The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-10-13

r,.tsonni sunday schoo; lie ssss
for October II. IsoD-Text. Esthcs
s,a.s. lo-Is-Memory Vs. io-i5-

lrlng II TO pass--faa %
READ Chapters h-l0
TIE TIME OF the story. II. & 90. May
or June
pLAcE.--The palace al shushan.
PLACE IN BIBLE HISTORY --Dctwesn
che sixth and seventh chapters ~ Ezra.
EXPLANATORY
/. Danger TO the People OF God.-Wt
saw In our last lesson how IIaman. The
prime minister OF NerNes. had succeed
"a in obtaining a decree from the en-
neror for the destruction Of the v hole
race Of Jews, including. Of course, those
al Jerusalem. The whole people Of God
were To Ice wiped Off from the face OF
the earth. Persian decree once pro-
mulgated was irreNersible.
II. Queen Esther 10 the Rescue
Esther had been queen for four or 1--we
wears hen notice was sent 10 her by
Mordccai OF the great danger which
threatened her people, with the sug-
,restion hat she intercede vii d the king
Tor their salvation. The mi sion con-
mitied To Esther was one Of great dam
ger and difficulty. She had not been
summoned TO the king for a month.
~
60 what degree she knew not. Ii VAS
rule Of the palace that no one unsun-
moned should come into the inner court
Of the palace. on pain Of death unless
the tickle monarch should hold out his
golden scopier. From oriental customs
il is probable hat women were not al
lowed ia this court at all lIIaleyD. so
that il would be doubly dangerous for
Esther to 20 unlimited.
Reasons Why Esther Undertook the
Task: l. 1t was to save her whole pco-
ple She was patriotic. >. she was ap-
parcntly the only one who could do it.
3. She was prosidentially endowed with
beauty and raised 10 her position as
queen for this very purpose. I. She
would doubtless have perish.d hcraelf
BE- the general massacre. 4 his was not
only a right motive in itself but il en-
phasized all the others. enabling her to
realize the danger and the need more
clearly than otherwise would he posi-
ble. 5. We must keep in mine the hero
ism in her girlish soul. The queen.
therefore. in attempting to save her pco-
pie. must (D risk everything her po-
sitcn. her husband. her wealth. her
life. CD She must do il on the mere
chance that such a king would look up
on her with favor. 60 she must al
tempt by the mere weight Of personal
influence. to reverse the DEGREES Of an
empire that prides itself Oh infallibility
-whose laws are unaliera BILE" az
"
ence Of the kings favoritc. who had
easiest access and largest inf uence with
the mon arch. and was the most power
ful subiectin the kingdom and the enc
my Of her people. go She belonged to
a despised race. and must reveal that
fact 70 the capricious king.
III. Esther's Plan.-Ns 3-s W. She
asked her friends to fast three DAYS
in her behalf. Fasting implies prayer.
confession Of sin and q belief IN Cod.
Ills was on the same principle as
Christ's promise to Ills disciples whrn
two or three agreed together touching
anything they shall ask Matt. 1910
Y. ?. Esther spake vet again" TIE
execution Of Hannah did not lave her or
her people. for the decree ~ Iiaman was
siill in force " I. "Thc King held out
the golden scepier:" Tie usual sign
~ his 4; vor n. .. Reverse the letters
icsiscd ny IIaman:" The former de-
cree must stand. The kin cculd not re-
verse il as Esther proposed. but anoth-
cr decree was issued which practically
arnulcd the former one. Y. : Write
asst liketh you:" The plan was
20 give the Jews permission 70 stand in
scif-,iefensc and repel every attack. and
take pos session Of the pscpertyof those
who attacked them. Kings
seal"
~. he Deliverarce.-Ns. 1917. Tie
rect cf the book relates the result Of
th.~ decSec. The Jews stood upin self
dcfcnsc and large numbers Of their enc
mics we're Slain. including the ten sons
~ llaman. who NAV have thought to
rev"ngc their .ather's death on the
jess The king told Esther what had
brca done, and asked her -shai more
She ccsired. and She asked another day
81 fhe same. and tina, flaman's sons he
har eed up before the fecple. The de-
livsrance was a wonder .s prudential
intricrcnce. The nation was saved.
Mortccai was exalted 10 Ia mans place.
llr feast Of Iurim was inst iuluN with
g-rai Teasing and JOY. and has been
releNratcd annually ever since the .4th
OF Altar february March,. one month
before Easter.
Lessons FROM ESTHER
Toe naan or the woman for the emcr
rcn'y j. forthcoming. because God. who
ior'secs the emergency. makes ready
for II,
the of the most interesting studies
10 he story of Esther is 10 trace the
wa Of Divine providence and see how
tod ma kes all things work together for
the coed Of Ills people.
'he religious note in The book OF
Esther does not sound 50 clearly as the
patriotic note. But patriotism Is a les
son we all need TO learn. and lis mean
inf- should be clearly unders TODD Suf-