Matthew Henry Commentary Esther 7
Matthew Henry Commentary
Esther 7
Matthew Henry Commentary
Esther 7
"So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king`s damage. Then spake the king Ahasuerus and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen." — Esther 7:1-6 (ASV)
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.
"And the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine [and went] into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he even force the queen before me in the house? As the word went out of the king`s mouth, they covered Haman`s face. Then said Harbonah, one of the chamberlains that were before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman hath made for Mordecai, who spake good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. And the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king`s wrath pacified." — Esther 7:7-10 (ASV)
The king was angry: those who act with self-will reflect on their actions afterward with self-reproach. When angry, we should pause before we reach any resolution, and in this way rule our own spirits, and show that we are governed by reason. Those who are most haughty and insolent when in power and prosperity, commonly, like Haman, are the most dejected and disheartened when brought down.
The day is coming when those who hate and persecute God's chosen ones would gladly be indebted to them. The king returns even more angry with Haman. Those around him were ready to carry out his wrath. How little can proud men be sure of the influence they think they possess!
The enemies of God's church have often thus been caught in their own craftiness. The Lord is known by such judgments. Then the king's wrath was pacified, and not until then. And who pities Haman hanged on his own gallows? Who does not instead rejoice in the Divine righteousness displayed in the destruction his own scheme brought upon him?
Let the workers of iniquity tremble, turn to the Lord, and seek pardon through the blood of Jesus.
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