The Triumph of Weakness

Do not Esther and her "seven maidens" excel over all other remnant activity in Israel's history? Her heart went out after all the people of God in those days. And she was the means of saving all. According to Biblical chronology, she was received into the royal house of Artaxerxes just after Ezra and his band started for Jerusalem. (Compare Ezra 7:8, with 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 3:6), so all the people of Jehovah must be aimed at—destroyed by him. Perhaps Ezra knew nothing of this terrible intention. However this 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 greater than 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 6:4). But Esther enters "the inner court of the king's house." (See Esther 5:1, and Psa. 45—upon Shoshannim, verses 13 and 14). It was death or full blessing to go thither (Esther 4:11). If the king "delighted" still in her (see Esther 2:14; Psa. 37:1-7), what wondrous grace (truly sovereign) would be shown her, and how widespread the blessing that should follow. Unlike a Ruth or a Hannah, she is too weak 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.
Notice too, the greatness of her faith in her lord. She prepares a banquet for him, and does so before she presents her request. She let him see she expected him to come. Was this a trespass on his grace? No, 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. Either Haman is to triumph supremely, or utter weakness is to 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 one" presently. 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 3.1-3).
This place of utter weakness is certainly 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, still the moral truth of Psa. 17:15 is there for us now. "As for me," 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.
It was not only the valiant ones—the mighty men—who got the joy and gladness and feasting. All got it—the undeserving, the weak, the outcasts, all in "the kindness of God." I think we see this largeness of blessing in Rev. 22:17, and in the words, "If any man hear My voice," in chapter 3 verse 20. Jacob had this sovereign bounty shown to him when he was carried on the wagons which Joseph provided to feast on the corn in Egypt, while all Egypt felt the fullness of the savior of the world then. What a 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. 21:13-16; Ezek. 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. 29). 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." W. Reid
Editorial
Shipwrecks are sensational catastrophes that always make the headlines in the news. There have been many through the centuries and some, like the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, still attract attention.
An enormous amount of wealth has gone to the sea floor in these sunken vessels and today some of the gold and silver and valuable artifacts are being recovered.
The Apostle Paul wrote, "Thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep." After he wrote this he was shipwrecked again and much detail is given about it in Acts 27.
Last month we wrote about money and this month we take up a similar subject. We call it commerce. The world is full of it. It is the exchange or buying and selling of commodities on a large scale between different places. Necessarily, the transportation of this merchandise is a large part of this commerce. Through the years ships have been the major means of transporting the bulk of this business.
At this time the importance of ships stands out as the United States begins to protect the oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. Trade must go on in order for men to live the comfortable life they so much desire.
In the prophecy concerning commerce and its end, God likens it to the sinking of a ship. We will take this up, but first we must introduce a few things to explain and lead up to that great catastrophe that will cause such a great lamentation to the earth-dwellers in that day.
The government in the earth since the days of Nebuchadnezzar has been given by the God of heaven into the hands of the Gentiles. The book of Daniel tells us much concerning these times of the Gentiles and the four successive empires. In chapter 7 and verse 2 it says, "The four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea." The winds are various disturbing influences, ordered of God in a providential way as He accomplishes His purposes in the government of the earth. The winds of heaven tell us the source from which they are directed.
The change in the alignment of nations even now is manifesting itself, we believe, in France's breaking its relations with Iran. Iran (Persia) will doubtless be aligned with Russia at the end. France will become a part of the revived Roman Empire.
World commerce in prophecy is somewhat separate from, but still connected with, and running parallel to the development of Babylon and the judgments that are foretold in Daniel and Revelation.
The ship of commerce and its sinking are found in Ezek. 27 under the symbol of Tyrus. Another has ably written about this and we quote from William Bothwell.
“This chapter figuratively reviews the glories of Tyrus, its merchant marine and city garrison, its international trade and accumulated wealth. Suddenly, like a ship caught in a storm, it vanishes into the depths of the sea and all with it.
“Ezek. 27:1-7: Tyrus viewed as a ship.
“The prophet takes up a lament for Tyrus. Situated in a harbor at the entry of the sea, she is a merchant vessel for the people of the isles, beautifully designed for maritime service (verses 1-3).
“Tyrus sails where there are no restrictive borders. Its builders have perfected it, part by part, to sail into wide and deep waters. The ship's double planking is made of fir from Senir, which is located at Mount Hermon (Deut. 3:9). The masts are of cedar from Mount Lebanon, between Mount Hermon on the east and Sidon on the west. The ships' oars are of oak from Bashan, which is immediately south of Mount Hermon. The deck is of ivory, inlaid in boxwood (larch) obtained from Cyprus (Chittim). Byssus, the fine linen of Egypt, forms the sails; for banners and awnings the blue and purple fabric comes from the isles of Elishah. Elishah was the son of Javan and the grandson of Japheth.
“The ships of Tarshish are the caravans of the sea and Tyrus, dependent on ship and sea, was highly honored by the multitude of trade, so much so, that Tyrus is the symbol in Scripture of the commercial world in all its earthly glory.
“Ezek. 27:26-36: The ship Tyrus is broken by the east wind and sinks into the depths of the sea.
“In verse 5, Tyrus is likened to a ship, and in verses 26 and 27 the vessel, brought into great waters, is broken by the east wind. The east wind is a figure of speech and represents Nebuchadnezzar and his Chaldean army coming from the East and destroying Tyrus and its mercantile system. The ship's company, mariners, pilots and caulkers, men of war, and merchants and their merchandise vanish into the sea as the ship founders in the storm (verses 26, 27). The pilots cry aloud in grief: they failed to guide the ship through the storm (verse 28).
“Ships' crews stand upon the land and mourn over Tyrus. Their sense of loss is so keen that the most distraught behavior is their only means of expressing the pent-up bitterness of their souls. The hubbub of the market place and the noise of the traffickers is reduced to silence and every countenance is troubled. The peoples of the isles are amazed and the kings afraid. Tyrus is a terror to their minds.
“The prophet received word from the Lord in a progressive way. More and more is revealed to the prophet concerning Tyrus until its presumptuous impiety to reign supreme is exposed. World commerce will receive shock after shock until its complete collapse, until the days just prior to the Lord's appearing (Isa. 23). Tyrus is a figure of the commercial world's terror at such a calamity, as Babylon, by a similar figure, foretells the collapse of the religious world (Rev. 18). One is a prince, the other is a queen in the earth.”
The great markets of the world and the mass of commodities that are bought and sold and transported to all parts of this globe are the very life-sustaining channels that supply most of this world's vast population. What will it be like when the ship sinks?
Ed.