The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-14

esther 1It:1O no one feeling secure
in the time of such carnage. When 1t
became known that this fearful loss
of life might be averted, that the man
who proposed It had himself been exc
cuted, that another of milder spirit
had come into his office, the tension
was removed and there was a spontan-
eous outburt of Joy prov. X&IX:2)
And in every province and city into
which the glad tidIngs were carried
by rapid couriers there was feasting
and gladness. The captives who had
returned to Jerusalem and to Judea,
the exiles in distant parts who had not
been permitted to see their native land
the scattered ones along the valleys
and the hillsides, all had a good day
when they learned that one of their
kindred was near the throne, and that
their lives should not be sacrificed to
crafty the ambitions and hatred of
enemies.
THE CONVERSIONS ". 1O.-The
change in the royal policy and admin.
istration, marked by the downfall OF
Haman, the elevation of Mordecai, and
the issue of the counter decree, exer-
cised it's most notable influence upon
the people of the land. The evident
purpose to favor the Jews, who had
been so recently and summarily
doomed to death, carried conviction to
many minds that thereafter the way
to preferment and safety was by al
lance with these descendants OF Aora-
ham. It has been suggested by one
scholar of eldincnce that this opinion
may have gained currency the more
readily because the ancestral home or
the Jews was in this region, (Gen. Xl:
21) and their entrance into power
might have been considered proper
return of the race to their rightful
sovereignty. Accordingly, many be-
came Jews psalm XVIG:i9) accepting
the place of proselytes, under the pro-
visions of the ecclesiastical canons.
Strictly speaking, however, these were
not true conversions, but the results
of fear or selfshness Gen XNx:5)
which had been predicted centuries
before (Ex. XV:15). And yet the infiu-
| ence upon the Jews was most salutary
| because new friends were thus raised
| up.
REFLECTIONS-Ou lesson exhibits
! the method of Divine Providence. 1t
| is by a series of events that the AL
mighty cares for His people (Rom
| viii:2S) and works out His vast de-
signs among the nations. An affiic-
| tive circumstance frequently becomes
| a link in the chain of influences for
| good. Suppose Mordecai had forsaker
| his principles and reverenced Hamar
| esther iii:5) there would have been
| no decree for the destruction of the
| Jews. Suppose Mordecai had not nur'
tered his uncle's daughter esther ii:O
there might have been no Queen Es'
| ther to plead for her people. Suppose
| Mordecai had not reported the conspir'
acy against Ahasuerus esther ii:2O
he would not have received the king:
| favor esther vi:2-9) at the last mo-
| ment Suppose Nebuchadnezzar had
| not carried the Jews away captive'
to Babylon, there/would not be where
they might be recognized by the king
| Now they are in the chief places In
nuencing all parts of the world, hav
ing the foremost nation of the time t.
support them. All this occurs (B. c
510) a quarter of a century after th'
decree of Cyrus to build the temple
God is making ready for the close o
the. old dispensation and for the com
ing of His Son.