The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-08
ESTHER'S MISSION.
LESSON xl, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MARCH IL.

$1,000
from this most marvellous book of the
providence OF God, a 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 He is most
invisible' G7aber).
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 cne of them. Il is thought by
some that Ahasuerus is suggestive of the
great king, Vashti Of Israel. Esther of the
church. Mordacai of Jesus, and Haman of
satan, and that the whole book is 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 out the golden scepter 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-should be slain. Be
cause of this decree Nfordecai went through
the city, and even TO the kings gate,
clothed in sackcloth, crying with a loud
and bitter cry. Esther's maids told her Of
It. Then she was grieved, for Mordecia was
her own cousin, who had cared for her, her
own father and mother being dead Chap
ter ii, y, and sent Hatsch TO find out what
1t was and why il was Nv, 81. Mordecai
then told Hatach the whole matter, and
sent request to Esther that she so TO the
king and make request on behalf of her
people. Esther sends 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.
70, IS. Think not with thysef that thou
shalt escape in the kings house, more than
all the Jews" The decree included all
Jews, both young and old, little children
aud women, and the command was to de-
stroy, to kill and to cause to perish Cii, 13),
so that there was 10 hope for Queen Esther
any more than for the poorest Jew or jew
ess in the kingdom. In the plan Of saliva
ton we are reminded OF the fact that, as to
being sinners and needing a Saviour,
'There is no difference, for all have sinned
and come snort OF the glory of GOd' (ROm.
iii, 23). This is illustrated in those who
perished1n the Geluge; outside Of the ark
not one was saved; some were rich and
some poor, some learned aud some ignO-
rant, some lived in the highlands and some
in the lowlands, but there was no differ
ence.
H. Enlargement and deliverance shall
arise, and who knoweth whether thou art
come TO the kingdom for such a time
thisW Mordecai 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 emer-
gency. As believers in the Lord Jesus
Christ, and therefore saved by His precious
blood, we know that the church viii be
completed and the kingdom viii come
Israel shall be saved and the earJh filed
with the glory al God.
Is, 16. 80 will 1 go in unto the king
which Is not according 90 the law. ana if
perish, perish" In reply to Mordecai's
second 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 20 to the
king whether she lived or died. She being
one of them would take her life in her
hand and lag it down If need be on their be-
half. The Lord Jesus knew that He would
lay down His life for Us, and became one
Of us that lie might do so But If Esther
is suggcs : Of the church, where does the
laying dow. Of the life come in? Is il not
found in ] John iii, 162 Hereby per
ceive We the love Of God, because lie laid
down his life for US, and we ought to lay
down our lives for the brethren"
Il. $50 Mordecai went his way and did
according 10 all THAI Esther had com
manded him" t. would no doubt be fast
ing to some purIESe, for it was matter
Of life or death. when David's little child
was sick he Tasted and prayed. How much
more should these people fast when the
lives OF whole people were at sJakei
Daniel ate no pleasant bread for three
whole weeks, because he was earnestly
seeking to know the mind Of God Dan. X
9, b. Jesus said concerning certain evil
spirits, This kind goeth not out but by
prayer anu fasting" (Garh. xvii. 2D And
is it rot w.itten in DER. xxx, Is, "Yo
shall seek ne and find lie when we
shall search for Me with all your hearts,"
v, !. Now it came to pass on the third
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 IL must have meant TO Esther
We read that on The third day Abraham
lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar
Off, but who stops to think how much that
third day meant TO Abraham 1t meant
the taking of his very life, for was not
Isaac the son IN whom all the promises
conferred, ana this was the day of the sac
rifceF SO with Esther it meant, il need
be, the laying down Of her life.
?. "She obtained favor In his sight, and
the king held out 10 Esther the golden
scepter that was in his hRnd' Life then
was hers, and not death, or was it not as
life from the 6cadi So it was with Abra-
ham, for on that day he received Isaac
back from IL dead in Il figure QIeb xi, 100.
And this is the meaning OF the third day in
Scripture, il is resurrection, or life from the
dead. After two days viii he revive US;
fl the third day he will raise US up, and
we shall live in his sight" Qlos. vi. q.
Think also Of Jonah and his third day, but
especially of our Lord jesus and His third
day, with all its glorious results yet to Oe
fully seen.
g. what wilt thou, Queen Esther, and
what is thy reguest2 IL shall be even given
thee to the half Of the kingdom" How
exceeding abuudantly above ali she could
have expectDdl This will be the glory Of
the church's third day, the marriage Of the
Lamb, foresh =6owed by john ii, /, and il
will not b. half the Kingdom, but the
whole, for lie has given Us tine glory which
the Father gave unto Him John xvii, 22).
Then shall The Jews enemy and the
church's enemy he destroyed, aud the trps
Mordecai W.! be great among the Jews,
seeking the wealth Of His people and
speaking peace TO ell His seed *, ~. The
Jews will have light and gladness and joy
and honor, fesgt. and a good day, ard
n IL l.. Il. Al T..