asa, immediately upon that pathetical cry to Heaven, Help us O Lord our God, 2 Chron. 14. 11, 12. When Ahitophel shall go and hang himself, just upon that prayer…

And of David (1 Kings 1:33): Take with you the servants of your Lord; not my servants. And of Ahasuerus to Mordecai (Esther 4:8): Write you for the Jews in the King's name; not in my name. But the difference of these, from the words under consideration is wide and evident.

5. His actings are in matter of lots that seem to be ruled by fortune and chance (Proverbs 16:33; Genesis 49; Deuteronomy 33, compared with Joshua 14:1, 2, 3). 6. Especially in bowing the free will, and determining all the actions of evil angels (1 Kings 22:21, 22, 23; Job 1:6,…

Every long prayer is not forbidden; for our Lord Jesus himself continued all night in prayer (Luke 6:12). And in extraordinary duties of fasting, length seems to be very necessary; (Esther 4:16) they fasted and prayed together for three days and nights, without eating any bread.…

So many times, to the great grief of their hearts, may God's children be laid aside as useless vessels; the world may cast them off as unworthy to live among them. It is not for the king's profit to suffer them (Esther 4:8), and 1 Corinthians 4:13. [illegible], We are made as th…

There is a fitness in reference to the work, which the thing now made might have, which hereafter happily could not attain. Thus came Esther to be Queen in a fit time, for Mordecai's safety, the succor and deliverance of the Nation of the Jews; for though she might have possesse…

O Christian, believe in your physician (John 3:15): that whoever believes in him should not perish. Say as Queen Esther (Esther 4:16): I will go in to the King, which is not according to the law, and if I perish, I perish. So say: the Lord Jesus is a physician to heal me — I wil…

The idols were cut off, and the word of God so mightily prevailed, as that those sects which were used to delude the people, Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, were blasted in the eyes of all the people, and generally the Gospel had free passage granted to it, by the mighty hand…

The blessing for which Hannah fasted as well as prayed, (for the text says, she did not eat) though it were but a private and temporary blessing, was extraordinary. So also that deliverance for obtaining whereof, Jehoshaphat with the Jews in his time, and Esther and Mordecai wit…

The Prophet Joel in the name of the Lord, calls the Jews to a strait and solemn fast; and that upon this just occasion, because the Lord had sent a great dearth upon the land (Joel 2:14, 15, &c.). Esther and her company fasted, when she had heard news of the intended destruction…

And so (Jeremiah 9:1; 13:17; 14:17; Isaiah 22:4). We read of Mordecai, when he saw his people in danger of being destroyed with a temporal destruction (Esther 4:1), that he rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with…