The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-08
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
MARCa 12.
Lesson Text: ESTHER Bo"ore the
King" esther iv., 1917 ",
1.3-Golden Text: Proberb
XXI, &C Commentary.

1.3-Golden Text: Proberb
XXI, O. Commentary.
One lesson only has been assigned to Us
from this most marvellous book OF the pro-
vidence 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 hook is a histori-
cal and prophetic picture Of the kingdom of
God, illustrating the grace Of God.
10, II. There is onelaw 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 cause1 decree to 60 forth
the whole empire that on a certain day all
the people Of Mordecai-tbat is, all the Jews
should be slain. Because Of this decree
Mordeci went through the city, and even
to the kings gate, clothed in 81 ckcloth, cry
ing with loud and bitter cry. Esther's
maids told her of it. Then she was grieyed.
for Mcrdecai was her own cousin, who had
cared for her, her own father and mother
being dead (chapter H., n. and sent Hatach
to find out whst it was and why it was dv.,
s.. Mordecai then told Hatach the whole
matter, and sent request on behalf of her
people. Esther sends word back to her
cousin, who had been a father to her, that
she could not approach the king uncalled.
except at the risk of her life
IL, l3. 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 comlusnd was to DESTROY.
to kill and to cause to perx:e dii., IS, 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, "There is no
difference, for all have sinned and come
short of the glory Of God" Rom. ILL.,. 23).
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 fived in the
highlands and some in the lowlands, but
there was no difference.
"a. enlargement aud deliverance shall
arise, and who knoweth whether thou art
come to the kingdom for such time as
thisS' Mordecai was sure that deliverance
would come. How he was 30 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
and the earth filled with the glory Of God.
Is, l8. $50 will I 90 in unto the king,
which is not according to the law, and if I
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 them
would take her life in her hand and lay it
down If 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 ill.,,
IL? Hereby perceive we the love of God,
because He laid down His lie for US, and 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. 1t would no doubt be fasting to
some purpose, for it was matter or life or
death. When David's little child was sicS
he tasted and prayed. How much mora
should these people last when the lives OF u
whole people were at stake! Daniel ate no
pleasant bread tor three whole weeks, be-
cause he was earnestly seeking to know the
mind OF God tDan. z, 2, 81. Jesus said
concerning certain evu spirits, "fhls KIND
eoeth not out bur by prayer AMI fasting"
(Math. xvii, 2l) And Is 1t not written In
Jer. xxx, II, "Ye shall seek Ne and find
Ne when ye shall search Tor Me- Win all'
your hearts"
day that Esther put on her royal apparel
and stood IN the inner court OF the kings
house." 1t is easy tor us to read it, but how
much it must have meant TO E5therl We
read that on the third day Abraham itred
up his eyes and saw the place sfar OF, but
who stops to think how much that third day
meant to AprahamY 1t meant the taxing Of
his very life, tor was not Isaac the son in
whom all the promises cenrersd, and this
was the day OF rne sacrifice? ~ with Es-
ther il meant. II need be, the laying down OF
her LIE.
2. ''She obtained favor in his sight, and
the king held out TO Esther the golden sce2-
Ter that was in hls hand" Life, then, was
hers, anu not death, or was II not us HE
from the dead? So it was with Abraham,
for on that day he received Isaac bacs from
the dead in figure tHeb. xi, 19.) And this is
the meaning Of the third day in the Scrip
lures, it is resurrection, or life from the
dead. AFTER two days will He revive us; in
the third day He will raise us up and we
shall live in His sight" lHos. 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. %
3"What wilt thou, Queen Esther. AMI
whatris 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
church's third day, the marriage Of the
Lamb, foreshadowei by John il, ], 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, 22).
Then shall the Jews enemy and the church's
enemy he destroyed, and true Mordecai will
be great among the Jews, seeking the
wealth of His people and speaking peace to
all His seed e., 81. The Jews will have
light and gladness and joy and hoaor, feast,
and good day, and men Of all languages
Oh fbaT mill xuifh