Light and Gladness
G. F. Coster. Esther 8:15-17 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold… I. THE GOLLY OF CLAIMING HUMAN INFALLIBILITY. Think of what the king had here to do. His law "might no man reverse." To save the doomed Jews the king was reduced to the absurd necessity, as Matthew Henry pithily puts it, "of enacting a civil war in his own dominions between the Jews and their enemies, so that both sides took up arms by his authority and yet against his authority." What is not claimed by our sovereigns or legislators is claimed, in matters of religion, by the Roman Pontiff. As a general belief it may be held by Roman Catholics. But in what one law has this personal infallibility been exercised? In the end it must be a manifest failure in religion, as it has been in politics. II. INTO ALL THE LANGUAGES OF PERSIA WAS THE NEW DECREE TRANSLATED. Thus with man's law. Thus too it should be with God's law. Happy day for any nation when in its own language it comes into possession of the Bible, the good news from God. III. THE PROMPTITUDE IN THE COMMUNICATION OF GOOD NEWS. Wonderful the promptitude that marks the postal service of to-day! It may bring its burden to some, but it is a ministry of consolation to the many. It brings the distant nigh. It revives with oil of love the lamp of life. IV. THE TEMPORAL SALVATION OF THE JEWS WAS BUT A FAINT SHADOW OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME IN THE GREAT SPIRITUAL SALVATION WROUGHT BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. (G. F. Coster.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. WEB: Mordecai went out of the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and was glad.