The Triumph of Weakness

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DOES not Esther and her " seven maidens " excel all the remnant activity in time of old? Her heart went out after all the people of God in those days. And she was the means of saving all. If Biblical chronology is to be trusted, she was received into the royal house of Artaxerxes just after Ezra and his band started for Jerusalem. (Compare Ezra 7:88And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. (Ezra 7:8), with Esther 2:1616So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. (Esther 2:16)). If this be so, little did Ezra and his company know that the intercessions of weakness were going on, not alone for him and his band, but for all the people of the Jews. The flesh, set at work by Satan, through Haman, scorned to do only a small work of malice (Esther 3:66And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had showed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. (Esther 3:6)); so all the people of Jehovah must be aimed at—destroyed by him. Perhaps Ezra knew nothing of this terrible intention. However this many may be, weakness learned the secret from Mordecai. Death was hanging over Ezra and all his and Esther's people. Is it fighting and military prowess that is to triumph? No; " she that tarried at home " will gain a wondrous victory. Is not Esther beyond a Deborah?
Then notice the place into which she goes. Haman may enter " the outward court." He is covered with outward glory, too—like the coming apostate (Esther 6:44And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. (Esther 6:4)). But Esther enters “the inner court of the king's house." (See Esther 5:11Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. (Esther 5:1), and Psa. 451<<To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.>> My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. (Psalm 45:1)-upon Shoshannim, verse 13). It was death or full blessing to go thither (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)). If the king “delighted” still in her (see Esther 2:1414In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name. (Esther 2:14); Psa. 37:1-71<<A Psalm of David.>> Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (Psalm 37:1‑7)), what wondrous grace (truly sovereign) would be shown her, and how widespread the blessing that should follow. She is too weak (Ruth-like—Hannah-like) to fight; but she is not too weak to reach the heart of the monarch of unlimited power. To " touch the golden scepter "-that would do all. That could only be done by entering his presence in the inner court.
Remark, too, the greatness of her faith in her lord. She prepares a banquet for him; and does so before she presents her wondrous request. She let him see she expected him to come. Was this a trespass on his grace? Nay, it was a trial of his love to her; and all must share the blessing or none. It was either utter destruction or magnificent deliverance in royal bounty. Haman is to triumph supremely, or utter weakness bring in sovereign grace, joy and gladness, to all the people of God.
Notice, too, how Haman is allowed to go on to a moment in which he is just about to place the crown, as it were, on his own head. But, like “the chief baker," in Gen. 40, he is hanged. Such will be the end of “that wicked " by-and-bye. But I am only illustrating the way flesh boasting at any time may come down in a moment. What a trial for faith to both Esther within and Mordecai in sackcloth without. She feasts within as he fasts without; for she must come as becomes the Queen of Ahasuerus when she enters there (see also Ruth 3:1-31Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 2And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. 3Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. (Ruth 3:1‑3)).
Ah! this place of utter weakness is a blessed one. If we feel we do not “delight in war," we may, surely, delight ourselves in Him who is “the Faithful and True Witness." Here is the golden scepter as it were, for us to touch. Really, all depends on Him now. But we must let our thoughts go out to all the people of God if we are coming towards " the inner court" in the time of the flesh's boastfulness and pride. If the flesh can boast of its success (as Haman will manifestly do by-and-bye when the church is caught up (see Esther 5:22And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. (Esther 5:2); Psa. 17:1414From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. (Psalm 17:14),) still the moral truth of Psa. 17:1515As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15). is there for us now. The “As for me," there is the expression of weakness amid many foes around. May it be ours. Divine righteousness, can do wonders in the face of the enemy. " Grace reigns through righteousness" now.
Ant remark, it was not only the valiant ones—the mighty men—who got the joy and gladness and feasting then. All got it—the deserveless, the weak, the outcasts, all in " the kindness of God." I think we see this largeness of blessing in Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17). So “If any hear my voice," in 3:20. Jacob got this sovereign bounty shown him when he was carried on the wagons of Joseph's providing to feast on the corn in Egypt; while all Egypt felt the fullness of the savior of the world then. Oh! this glory of grace. When all is in utter failure—death suspended over all, as far as our responsibility is concerned—what a moment for "rebels" to be gathered round " the well of Beer," that God may be sanctified in them, sanctified in the sight of His own enemies. (see Num. 21:1313From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. (Numbers 21:13); Ezek. 20:4141I will accept you with your sweet savor, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. (Ezekiel 20:41).) " Gather the people together and I will GIVE." Thus the Holy One of Jacob beholds those that erred in spirit coming to understanding, and those that murmured learning doctrine (Isa. 2917One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. (Isaiah 30:17)) This is deliverance and blessing according to His righteousness worthy of the Holy and the True, and "the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God."