Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-03-09
ESTHER'S MISSION.
LESSON Xi, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MARCH ~.


One lesson only has been assigned to us
from this most marvellous book OF the
providence of God, n book in which, in the
English text, the name of God is not found,
but which nevertheless is full Of God from
beginning to end. "Oh, blessed is he to
whom is given the instinct that can tell
that God is on the field when lie is most
invisible" CTaber).
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, Nashti Of Israel, Esther of the
church, Mordecai of Jesus, and Hannah of
satan, and that the whole book is a histor-
ical and prophetic picture of the Kingdom
of God, illustrating the grace Of God
10, II. There is one law of his to put
him to death, except such to whom the
king shall hold ont the golden sccpter that
he may live.' because of Humans hatred
of MordeCai he had caused decree to 20
forth throughout the whole empire that on
a certain day all the people of Mordecai-
that is. all the ,Jews-shoud be slain. Be
cause of this decree Mordecai went through
the city, and even to the kings gate,
clothed in sackcloth, crying with loud
and bitter cry Esther's maids told her Of
it, Then she was grieyed, for Alordecia was
her own cousin, who had cared for her, her
own father and mother being dead (chap-
ter ii, y. and sent Hatach to find ont wh1t
it was and why it was Gv, ~. Mordecai
then told Hatach the whole matter, and
sent a request to Esther that she 70 to the
king and make 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 uncallcd,
except at the risk of her life.
H., l3 Think not with thysclf 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, aud the command was to de-
stroy, to Kill aud to cause to perish Oil, 49,,
50 that there was no hope for Queen Esther
any more than for the poorest Jew or jew
ess i'll the Kingdom. In the plan Of saliva
tion we are reminded Of the fact that, as to
being sinners and needing n Saviour,
"There is no difference, for all have Suncd
and come short of The glory of God" lRom.
iii, 23 This is illustrated in those vino
persisted in the deluge; outside Of the ark
not one was saved; some were rich and
some poor, some learned and some i4uo-
sun ti,',' ~ 'ne ny anu s,lHe
III 'ne ~" I"i'NS' p"' '"eIe WAS no u'4er-
ence'
~. enlargement ana uehVerahce snail
arise ana VINO khoWeth whether thou art
come TO the Kingdom Tor such time as
inns! MordecNl was sure that dellVerance
would come HOW he was 80 sure we are
not toI"' but ne suggests to Esther that
possibly the providence OF Hod had put her
IN inns hlSh position Tor TINS very emer-
gehcY. AS believers in the Lord Jesus
Chrlst ana therefore saved by HIS precious
blood, we know that the church Will he
completed ana the Nln4uom Will come.
Israel snail be saved and the earth filled
with the glory OF God.
l'' IT, 80 Will / 20 in unto the king,
which IS not according to the law, and If
perish, perish in reply to Mordecai's
second message Esther returned answer
That they should fast three days for her,
ana mat she ana her maldens would do
likewise, and then she would 20 to the
KING whether she lived or died. She being
one Of them would take her life i'll her