My study of Esther

As I was reading in the book of Esther last night, I came across a phrase that I didn't understand, so I went to one of the commentaries that we own. On page 722 of The Bible Exposition Commentary in the volume of Old Testament History, I read this and was convicted and challenged. I hope it does the same for you!!

In June 1865, missionary to China, J. Hudson Taylor, had gone to stay with
friends at Brighton, a popular British resort city by the sea. He was weary and
ill and seeking the will of God for the future of his ministry. On Sunday, June
25, "unable to bear the sight of rejoicing multitudes in the house of God," he
went for a walk on the sands and wrestled with God in agony of soul. God met him
in a fresh way, and he trusted God to provide twenty-four workers to labor with
him in China. Two days later, he went to the London & County Bank and opened
an account in the name of the China Inland Mission! It was the beginning of a
miracle ministry that continues today.

The phrase in the account that
tugs at my heart is "unable to bear the sight of rejoicing multitudes in the
house of God." Certianly it's good to rejoice in the Lord and to do it in His
house, bur rejoicing must never be a substitues for responsibility. As a popular
Gospel song expresses it: "God's tables are full but His fields are empty." We
all want to enjoy the feast, but we don't want to shear the message. We don't
have to be hardened unbelievers like Haman to be apathetic and unconcerned about
the plight of the world's billions of lost souls.