The National tribune., 1886-03-04
SUNDAY MEDITATION.


SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught by Study of the Inter
national Sunday School lesson Appointed for
March H. Est. 4:f0-I7; 5:1-3.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.
Our lesson is the story of Esther. We are
borne back to the year 474 B. c.. or back for
over % centuries. The Book of Esther gives
account of events occurring.between the COM
pletion OF the second tcmple-the one con-
structed by Zerubbabe-and the going to Jeru-
salem of Ezra The interval between these
two events is that between 515 B. c. and 457
B. c., period of 5S years.
Two books of the Holy Scriptures are named
from women, to wit. those of Ruth and Esther
Ruth was GENTLE while Esther was Jewess
Ruth married a Jew, while Esther married a
Gentle. 1t is supposed the Book of Esther was
written mainly by MOrdecai, Ezra adding the
last few verses. No allusiou to Esther is made
elsewhere in the Old Testament and it is never
quoted in the New Testament One popularity
about it is the omission from beginning to end
of the word God or any other title for the
Deity. Many hold the reason for such omission
is the fact the book is literal extract from the
Chronicles of the Kings of Persia One fact is
certain, that while we have in the book no
word for God we can see his hand, or PrOvi-
dence, all through it. The story covers about
10 years of history.
The life of Esther centered in Shushan At
that day Persia extended from India to Ethi-
opia embracing 127 provinces. Palestine itself
was one of these. Shusbau was the Capital of
that great empire. 1t was named Shushan
from the abundance Of lilies thereabout, but it
is known most of all by ESther's history
Esther, Of whose purity and mOdesty the hly's
whiteness is the beautfulest emblem. 1t was
magnificent city-the receptacle of trophies
from many Persian conquest, a city of
grandest architecture and greatest wealth and
culture. There were the Kings palaces and
the MOBILES mansions. Shushan is yet known.
1t is on the Ulai. Travellers wonder at the
great ruins there. How such debris confirm
Bible statements Explorers find pavement Of
floors which answer exactly TO the description
found in the Book of Esther. 1t is Of bits Of
red, blue, black and white marble. Il:
Moriecai was Jew of the tribe of Ben amin,
a descendant of the captives taken from Jeru-
salem to Babylon. He must have been quite
an aged man at the time of our lesson. He
was brother TO Esther's father. AS an uncle
he had the care of his niece.
The central figure is Esther. Having been
left al orphan, she was taken and reared by
Mordecai The word Esther means a star;
beautiful name, indeed, for her, who shines out
SO iustToasly in the galaxy OF Jewish women;
for her, who, a star, may guide many a one
to the Bethlehem of pnrity, patriotism and
piety for her. who brought light TO AhaSuerus,
and who removed from the condemned Israel
itish captiycS threatened darkness. The az
count says she was . fair and beautiful" Her
Babylonian name was Hadassah, which means
a myrtle, and that IL turn, by botanical SYM
bolism, signifies Love- Ahasuerus, the King,
became incensed against his wife, Vashti, and,
by strange series of events, she was expelled
and Esther became the Queen.
Persian princes, led on by HamaD, the prime
mi, hpparOa ipaln.s M the Iatyc fEhay
tried to humiliate the captive race. They made
demands of them which could not be granted
consistently with the peculiar religious opin
ions held by the Jews Hence animosty origi-
mated between the two parties. At length,
Haman secured an order for the determination
of the detested foreigners. One hope is left.
Esther is Queen. 1t is possible she can stir up
in the Kings heart sympathy for the outiawed
race Mordecai is convinced it is her duty to
attempt TO save her own people; that if she
decline, she and her family will rue the day
of refusal that Esther had come to the throne
proyidentlally, so as to be of service just at
this nick of time. The law governing approach
to Persian King was very severe. The at
tempt was a question of life or death Assassi-
nation was feared by the Eastern rulers. In
deed, this very Ahasuerus was slain in sleep.
1 Esther well knew the Persian law that If one
go to the King unbidden, he will die, unless
perChance the King raise his scepter III forgive
ness of intrusion. She sends word to Mordeca
to gather the Jews together-to direct them to
fast for three days and nights-and promises
she will violate the law as to going into the
King, saying, and if perish perish" At
the close of three days she arrays herself so as
most to gain the favorable side of the King,
presents herself at the inner court of the
palace, and ventures toward the throne. o,
what moment! VIII he raise the scepter?
If not, Esther will be corpse within an hour,
aud fhe Jews will Ina fafed Tho scaptar
and Esther steps forward TO touch it. Now she
can make her request. We know the sequel.
The leader against the Jews, Haman, met the
fate he plotted for the leading Jew, Mordecai.
Esther's race was saved.
Practical thoughts occur in too great num-
Der TO enumerate at length. We notice sew
eral:
l. We see the power OF women. De Tocaue-
VILE having visited our country from France,
said the singular prosperity and growing
strength of the American people is mainly the
superiority of their women" If a nation can
use such power. it is time the Church should
learn a lesson; time the Church should avail
itself of this help; time for women to make
themselves efficient as possible for Christ and
His Kingdom If Esther conld serve hcathen
King it is time for Christian women to see
what they can do for the King Of Kings. Re-
member the account of Esther is in our Bible
at the dictation of God himself
2. Learn to be patriotic. Love your nation.
Never be ashamed of your race. Esther, though
Queen, did not forget her down -trodden people.
She even risked her royalty, yea, her head in
effort to save them.
3. See how persons who lay traps for others
often themselves are caught (Ps., Z :l6; 8 10;
Jud.. /: g. z; Mt, %: Is, p.
4. Observe the Office of physical beauty.
est, ?: q; Apocryphal Book of Esther Is 81
Even yet, and in our country beauty plays its
part in national matters. Senators and Repre-
sentatives are rot independent of this innu
ence. The gallery tells the floor. Esther,
5 ], also shows the utility of attractive dress
and winning toilet.
s. See in the life Of Esther beautiful illus
tration Of the doctrine of special Providence.
g. Be anxions for your fellow. men condemned
to punishment for sin. Est, g. g. Try to
rescue humanity. Be willing even to perish in
the interests of salvation.