READINGS ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER (2)
[p. 126] READINGS ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER (2)
JT It seems as if we should return a little to the first chapter and also enlarge on the second chapter so as to have clearly in our minds what the book is opening up; that is, the first in Vashti and what she represents actively in our times and then the second as to the qualities that show themselves in Esther to bring in the subjective side of the truth which is to be worked out in the truth of the assembly. We looked a little this morning at the State churches and all that resulted in the history of the four monarchies so the feminine side is seen fully developed in the book of Revelation — how it comes in for divine judgment. Its description as given in that book shows how it merits unmitigated divine judgment. The idea of the feminine in relation to the ruler is seen illustratively, at least, in Nehemiah, who tells us that when he was making supplication to the king to send him to Judaea to build Jerusalem, the queen was sitting by, evidently in sympathy. The writer of the Psalms (which always open up what is worked out in the Pentateuch) tells of the queen in gold of Ophir sitting on the right of the king (Psalm 45), showing the divine thought for Israel. This was reflected in the Babylonish feature of the four monarchies and then in the Persian. Thus there is the queen mother in relation to Belshazzar — not the queen sitting by now as with Nehemiah — but the queen in sympathy with what God is doing at that time, and then in our own times in the Romish empire as linked with Christianity. It assumes great importance in the four monarchies in that it comes into Christianity and has had to do with Christ as putting Him to death and putting His servants to death in the ten persecutions. Pilate’s wife enters into that side — have thou nothing to do with that righteous man. That is the feminine side as we had this morning. And what deterioration set in in the history of the empire as Christianity followed Judaism. As it lost its place the assembly came into view and how quickly it deteriorated into that which is called Babylon in a feminine way. As the empire took over Christianity in the history of the assembly from the second century it shows how the feminine side influenced the ruling side. The ruling side is subservient to the female, to the subjective side and all that is seen in relation to the Reformation — where Rome claiming to be in sympathy with Christ, sat a queen and was no widow and so to her own sorrow becomes drunk with the blood of the saints. Terrible deterioration and wickedness! And so it stands out as before God as one of the most remarkable influences that ever existed below and shown so by God in the book of Revelation. I think what is before us is as to whether we understand the feminine side in relation to the ruling powers now, and what gives it existence and whether it is not shown in its public character at the present time as influencing the ruling powers. And whether as we see this influence we see our judgment judged upon it; whether it is not worked out in ourselves in true feminine qualities answering to Christ.
LES Would there be a correspondence in Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea in relation to Vashti and true feminine features in Philadelphia?
JT Quite so. The Lord says, “I will cause that they shall come and shall do homage before thy feet, and shall know that I have loved thee” (Revelation 3:9). He loves to show that she is worthy of His affection.
JD What would be involved in verses 19 and 20 of Esther 2? Would it suggest a certain relationship kept until the time comes to make it [p. 128] known?
JT Quite so. There is a group of circumstances that should be observed. What has been said about Vashti is to make clear in our minds the necessity for the judgment of God and thus the making way for the qualities of Esther. Then this matter of the second gathering of the virgins in verse 19 seems to allude to some change in the king’s attitude. A second gathering of the virgins — why should there be that if he had already settled on a queen? And then is brought in the circumstance of the attempted assassination of the king bringing Mordecai in due time into immense position of advantage. It would seem as if the matter was settled in regard of Esther as stated in verse 18. “And the king made a great feast to all his princes and his servants, Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave presents according to the king’s bounty”. The matter seemed to be settled and Esther’s position fixed. Well then, why another gathering of the virgins and why should the attempted assassination of the king be mentioned? Is it not for further consideration? Why are other virgins gathered if there is no weakening in the king’s affections? But it is all checked by God by the introduction of the attempted assassination bringing Mordecai under the attention of the king. God brings this in here to be used later. In the meantime with this other set of virgins nothing happens and Esther comes through and Mordecai comes through and the mind of God comes through and the fickleness of the king is just left.
JD It is the point that God takes to bring Mordecai into evidence.
JT God had that in mind. He is laying the basis for further developments in view of the devil. We are not ignorant of what the devil is going to do.
FR What is the present bearing of the selection of Esther?
[p. 129] JT It is just a great fact in the plan of the book. Such a thing happened. The feminine thought is going over into the Gentile monarchies. Vashti is to be replaced. She has proved herself disqualified because of disobedience. That is the first thought with humanity. Eve listened to the devil without enquiring of her husband — she was in the transgression — God never forgot that. And He states at that point that Adam should rule over her. She is not safe without rule — the ruling side in Adam. She is not safe, she proves herself as exposed to the devil. And this runs down. She has had her place with the Jew — God’s spouse and with the Gentile monarchies she has also had her place. She has her place in the queen mother in Babylon — the queen in the Medo-Persian kingdom when Nehemiah wanted to build Jerusalem. She played her part there as sitting by the monarch and assisting him rightly. But Vashti is not doing that. You say, She is not so bad. But the point is she rebelled and refused to hear what the king said in his own territory.
CHH Is the second gathering of the virgins like the proving of the matter, as it was at Corinth?
JT Why the second gathering? The assassination is brought in to becloud it. You never hear of it again. If it had gone through what would have become of Esther and Mordecai? But it did not go though. Incidents happened to check it as at Corinth.
JD The position of the man and the woman comes out here in Esther and Mordecai. She is already showing feminine qualities — Mordecai tells her of the incident and she relates it to the king in Mordecai’s name. She gives the man his place.
JT So we should look carefully into chapter 2 to see the qualities of the accepted one — of the second Job’s wife is just left — we cannot say what her history was eventually. The daughters of the first family are destroyed and there is not evidence of [p. 130] a second wife in the book of Job. But here no children are mentioned — it is the wife in this book. I think we have seen how Vashti, in type, has worked out in the book of Revelation — supreme wickedness — Rome, Babylon — the smoke of her burning ascends for ever and ever. So that now the second chapter assumes great importance as bringing in the second. There are such qualities there. She was an orphan and Mordecai had brought her up, and thus she gradually comes into her place and shows subjection immediately — she is content with what is provided for her by Hegai.
LES The present activities of the Spirit in prophetic ministry all enter into it. All that comes into Esther’s position corresponding to Hegai’s kindness to her.
JT So there is much said in this chapter that needs attention. It opens up remarkably that in Esther qualities are developed in the presence of Vashti’s qualities seen fully blown in Revelation and in power today. In the time of Constantine already the mystery of iniquity had begun to work and thus in the time of the Reformation we have a number of persons instituting a state church. And that idea has held in Europe — it is this great thing called Babylon and stands as representing the feminine side regarding the four monarchies — especially the fourth monarchy which comes through to the end. There are other women linked with it; they are called harlots. Babylon is the mother of harlots — there are others. The Anglican system is an apt illustration of a State church. Even in Scotland and Russia and Greece, all through Europe — the idea of the State church is held and in the Americas, too, the outgoings of Europe. It is not so prominent perhaps in the Americas but it exists, the politicians allude to the church — make room for the church. It is the woman — that is the [p. 131] idea.
CB As applying this to us Vashti’s features are to give place to the second — the heavenly features as acceptable to Christ.
JT That is what we are saying. Esther features are developed in the presence of all that has been described. It is the working out of the truth of the assembly. We have both features in Revelation — the heavenly city and Babylon.
CHH As Esther keeps her proper place, is that the power for dealing with evil regardless of how evil it is?
JT We shall see in that way how Esther comes though. In the meantime there are qualities with her that are known. Hegai, keeper of the women, knows them — he discerns them. And so it says, “There was in Shushan the fortress a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjaminite, who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther”. It is like, “Who also is Paul”, a change of name — no doubt having the meaning of the word ‘Esther’ in mind. “And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother — and the maiden was fair and beautiful — and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter”. These are beautiful thoughts — you would like to qualify them in the presence of all we have been speaking of. “And it came to pass when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the fortress, unto the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was brought into the king’s house, unto the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased him, and obtained favour before him”. She had [p. 132] qualities.
JD It is like Joseph in the Egyptian prison — what moral qualities were there. So Esther’s qualities shine in the position in which she is set.
JT And the persons who have charge of her promote her. They discern those qualities. Something or someone somewhere will be in sympathy with those qualities, and have sympathetic feeling which God has put there.
CB It says of the Lord that He “advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men” (Luke 2:52).
JT Those are feminine qualities — the principle of subjection, no evidence of self-will. Hegai discerns that at once. And it says, “And the maiden pleased him, and obtained favour before him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification”. It is the increase of femininity, as with Rebekah and Abigail. “And when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women, appointed”. That is she was subject.
LES The loss of her father and mother would be to her advantage.
JT That is worked out. To be orphans is one thing. Not to be left orphans is another.
Ques What would Mordecai represent in this?
JT Just an element — he works out as a type of Christ later on. In the meantime he is just a person who has great care for another person. He was devoted to Esther. “And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her”. It is the principle of care.
LES Would this enter somewhat into the care of the assembly?
JT Quite so. It is like the care meeting. The word ‘care’ is a good word. It shows unselfishness on the part of the brethren that they will sit up for hours to look after the affairs of the assembly in the town.
RH Would these features work out in the exercises of the local assembly and come to the attention of the authorities later?
JT That is what happened with Mordecai. He is found in the king’s gate. It is the idea of administration. The qualities of the people of God are in view that they are qualities to be brought to the attention of the rulers. In our day the qualities are coming before the authorities. They may hate us but someone among them will not.
LES In Acts 25 and 26 you get the apostle as setting forth these qualities before the authorities.
JT What beautiful qualities before Agrippa and before all of them. Exemplary indeed! Take Barnabas and Paul as they go to Cyprus and one Bar-jesus would have turned the ruler away from the faith but what came out was that Bar-jesus was dealt with, struck with blindness for a season — the Jews’ position today. “But Saul, who also is Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixing his eyes upon him, said, O full of all deceit and all craft: son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness”. And so the governor himself becomes amazed at the teaching of the Lord. So that the male side came into evidence there and it is there that his name is changed. “Who also is Paul”. Here “that is Esther”. And so that is how the matter stands — Paul comes into contact with the leading man and there is a chance to bring out his qualities. There is a witness to the qualities of the assembly today. It is a very great matter that the governors should see our qualities.
JC Is the book of Esther the determined effort of the devil to influence government to destroy all that is of God and for God on [p. 134] the earth?
JT Not simply the brethren or those in fellowship, but all that is of God. The devil has no small thought against us. Every product of God in Christendom is in mind in this book, even those not in fellowship get the work of God — the devil is against them.
CB All this indicates their worth as seen in God’s house.
JT Why not? Destroy not him for whom Christ died. It shows how valuable the brother is even though a Presbyterian. And so with the ruler there will always be such like Pilate’s wife and like Pharaoh’s daughter who did not turn against the children of Israel for she took up one of them that was weeping.
JD In the governmental ways of God Mordecai is in the gate when the king’s chamberlains, those that kept the threshold, those who looked after the interests of the king supposedly, were planning to kill him. All this is to bring forward Mordecai and Esther.
JT So someone will say, Well, I know these men, why imprison them? Someone will be there — many will not say it, but someone will say it — Why imprison them? Mordecai is put down in the Chronicles and one night the king cannot sleep so he has that book read to him and it saves Esther and Mordecai, and the Jews.
JD Verse 23 says, “And it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king”. It was there waiting God’s time.
JT God saw the devil working in Haman and also in the gathering of the virgins a second time — whether for another queen we do not know. But Haman is there and God is preparing to defeat him. And someone is going to be used to defeat the devil and save the brethren.
RH Would we not be justified then in using the government’s records of a certain period showing those known as brethren?
JT Why should we not tell people who we are? And these young men who have a conscience are in fellowship with people like that.
LES Does Esther show the children of God over against the children of the devil — the generative idea? Here it is Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite — a descendant of Esau.
PB Would Sardis represent Vashti and the overcomer in Sardis who is promised white garments — would that represent Esther here, as being prepared by the oil of myrrh and spices?
JT It is a question of quality in those assemblies. Every assembly has had its day, beginning with Ephesus, Sardis has had its day, Pergamos, too, “I know where thou dwellest, where the throne of Satan is; and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith” (Revelation 2:10). And then there is something of Thyatira and then certainly Philadelphia had its day. The whole idea of the assembly is to be seen there. “I have loved thee”. “That they ... shall know”. (Revelation 3:9). You say, What does it matter whether they know or not? But it does matter. The Lord says, That they shall know.
CHH Would the oil of myrrh and spices as being prepared for service link with John 2 — the full water pots — as necessary for the kind of service we are going on to now?
JT It shows the need for filling us — preparation for the heart of Christ — that we might be to Another.
JF What would be seen in Esther finding favour and then requiring nothing but what she is appointed?
JT If you are subject to the Spirit of God you do not want anything more than the Spirit provides. You may use gifts — but gifts are by the Spirit.
LES You see here that God not only overrules but orders certain circumstances in the history of [p. 136] the testimony in order to bring out the characteristic features of His own work, as the third chapter would show.
JT God takes the feminine to meet current evil — the kind of evil that we have to do with now. So that chapter 3 brings out Haman, we are not told anything about him before. But we have his generations here. “After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him”. The ruling power is now not against the devil. But God is taking charge of His interests, although not in evidence. The incident of the attempted assassination is one incident that God is using for the preservation of His interests at a later date.
JD Just before going on to that I would like a word on the end of the second chapter. “And the matter was investigated and found out”. It is an excellent thing to find things out.
JT That is what the care meeting is for.
JD I think sometimes in a matter of evil we do not trouble to find out because it means a little exercise to go into the matter. But here it is a divine principle in these matters to find it out. I just wanted you to mention that as a principle of care.
JT And when the time came for it to be brought out this investigation showed the thing as it stood. The king enquired as to what had been done for Mordecai. “And the king said, What honour and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this? And the king’s servants that attended upon him said, Nothing has been done for him”. How did they know? They were on the right side. These are things we can look for — they knew. “Nothing has been done for him”. I thought well to bring that in here to show how God brings such to light, and how the servants knew and are ready with the answer to the king’s question. Why had not the thing passed out of their minds? Pharaoh’s butler did not remember Joseph. He forgot Joseph. But these men do not forget. We can count on God looking after the matter in this way.
AP What is the point in Mordecai’s refusal to bow to Haman?
JT That brings up the whole point of what the devil is doing in the position. Vashti has been supplanted by Esther. That is an attested matter. “And the king made a great feast to all his princes and his servants, Esther’s feast” (Esther 2:18). So there is full recognition in the realm that she is queen. Now what will the devil do? This second gathering of the virgins was another move — but there is not much in that now. Just an item for us to notice. Then Esther had not made herself known or her birth known. She is still under the orders of Mordecai, maintaining her place in subjection to him. That was her salvation. “Esther, as Mordecai had charged her, had not yet made known her birth nor her people; for Esther did what Mordecai told her, like as when she was brought up with him”. A very good principle. She retained her simplicity. So the devil is going to be checked and nullified. Further we have Haman’s genealogy given in the beginning of chapter 3 and it says “And all the king’s servants that were in the king’s gate bowed and did Haman reverence, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. Then the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate, said to Mordecai, Why trangressest thou the king’s commandment? And it came to pass as they spoke daily to him, and he hearkened not to them, that they informed Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew”. Well, there it is, the lines are drawn now. Is Mordecai equal to this matter? So the succeeding [p. 138] chapters show how evil is broken down and right triumphs through Esther and Mordecai. But we should further notice the character of the evil and what it is in such circumstances. “And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, Haman was full of fury. But he scorned to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai; therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus — the people of Mordecai”. So that we now have the people of Mordecai, the real seed, the wholly right seed. Because a converted man is a converted man — the work of God is there — the seed is there. For the seed is the work of God.
CHH Do we get the full thought of it in the last chapter of Esther — “Speaking peace to all his seed”?
JT Quite so — Mordecai comes out as the full type later. But here it is the seed — Mordecai’s people. “But he scorned to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai; therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus — the people of Mordecai”.
PB Would the full climax of this be in Revelation 13 and 14 where the two beasts come up and the second beast exercises authority over all and then there are the hundred and forty-four thousand on mount Zion standing with the Lamb as having overcome the devil?
JT He is the wicked one. He represents this Haman character only that this is the Amalekite — God had declared war with Amalek from generation to generation. It is a question of applying this to ourselves and that we see that those coming into fellowship come in according to God — obeying the word of the Lord.
CB Why are these generations stressed so in this book?
[p. 139] JT Paul calls Bar-jesus — a child of the devil, enemy of all righteousness.
LES Is it over against the true seed — the Jews?
JT The devil’s agent is against that here. Mordecai and the devil’s agent — the battle is drawn. So that we watch and see how it works out. And thus look around and see what is going on and call things by their proper names and take sides with what is right in whomsoever it is found.
FR All this requires discernment for what is with the testimony today may not be tomorrow.
JT The king is very fickle but God can turn around whom He pleases. He may not be openly identified with His people but He is with them in Spirit.
JD What is the meaning of Esther 3:7?
JT “In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman for each day and for each month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar”. This is going to come up again. It is history, spiritual history. This is going to be fixed by and by. These things are methodically written. The lot was cast in the month Nisan and every day until the month Adar. Well, it is covering a good bit of time this matter. Haman is looking into the matter systematically. The devil has shone in the past few years in methodical calculation of matters — he is extremely skilful — but God turns the tables against him. You wonder at how successful they were. It was successful. “And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people, and they keep not the king’s laws; and it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them”. Well, that is just the way it is, if fully known. If the world only knew what we have in [p. 140] our minds! They do not know. God keeps it. But presently it will come to light. So Haman here is telling the king about these people and we have to watch for men doing that. Whether with parliaments and their cabinets we have to maintain an attitude of subjection and faith in God — that will be our salvation. But their minds may be affected. Ahasuerus was affected here and came over to the side of the devil. Haman says to him, “There is a people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people, and they keep not the king’s laws”. Well, there the evil is seen and how successful it is. The king is listening to it. “If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have charge of the affairs, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as seems good to thee”. The king takes his advice. He is on the side of the devil now. He has turned about face. It is a dark hour!
LES But did not Haman say what was not right? “They keep not the king’s laws”. That is not true.
JT You can well understand that when people are against God’s people they tell lies. There is nothing for them but to tell lies. What did he know about their laws? Had he read Moses?
AH How would this affect us in the prayer meeting?
JT I suppose the brethren here pray for the authorities. They give thanks for the benign attitude of the government so that as far as I know this matter comes into the prayer meetings of the brethren [p. 141] everywhere. It is the secret of the change that has come about. Because the uprising we are dealing with is in principle the man of sin — the time is ripening for it. But God is pleased to intervene and prolong the position as we have it, I believe chiefly in answer to the prayers of the saints.
CHH This is an excellent principle seen with Mordecai. He says that he is a Jew. Like Joseph’s brethren they said they were shepherds regardless of being despised by the Egyptians.
JT It is noticeable there, too, that Pharaoh does not despise them, so that sometimes you see a move in favour of what is right and this is our salvation. We are to count on that. God answers our prayers in establishing such men. It is for us to look for that. Just as later another king’s daughter saved the one of Jehovah’s choice.
FR God raised up another king that knew not Joseph.
JT But his daughter saved Moses — that was of God.
TD Mordecai is not affected by Haman’s attitude. He had light as to the end of the Amalekite.
JT Before the truth of fellowship came up, at the time of the reformation — four hundred years ago — the martyrs suffered. The Mordecais stood for the truth and died for the truth. That is the kind of thing.
RH Mordecai was not only a Jew but he maintained a good conscience individually.
JT Haman is not satisfied with the individual thought. Moses killed one Egyptian. It took a long time, but all the others were killed in the Red Sea. Haman was not concerned with one man but wanted his people destroyed. And he must have been a very wealthy man. He would give ten thousand talents of [p. 142] silver.
LES That would be equivalent to twenty million dollars.
JT That is quite interesting.
AH What these matters bring to light is that we know the assembly is precious to the heart of Christ. Mordecai speaks to Esther the queen in regard of the decree.
JT That will come out in the next chapter. It is well now to see the character of evil, how Satan uses this man. At the time of the reformation there was a very wealthy man, Thomas Cromwell. At a time like this Satan brings out his man. Well, God meets that — he takes such as Mordecai out of the hands of the devil and sets him up in His own kingdom.
JD It is marvellous the methodical way the devil goes into these matters as already pointed out from verse 7. God uses accuracy and method and so does Satan. In verse 13 there is accuracy again — you wonder at the way the Spirit of God gives us this, as if it is the thought of God governmentally.
JT So it goes on as you say, “That the decree might be given in every province, a copy of the writing was published to all peoples, that they should be ready against that day. The couriers went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the fortress. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was in consternation”. The devil’s position is being shaken. It is akin to Acts 4 but there it is God’s support by the shaking. But now the devil’s machinery is being upset, in the spirit of consternation. This recent uprising has brought into view the spirit of consternation. It can be seen. God has seen to it that it is going to be seen.
CB Is the secret of the undoing of this power seen in Esther coming through the six months [p. 143] of purification?
JT Quite so. The experience of the terrible thing here that has to be overcome. The Lord will help us to see how she shows forth the spirit of Christ — she puts her life in her hands as we shall see in chapter 4.
CB If one is not prepared to go that far they are not worth saving.
JT Any compromise is not worth saving. The lines are drawn and those remarkably show the position of Satan and of what is of Christ. Matthew shows the generations.
PB “To destroy, to kill and to cause to perish”.
JT It is like our own Acts — there is no mistaking what is meant. And they are to be fully carried out. You are impressed with the character of this — the devil can win and has won and will win again. You are impressed by the ingenuity of the devil. But God is against that. However, we are solemnised at what will happen and be successful. In the meantime God is thwarting it.
GR Would that be seen in Esther as prepared to suffer?
JT You see what God is taking is worth taking on. He is not taking on something not worth it. We shall see the qualities of suffering in Mordecai and Esther in the next chapter — the character of Christ in suffering — going the whole way, refusing to compromise.
JD Is the consternation in the city in contrast to Haman and the king?
JT The devil would link Haman and the king, but God is working with the populace. God has rights in the city. There is this clique there, but then God has rights that He is not going to let go. God has rights in this country that He is not going to let go. He has His people and He is not going to let them go, either. We shall see that He answers our [p. 144] prayers and at the same time we become priests to God — the real thing.
LES So Paul says, We are not ignorant of his devices. We are fully aware of the subtle workings of the devil.
FR Would you say that these sympathies and feelings of the saints are in the circle of the fellowship, as we speak, now?
JT It is what God has in the systems now. Mordecai and Esther were not in Jerusalem or in the temple — but there are certain qualities of God there and He is using them.
CHH In Acts 16 when the devil had done his worst Paul and Silas sing praises — the testimony is unaffected.
JT Going on into Europe and thus we have it now on the Pacific Coast. Thank God for it! The whole truth is opened up and God has His people now even in the Roman Catholic system. The Lord knows them that are His. And at the same time the books of Ezra and Nehemiah bring to light the divine system. But there are others belonging to the Lord as in Mordecai.
LES We have the prophetic word as to this in Haggai and Zechariah.
JT Dealing with the Jews in this book is dealing with the immense territory called a hundred and twenty-seven provinces — the whole world. Our prayers would be for our brethren of any denomination in those countries in Europe under a power as represented in Haman. Think of our prayers — the priesthood — our prayer meetings — there is no circle like the people of God. We belong to a heavenly system. We have a great Priest over the house of God. I am sure God is carrying through and helping us in the current matter.
CB Why is it previously mentioned as Shushan the fortress and here as [p. 145] the city?
JT It is a capital matter. The city is the idea of administration, the centre of the system, of the fellowship. And the brethren in camps who are suffering are away from the fellowship. It is a great advantage of the devil. These young men are in great danger as separated from the brethren and the fellowship — the thing might go on to their damage. The idea of damage comes into this book. We have to keep our eye on the property of God exposed to the devil.
CHH Is it not interesting to see that while Haman is working against the Jews, Ezra and Nehemiah have their part in the testimony?
JT One loves to think of the service of the brethren in relation to what is current, but at the same time there is a great deal of exposure of the most valuable property in our young men being deprived of fellowship.