First, in the opening scene we notice the power which God has now established on the earth, after His throne has been withdrawn from Jerusalem on account of Israel’s iniquity and the headship has been transferred to the Gentile nations. It was given to King Nebuchadnezzar to represent it in its majestic appearance over a succession of times, in a dream which Daniel recalls and interprets (Dan. 2). These are “the times of the Gentiles” of which the Lord speaks (Luke 21:2424And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)). They began with the Babylonian Empire headed by its powerful head: Nebuchadnezzar, the golden head of his image. His lordship was universal and absolute. He had received it from God Himself (Dan. 2:37-3837Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. (Daniel 2:37‑38); Jer. 27:6-86And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. 7And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him. 8And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the Lord, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand. (Jeremiah 27:6‑8)) as it was told him by Daniel.
But in the book of Esther, this Babylonian Empire is no longer present. It had terminated the night Babylon was taken by Darius the Mede, at which time also Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, was slain (Jer. 27:77And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him. (Jeremiah 27:7); Dan. 5:28-3128PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. 29Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 31And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. (Daniel 5:28‑31)). The empire of the Medes and Persians succeeded him, represented by the chest and arms of silver of Nebuchadnezzar’s image seen in his dream — less excellent now, for the royal authority was limited and no longer absolute (Dan. 6:7-87All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. (Daniel 6:7‑8)) but participating in the same privileges and displaying the same spirit. Cyrus, successor to Darius, and the real head of the Persian empire, recognized that his power came to him from “the Lord God of heaven” (Ezra 1:22Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. (Ezra 1:2)). This is the empire which, in the days of Esther, reigned over the earth by its King Ahasuerus who “reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred seven and twenty provinces” (Esther 1:11Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:) (Esther 1:1)).
The empires succeeding each other which constituted the statue are also individually presented in prophecy according to their moral character under the image of “beasts” and savage beasts (Dan. 7-8). This description tells us how they have appeared as to their character, their manner of actions, and their responsibility. The beast knows not God, lifts not its eyes up to the heavens, but keeps them turned down to the earth; it is altogether of the earth, follows its instincts and serves only to satisfy the more or less developed intelligence it possesses. These empires, in the person of their heads, instead of relating to God, the origin of their power, and living in dependence on Him, glorified themselves as though they owed everything unto themselves. Nebuchadnezzar heard these words from the mouth of Daniel: “Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory” (Dan. 2:3737Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. (Daniel 2:37)).
Sometime later he forgot them and dared to say: “Is not this great Babylon, that 1 have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” (Dan. 4:3030The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? (Daniel 4:30)).
There is nothing for God in it; it is man exalting himself. When Nebuchadnezzar turns his eyes from God to look on himself, then lowers his eyes and turns them towards earth, he becomes a beast (see Ps. 49:20), without knowledge, given over to instincts and not guided by wisdom from on high. It is not till he lifts up his eyes towards God that he can say in his admirable confession: “And mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High” (Dan. 4:34-3634And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. (Daniel 4:34‑36)). In the end times this shall come to pass among the nations; they shall acknowledge and shall bless the Lord (see Ps. 138:4-5).
We shall not now stop to consider in detail the imagery by which the Babylonian might is figured; one sees there the majesty, the power, the energy and the rapidity of execution. The beast which represents the Persian empire is “like to a bear, and it raised up one dominion, [marg.] and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh” (Dan. 7:55And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. (Daniel 7:5)). The description expresses in a striking manner the character of the second kingdom. It is greediness and rapacity coupled with the voracity and cruelty of the beast of prey. In effect, the power of the Persian enriched itself by the spoiling of the conquered upon whom they imposed their intolerable yoke, and this for the satisfying of the tastes and unbridled desires of the luxury and enjoyments of the kings, the satraps and courtiers.
Daniel 8 presents the power of the Persian under the figure of the ram “pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great” (Dan. 8:3-43Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. (Daniel 8:3‑4)). The directions in which their conquests were effective, the irresistible force of their armies throughout their beginnings (2 Chron. 36:2323Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up. (2 Chronicles 36:23); Isa. 45:1-31Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; 2I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: 3And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. (Isaiah 45:1‑3)), the extent of the territory over which they reigned and which gave them the name of “grand king” is admirably described in a short account of the vision of Daniel.
But the Persian empire, as we have already remarked, was according to the word of the prophet, “inferior” to the head of gold. His position, even as the metal to which he was likened in the vision, indicated the great monarch of the Chaldeans. Below the head of gold were the chest and arms of silver. This was the Persian empire; it was not inferior in extent to the Babylonian empire, but the authority of their kings was limited in that they themselves were bound by the laws they had promulgated. There was a limit to the exercise of their will. Instead of being absolute, as was Nebuchadnezzar, who took no counsel but with himself, and whose will was the only law, with the Medes and the Persians the royal authority was regulated by a council of seven principal officers of the realm, and once a decree was rendered the king himself could not change it; it was irrevocable (Esther 1:19; 8:819If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. (Esther 1:19)
8Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse. (Esther 8:8); Dan. 6:7-8,12,157All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. (Daniel 6:7‑8)
12Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. (Daniel 6:12)
15Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. (Daniel 6:15)).
Other traits characterized the Gentile power which prevailed during the times of Esther. While on the one hand their authority was limited, on the other the Persian kings demanded to be treated as God Himself. Nebuchadnezzar, immediately after the vision which unrolled before him the course of the empires, and though he had recognized the God of Daniel as “the God of gods and the Lord of the kings,” employs the God-given authority which he holds to give to idolatry a splendor without equal and intended to make it the tie which would unite all the people who were subject to him. Death is the penalty pronounced against whoever would not obey the will of the mighty monarch and would refuse to prostrate himself before the statue of gold (Dan. 3). So also in the time to come, the beast and his image shall have to be worshiped, on pain of death, by them which dwell on the earth (Rev. 13).
With the kings of Persia a much higher pretension prevailed. They assumed the place of divinity. The first thing presented by Satan to man to seduce him had been: “Ye shall be as gods.” Man has not forgotten it. This suggestion still works in him. He pursues this design with all his powers while his mind multiplies discoveries and sciences and he subjects to himself the forces of nature. And the moment will arrive when under Satan’s workings “the man of sin [shall] be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thess. 2:3-4). The saints of this present time will already be with the Lord, but what a terrible future awaits this world.
The pretension of which we have spoken was apparent with the kings of Persia in different ways. No one could present himself before them without being called, and when the law was infringed, it meant death for the transgressor, at least if the king did not show grace (Esther 4:1111All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. (Esther 4:11)). No one might appear sad before him. Their presence was to be the source of joy (Neh. 2:1-21And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, (Nehemiah 2:1‑2)). Every decree having gone forth from their mouth was irrevocable. Besides we see Darius, on instigation of his counselors, refusing to allow anyone to request anything from any god or man except himself on pain of being thrown into the den of lions (Dan. 6:7-87All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. (Daniel 6:7‑8)). Again we see how a word of these monarchs, pronounced against anyone, was a sentence of death (Esther 7:8-108Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. 9And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. 10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified. (Esther 7:8‑10)).
The idolatry which Nebuchadnezzar intended to establish and impose upon all and the pretension to being considered as a god, which characterized the Persian kings, were both the effects of the influence of the enemy of God. The enemy was working against God’s people, as it is seen in Daniel and we shall see it in the book of Esther.
Let us remember also that royal power is instituted of God and as such it represents the power of God upon the earth. Thus also, addressing the judges, God says: “I have said, Ye are gods” (Psa. 82:1,61<<A Psalm of Asaph.>> God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. (Psalm 82:1)
6I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. (Psalm 82:6)). The sovereign has authority over life and death. Paul tells us in exhorting “every soul,” to be subject to the authority which is of God, that the magistrate “beareth not the sword in vain” (Rom. 13:1-51Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. (Romans 13:1‑5)). The royal hand holds out a scepter of gold, a symbol of the power to reign, and a sign of authority and majesty. But that scepter held out and touched by a person is for him a sign of grace and mercy, a token that he is accepted by royal favor and that instead of death his life is spared (Esther 4:11; 8:411All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. (Esther 4:11)
4Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, (Esther 8:4)). We would not be able to stand before the majesty of God, but His grace intervenes, places us into His favor, and we live! Then also the power of the sovereign abases and elevates whom He will, as we shall see in Mordecai and Haman. And this is, in its divine application, as is said of Jehovah: “He bringeth low, and lifteth up” (1 Sam. 2:7). Moreover, the power of the king of Persia gives the right to the tribute and the homage of all the nations which are subject to him; it possessed the glory and might. From all these viewpoints the great king fairly represents divine authority. But he, too, is only a man, and his history in this book shows it plainly.
Let us now enter more in detail into what the book of Esther is saying to us. The grandeur and the extent, the glory and the riches of the empire over which Ahasuerus reigned, are shown to us in the first verses: “This is Ahasuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces,” every one of which could count for a kingdom. Desiring to display the power of Persia and of Media to his princes and servants, and to the nobles and princes of the provinces which he had invited, he showed them “the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty.” He made them a feast and celebration for one hundred and eighty days. After this the great king extended his invitation to the entire population of Shushan the capital for seven more days of celebrations.
Do we not see analogous things in our day? The course of this world does not change. Man is using the gifts God gives, the strength He bestows, for the amassing of treasure, displaying with pride his luxury and his riches and inviting others so as to freely indulge in the pleasures these riches afford and doing this in utter independence without constraint (ch. 1:8). Everyone drank as he pleased and abandoned himself to pleasure and joy. Is this not the course of this world today?
Everything in this feast of Ahasuerus was for pleasure, for the gratification of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:1616And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. (John 2:16)). And I ask again: Has the world changed? We see the splendors of the World’s Fairs where the nations of the earth agree together to display everything their riches have produced. Man boasts of all that which science, arts and the industry of man have invented to embellish his life, to charm his days and to add to his joys upon earth, but remains far from God. His feasts are perhaps less luxurious than that of Ahasuerus, but they are more frequent — a vain show of riches and of the intelligence and genius of man. Does it not resemble the feasts of Ahasuerus, more than forty-three centuries ago “in the court of the garden of the king’s palace”? There “were white, green, and blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black marble” (ch. 1:6). Such was that sumptuously decorated scene where the feast ran its course. There exquisite wines flowed in large volume “in the vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from the other).” Everyone did as they pleased without constraint, according to the king’s instructions (vss. 7-8). What splendor, what riches, as the mirth — an earthly joy, that of intoxication and forgetting — filled the hearts. What satisfaction for the flesh! This is the boast of the world. But “the world passeth away,” with its celebrations and mirth, with its vanities and coveting, “but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:1717And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. (John 2:17)).
There is more. In spite of all the splendors which it offers, the world is at enmity with God, and he who loves the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:44Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)). The world is judged since it has demonstrated its hatred to the highest degree in crucifying the Son of God. Soon the sentence shall be executed against the world, against Babylon whose riches, luxury, pride and downfall are described in the eighteenth chapter of Revelation. The voice of the angel shall be heard: “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen.” She perishes with all them who glorified themselves with her. And what is the word addressed to the faithful? “Come out of her, my people.” What part therefore can a Christian have in the celebrations of the world, the fairs, the amusements, etc.? For him all this is judged, since God has judged it. “They are not of the world,” Jesus said, “even as I am not of the world” (John 17:1616They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:16)). Are we going to associate ourselves with or attach ourselves to that which will perish under the judgment of God? Consider the words of the angel: “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins” (Rev. 18:44And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Revelation 18:4)).
The world forgets the end towards which it is hastening. It is given up entirely to its distractions and its enjoyments, but, mixed with this intoxicating cup there is always something ready to trouble, a bitterness sometimes altogether unexpected. How true the word of the wise: “Even in laughter the heart is heavy and the end of that mirth is bitterness.” But, unexpectedly, that which we thought would increase our pleasure often brings sorrow and spoils our enjoyment.
“Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house.” Nothing seemed more appropriate than that the queen should be united in heart with what her husband was doing and, in her sphere, also give pleasure. Vashti, however, acted in independence. She wanted to enjoy personally the feast she had prepared for the women of the royal house and refused to be associated with her husband’s feast and to adorn it by her presence. Ahasuerus wanted to show the beauty and dignity of his spouse to the people and princes. He wanted them to see that she who is the nearest to him is worthy of him and of the station she occupies. But when she is requested to come, Vashti refuses to appear. “Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands” is an ancient command, for it was spoken to Eve: “Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” But as the man who is the head of the wife is lifted up against Christ his Lord, so it is often seen in the world that the woman is lifted up against her head. Today, in particular, the spirit of independence, of liberation as it is called, is gaining the ascendance over those whose glory shall be submission.
Thus it is that the royal feast and its joys are disturbed. The king and his princes must bring in order as to this spirit of insubordination which, coming from the queen, would spread to all classes. Vashti loses her crown which would be given to one better than herself. By irrevocable edict she is reduced to obscurity and this edict, published throughout, establishes the position of authority of the man.
Although the king and his counsellors were acting in ignorance and by human motives, the matter was of God. The commandment which He had given from the beginning must be maintained. To rise up against it is a sign of the last days. But in the secret counsels of God, the fall of Vashti would have serious consequences, although unobserved by the world. Even though these were the times of the Gentiles, God gives evidence that He does not stop caring for His people. Everything turns, as regards God’s plans with the earth, around this despised race, this “nation scattered and peeled ... a people terrible from their beginning hitherto: a nation meted out and trodden underfoot” (Isa. 18:2,72That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled! (Isaiah 18:2)
7In that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, the mount Zion. (Isaiah 18:7)).
The fall of Vashti the Gentile queen, prepares the way of the Jewish queen for the deliverance of God’s people. The circumstance which produces this result may seem rather miserable. It is the haughty character of an insubmissive woman which gives occasion for it, and the irritation of a king whose orders have been flouted. But God uses these sentiments to work the things He has in mind. He governs all things and makes the thoughts and actions even of him who is unaware to work for the accomplishment of His designs. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Rom. 11:3333O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)). Do we not here, in this event, see it again in the substituting of Esther for Vashti? Is it not an image of that which is in preparation and will soon take place? We know that during the time when the Jewish spouse is set aside because of her unfaithfulness, there is a Gentile bride, the church, on earth.
We are not talking now of the church as a vessel of divine testimony down here, the golden lampstand which should diffuse the light of Christ: The church was called to show to the world the beauty and the glory with which her divine Head had invested her: the royal crown which graced His head. Did she do it? No, and we know, according to the Word, that for this reason she will be rejected.
“Be not high-minded,” said the apostle to those who through grace have been made partakers of the root and fatness of the olive tree (Israel), “but fear ... lest He also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off” (Rom. 11:17-2217And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Romans 11:17‑22)). The church has not continued; she has not showed His beauty to the world; she has shaken off the yoke of obedience towards her Lord; she is highminded and has wanted to enjoy herself; she glorifies herself as if nothing were wanting and she will be, spewed out of the mouth of Christ (Rev. 3:16-1716So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Revelation 3:16‑17)).
But according to the merciful ways of God towards Israel, His earthly people, the Jewish spouse which has been set aside for a time will be restored and will replace down here the Gentile spouse. The rejected branches shall be grafted in again (Rom. 11:2323And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. (Romans 11:23); Hos. 2:14-1714Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. 15And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. 16And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali. 17For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. (Hosea 2:14‑17)). Then will be accomplished what Isaiah describes in glowing terms:
“Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; The Lord of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called. For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer” (Isa. 54:2-82Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; 3For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 4Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. 5For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 7For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:2‑8)).
This will be the time of Israel’s glory, although at present they are scattered and exposed to the railings of their enemies. We find this prefigured in the events which the book of Esther relates. We are thus led to consider a second subject which presents itself, and that is the Jews.