The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-10-11
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Subject: Esther Pleading For Her People
Esther WILL, 3.S, 15-17-Golden Text
Psa. xx1vIi., documentary on the
Days Lesson.
CONNECTING LINES. When Mordecal
heard OF the terrible decree which ordered
the death OF all his people he was filled
with grief. He sent a copy OF the decree
to Esther and asked her to intercede with
the king that the calamity might be avert.
cd. The king was a flckle-mihded, des.
potic ruler, and Esther had not been in his
presence for thirty days. 1t was therefore
u great risk for her to venture into his
presence, lest her life be taken. In at.
tempting to save her people the queen
must rlsk everything-her position, her
husband, her wealth, her life. She must
attempt by the mere weight OF personal In.
fuence to reverse the DEGREES OF an empire
that prided itself on having unalterable
laws; and she must do this against the In.
fuence OF Haman, the kings favorlte-the
most powerful subject In the kingdom and
the enemy OF her people. She must make
1t known to the king that she was OF the
despised race whose lives were In danger.
Before Esther could enter upon this I'M
pcrtant mission and encounter the danger
connected with such an act, she pro-
claimed fast among her people In Shush.
an, and she and her maidens also tasted
and prayed. Then she said she would &c
on and do her best to save her people,
though 1t should cost her LIE. At the end
OF the fast Esther dressed herself In her
queenly apparel and came before the king.
He received her kindly and asked what her
petition might be, promising to grant 1t:
She merely made request that the king and
Haman attend O banquet which she should
prepare for them. Read of Hnman's joy
over this honor and OF his plan to hang
Mordecai; OF the kings sleepless night,
and his plan to reward Mordscai for his
former kindness In sparlng hts life-in
chapters and 6. In chapter the scene
Mt the second feast or banquet Is recorded.
Here Esther made known the plan OF Ha.
man to destroy the Jews. Then the anger
OF the king was turned upon Haman and
he ordered that he be hanged upon the
gall3ws he had prepared for Mordecai.
Theo the house OF Haman was given tc
Esther, and the ring which had been given
to Haman the king gave to Mordecal.
Esther placed Mordecal cher cousin) over
the house OF Haman.
8. ESTHER spake yet again" The wlcked d
he man was out OF the way, and the favor
OF the king was turned to Esther and Nor.
iecai, yet the decree Was not recalled.
THIS Esther would entreat the king to do
ere the day came for the execution. Cell
down at his feet. ... besought him with
tears" This was the manner and posture
o., suppliant. Her work was not done
until her people were saved from danger.
4. "The king held out the golden scep.
tre." In token that her request was &C.
cepted and thut she needed no longer tc
maintain the humble attitude OF suppll.
ant.
S. "Reverse the letters devised by Ha.
man." 1t may be supposed that Ahasue.
rus hestated In this perplexing case, as
not knowing how to extricate himself with
credit from so great difficulty, and as re.
luctant to proclaim to all the world the
folly into which he has been seduced. Bui
Esther, with great discretion, avoided
every intimation that the king himself had
II It had been not only Haman's device but
altogether his work, as though the edict
had been forged by him.
6. Glow can I endure" She does not
urge the innocence CT the Jews, but only
pleads their affinity to her.
8. "Write ye also for the Jews. 49, the
writing which Is written may no man re.
verse;" According 10 the Persian consti.
tuition the former edlct could not be re.
voked; hence they could not repeal the de-
cree, but provide an antidote." However
procedure may appear, it was the only one
which from the pecularittes OF court ETH
quette In Persia could be adopted.
IS. "Mordecai went out. lin royal ap.
parel." But few days before, Mordecal
wus In sackcloth and all tho Jews
in sorrow; now Mordeeai is in purple, and
the Jews In JOY. The royal apparel either
belonged to his place, or the king appoint
ed 1t to him as favorite. A dress OF blue
and white was held in great estimation
among the Persians, so that Mordecai
whom the king delighted to honor, was In
fact arrayed IN the royal dress and insig.
mia. "Shushan rejoiced.' The people were
sensible OF their advantage In the prefer
ment Of Mordecai, and looked for better
times when so good man was In power.
When the wicked perish there is shouting
when the righteous are In authority the
people rejoice. Hamnn was too proud tc
be popular; few llmented his fall. There
was popular respect for Mordecat.
1G. "The Jews had light, eladness, joy
honor" The decree that could not be c2un.
termanded was erased, and the Jews
saved from destruction. Ever since then
they have kept the fast Of Purlm on tie
the 18th and 14th OF Adnr (about March
1st) In memory Of these days. The Whole
history wrought good in the character oil
the Jews and proclaimed their religion and
their God. The jews were content With
being permitted to defend their lives
When the decree went out under the
kings seal in favor OF the Jews 1t would be
understood that he'held their lives prec'
ious, and rs far as possible would spare
them, though "it laid him under the neces'
sity OF enactlng n civil war In MS own do
minions, for both sides might take up arms
by his authority, and yet against his au
thoritv."
II. ':In every province. city" No
only In Shushan, but In all other pluce:
where the Jews resided, they entertained
one another at their homes and feasted to
gether, being full OF Joy at this alteration
OF their affairs. II they had not beer
threatened and in distress they had moi
had occasion for this extraordinary JOY
Therefore are Gods people sometimes
made to SOW in tears that they may reap II
go much the more Joy. "Many became
Jews" Many Of the Persians became
proselytes to tho Jewish religion, put thn
they we're craumcised Is not probable. il
Is likely, however, that they renouncet
idoIatry and became worshipers OF thu
true God. Such proselyte5 there were Il
all times, especially in the days OF David
and Solomon, when the affairs OF the Jew
were very prosperous. Haman thought tt
root out the Jews; but 1t proved TINT thei
numbers we're sreatl y Increased. IL wa:
seen that the strength OF right and justice
was with them. "Fear Of the Jews fell or
them" Humans fate warned them OF tht
| Jews power, and when they observed how
wonderfully divine Providence had owned
them and wrought for them in this critica
| juncture, they thought them great anc
these happy that were among them; there
| fore they came over to them, as was fore
| told. Zech. 1923. Compare Deut. 1929.