Passaic City record., 1893-03-11
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOE
MARCH IL.
Lesson Text. ESTHER Before the
King" Esther w., 1917 W.
1-3-Golden Text: Proberb
XXI, o. Commentary.

One lesson only has been assigned to us
from this most marvellous book OF the pro-
violence of God, book in which in the Eng
lish text, the name of God is not found, but
which nevertheless is full of God from be-
ginning to end. "Oh, blessed is he to whom
is given the instinct that can tell that God
IS on the field when He is most invisible"
Faber
The whole book tells how the people of
God were delivered from death by a medi-
ator of the highest rank, who undertakes
the greatest danger for them and is mys-
teriously one of them. 1t is thought by
some that Ahasuerus is suggestive of the
great king, Vashti of Israel, Esther of the
church, Mordecai of Jesus, and Haman of
satan, and that the whole book is historic
cal and prophetic picture of the kingdom Of
God, illustrating the grace of God.
10, IL. There is one law of his to put him to
death. except such to whom the king shall
hold out the golden scepter that he may
live." Because of Haman's hatred of Nor
decai he had causei q decree to go forth
the whole empire that on certain dav all
the people of f@Mordecai-that is. all the Jews
should be slain. Because of this decree
Mordecai went through the city, and even
to the king gate, clothed in sackcloth, cry
ing with a loud and hitter cry. Esther's
maids told her of it. Then she was grieved.
for Mcrdecai was her own cousin. who had
cared for her, her own father and mother.
being dead Chapter IL, n. and sent Hatach
to find out what it was and why it was fiy..
s.. Mordecai then told Hatach the whole
matter, and sent a request on behalf of her
people Esther senos word back to her
cousin, who had been father to her. that
she could not approach the king uncalled.
except at the risk of her life
IL, 13. "Think not with thyself that thou
shalt escape in the kings house, more than
all the jews" The decree included all Jews.
both young and old, little children and
women, and the command was to DESTROY.
to kill and to cause to perish (iii., 13l so that
there was no hope for Queen Esther any
more than for the poorest Jew or Jewess in
the kingdom. In the plan of salvation we
are reminded of the fact that, as to being
sinners and needing Saviour, "rhere is no
difference, for all have sinned and come
short OF the glory of God" (Rom. iii. 2N.
This is illustrated in those who perished in
the deluge; outside of the ark not one was
saved; some were rich and some poor. some
learned and some ignorant, some lived in the
highlands and some in the lowlands. but
there was no difference
IA. enlargement and deliverance shall
arise, and who knoweth whether thou art
come to the kingdom for such time as
thisY Mordecal was sure that deliverance
would come. How he was so sure we are not
told, but he suggests to Esther that possibly
the providence of God had put her in this
high position for this very emergency. AS
believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and there
fore saved by His precious blood, we know
that the church will be completed and the
kingdom will come. Israel saall be saved
and the earth filled with the glory of God
Is, l6. $50 will go in unto the king,
which is not according to the law, and il T
perish, Iperish." Inreply to Mordecais Sec
ond message Esther returned answer that
they should fast three DAYS for her, and
that she and her maidens would do likewise,
and then she would go to the king whether
she lived or died. She being one of thef.
would take her life in her hand and lay 4
down il need be on their behalf. The Lord
Jesus knew that He would lay down HIS life
for us, and became one OF us that he might
do SO. But if Esther is suggestive of the
church, where does the laying down of the
life come In? Is it not found IN [ John i'll,
16? Hereby perceive we the love OF God,
because He laid down His life for us, ana we
ought to lay down our lives for the breth-
rem
II. $50 Moriecai went his way and did
according to all that Esther had command
ed him. It would no doubt be fasting to
some purpose, for it was a matter or life or
death. When David's little child was sick
he tasted and prayed. How much mora
should these people last when the lives OF
whole people were at stakeI Daniel ate no
pleasant bread for three whole weeks, be-
cause he was earnestly seeking to know the
mind of God dan. K, 2, ~. Jesus said
concerning certain evil spirits, "Thls kind
goeth not out but by prayer ana fastlng"
(Math. xvii, 2D And is it not written in
Jer xxx, Ii .Ye shall seek Ne and find
Mewhen ye shall searcn for Ne with all
your hearrs?'
v. !. Now it came to pass on the third
day that Esther put on her royal apparel
and stood III the amer court OF the kings
house, 1t is easy tor US to read it, but now
much it must have meant to Estnerl We
read that on the third day Abraham itJed
up his eyes and saw the place afar OF, but
who stops to think how much that third day
meant to Abraham? 1t meant the taxing or
his very life, for was not Isaac the sou in
whom all the promises centersd, and this
was the day of Jne sacrltice2 So with Es-
ther il meant ii need be, the laying down OF
her life.
2 siShe obtained favor in his sight, and
the king held out to Esther the golden scep-
ter that was in his hand" Life, then. was
hers and not death. or was II not US lite
from the dead? So it was with Abraham,
for on that day he received Isaac back from
the dead in figure Heb. xi.. 19.) And this is
the meaning Of the third day in the Scrip
lures, it is resurrection. or life from the
dead. s.After two days will He revive US; in
the third day He win raise us up and we
shall live in His sight, tHos. vi, p. Think
also of Jonah and his third day, but espe-
cially OF our Lord Jesus Christ and His third
day, with all its glorious results yet to be
fully seen.
.'What wilt thou, Queen Esther, and
what is thy request? 1t shall be even given
thee to the half of the Kingdom" How ex-
ceeding abundantly above all she could have
expected! This will be the glory OF the
churchs third day, the marriage OF the
Lamb, foreshadowed by John III, /. and it
will not be half the kingdom. but the whole.
for He has given us the glory which the
Father gave unto Him John xviii, ~.
Then shall the Jews enemy and the church's
enemy be destroyed, and true Mordecai will
be great among the Jews, seeking the
wealth OF His people and speaking peace to
all His seed *, 81. The Jews will have
light and gladness and joy and honor, !a feast.
and good day, and men of all languages
shall say to the Jews, we will go with you
for God is with you lchapter viii, 10. IL;
Zach. viii, 29. May we even now know
Him and the power OF His resurrection
Lesson Helper.
WORLDS FAIR TROUBLE.